Photo : Daintree Food Trail
Thanks to a collection of producers and gastronomic experiences from around Queensland, Australia‘s Douglas Shire coming together to launch the Daintree Food Trail, foodies and travellers from around the world are in for a treat.
Set in a breathtaking landscape of green and blue, where the world’s oldest rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef, the trail leads you from Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation on a journey of delicious discovery. From gelato to microgreens, barramundi to breadfruit, and chocolate to chorizo, the Daintree is home to an eclectic range of small farms, orchards, fisheries, growers and micro-manufacturers, often hidden from view in our lush environment.
The Daintree Food Trail offers a handy map and website highlighting the diverse and delicious local produce that’s often hidden behind leafy façades on the drive from Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation.
Trail co-founder Sheena Walshaw of Trailblazers Queensland said it is designed to enhance the visitor experience and celebrate the people behind the produce. “We really wanted to share the farm gates, food stalls and boutique producers that we as locals love and give our visitors the chance to experience and learn about the freshest food around, much of which is quite unique to the area,” she said. “But it’s also about buying local and supporting local businesses, so we’ve included restaurants and shops that feature local produce. That way visitors can make an informed choice for low-food-mile dishes, drinks, products and produce that support our communities. “If people know the quality and diversity of the incredible local produce that is being grown here then they will be more likely to select it,” she said.
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There are 26 members showcased on the trail, including 16 Producers, who create the foods and food experiences across the Shire, and 10 Supporter Members, who feature and celebrate local products in restaurants, stores and markets.
The project was largely funded by a grant from the Douglas Shire Council, as well as contributions and assistance from Tourism Port Douglas Daintree.
Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr said it was a fantastic opportunity to show off what the community has to offer. “Projects like this bring it all to one place so we can see multiple different products and the stories behind them and give people a reason to go see visit properties,” he said. “The website looks amazing; I highly recommend everyone to go and have a look at it. “Get in the car and go up to the Daintree and experience these great products.”
Leigh Gallon, a co-founder of the Trail, was surprised by the variety of produce and products they found when creating the trail. “One of the biggest thrills of the project was finding all the hidden artisan gems and seeing how powerfully local businesses can support each other by championing these hero products,” he said. “We’re grateful to have played a small part in bringing some of them together.”
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One of the hero producers of the trail is Kefir Queen’s Penelope Wiltshire who said she is proud to be a part of this initiative. “I’m honoured to live in this thriving environment of Far North Queensland surrounded by all these creative hard-working small businesses and be one of them!” she said.
The project has been eight months in the making and at the timing of its release, it couldn’t be more relevant for local businesses to be working together. As their website says “From tea to turmeric, kefir to kombucha, hive to honey, it’s all happening right here, against a magical backdrop of towering mountains, rainforest rivers and golden beaches.”
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