Host Profile
My Property
Business Type
Farming methods
Short Property Description
My block is on a wild river, only 20km from Gordonvale on a sealed road, and 40km south of Cairns. On the other side of the river is Wooroonooran National Park, a World Heritage Rainforest, about the same area as the Daintree Rainforest. Being centrally located, the block is almost equidistant from Cairns/Babinda and the Tablelands.
Life is subject to the elements, the mood of the river, sun and rainfall patterns. Wildlife abounds, and includes a large variety of bird and aquatic life, moths and butterflies (I breed Cairns Birdwings), insects, reptiles, several species of marsupials, and brumbies (wild horses). I do not have pets, as nature provides endless companionship and entertainment, for which I’m very grateful.
UPDATE #3: Due to Tropical Cyclone Jasper on 13th December 2023, the bridge between our area and the nearest town was swept away – this was planned for repair in the dry season which didn’t start until June 2024. We were traveling via boat/kayak across the river until February 10th 2024, when a footbridge was installed. The temporary road bridge was installed in late July 2024, and preparation for a more permanent bridge is well underway.
These events illustrate the occasional difficulties experienced in the Cyclone season (November to May each year).
While half of my life was spent living and working in the Pacific, and the other half working in Renewable Energy in Australia, I love this connection to nature, and its wildlife. I also have adopted some of the extended family/community aspects of island cultures, which some people from western cultures find hard to adopt and understand.
I have lived here for over 20 years, and grow a range of tropical fruit and vegetables for my own and friends consumption. Many years ago I planted a number of rainforest trees such as lemon myrtle (which makes a great tea), davidsons plum, lemon aspin, and evodia (which attracts the Ulysses butterfly). There is also a well established vine which hosts the caterpillar which becomes Australia’s largest butterfly, the Cairns Birdwing.
The house is entirely off-grid and is solar powered (I’m an electrical engineer who started in renewable energy in 1974), and I deal with my own water supply and waste treatment. Where possible I’ve reduced my usage of fossil fuels, so have no backup generator, and run an electric mower, electric sports motorcycle and occasionally, an electric chainsaw. My sports are almost all human or natural energy systems powered, and have been through my life.
Two self contained, open plan, single bedroom houses are joined by a solar walkway. Both have verandah’s with a view of the river. I sleep in the newer house, but use the kitchen/lounge in the older house, which has accomodation for WWOOFers in an adjoining bedroom. The older house also has the shared bathroom/ laundry attached to it, and has access to the original outside toilet.
There is limited internet access via satellite, for email only, for an hour each evening, by prior negotiation with the host. Mobile reception is OK for SMS out on the road, but is patchy for voice. A landline is available for local calls, also by prior negotiation. Compared to an outer island in the Pacific, communication is very good – compared to a big city in most parts of the world, it is slower.
Organic/Biological methods we use
2 types of composting (one tumbler type, the other fixed ground mounted) using organic wastes from the garden, ash from burnoffs and manure from the brumbies (wild horses) that live in the valley.
Worm farming using kitchen and fruit wastes, producing solid and liquid fertilizers.
Supplemented from time to time with purchased organic fertilizer. No poisons used.
Irrigation using rainwater in the wet season, and river water in the dry season.
My Details
The Stay
Can Accommodate
Preferred length of Stay
3-7 days, Longer stays by negotiation
Accommodation
In Our Home, Separate Building
Languages spoken
English, basic French, I-Kiribati
Diets we cater for
Mixed meals, some meat, some vegetarian
Work and Study Remotely here
Work and Study Remotely here by arrangement
Why I became a WWOOF Host
Living and working overseas in less developed countries, I have an appreciation of other cultures. I’m now older, and have enjoyed the help and company of family and friends here, and wanted to extend this enjoyment to others. I am quite busy with volunteer work at Community Foods in Cairns once a week, with kayaking, cycling and swimming, and with the occasional consultancy job in the solar field, or with problem solving and rectifying electric motorcycle faults.
I also have friends who have hosted volunteers, and have enjoyed the experience, so decided it was time to try it for myself on a more formal basis.
