Living the dream...
A fter only seven months, the Hurst family have already
made their mark at the Lake Eacham Tourist Park.
Breathing new life into the park, new owners Virginia and
Cameron Hurst and their family—children Cooper and
Juliette along with parents Elizabeth and Bob—have been
warmly embraced by the local community who are grateful
to see the park undergoing improvements. The family’s vision is to develop an experience for visitors and
locals where the park becomes a destination for art, music,
food and relaxation. “The park is also perfect for an artist's
retreat and we would love to offer that in the future” says
Virginia. Live music will also form part of the park’s attraction
where people can bring their picnics to the grounds to enjoy
the gardens and music.
Just how do you end up buying a caravan park? In 2017 the
family travelled to the Tablelands to escape Cyclone Debbie
that was due to hit their then hometown of Townsville. They
were quickly under the spell of Lake Eacham’s beauty and
thought “If you were to ‘live the dream’ then this was the
place to do it” says Virginia. Coincidentally, the Lake Eacham
Tourist Park was for sale – it was a sign! A highlight is the recently opened Frond Café which is
already proving very popular with locals and visitors alike.
Virginia's artistic touch is evident throughout the café and
into the garden creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Open Wednesday through to Sunday for breakfast, morning
tea and lunch, visitors can enjoy homemade fresh food
including cakes, pies, curries and daily specials. The park also
hosts a small art gallery where local artists can display their
work.
Virginia, an artist and art teacher, immediately saw the
potential of the park to help create a vibrant community and
artistic space, coupled with a cafe set amongst a tropical
terraced garden. It was in fact the gardens and peaceful
surrounds that drew the Hursts to the park. The gardens
have been reclaimed so visitors can meander through
and discover treasures, statues, art pieces, fish ponds and
waterfalls that delicately trickle to create a calming and
happy space.
Whilst there are many plans for the park, the family will work
on different aspects to continually improve the site. With five
cabins and 21 caravan sites the park offers visitors peace and
tranquillity with full facilities making every stay a pleasure.
It's quite the hidden gem and only one kilometre from the
refreshing waters of Lake Eacham.
As with many destinations, it’s the people that make the
difference and this park’s asset is definitely the wonderfully
charming Virginia and her family. If you haven't visited the
park yet, be sure to check it out – enjoy a lovely meal in the
tranquil garden and experience the warm hospitality. You’ll
be glad you did.
FRESH A Juices S FRUIT E SMOOTHIES
Organic c ICED COFFEE
Rainforest
HOUSE BREW u Chai Tea
Mini Golf
Gluten Free a TREATS
0417 999 102
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KURANDA ORIGINAL RAINFOREST MARKETS
2 What’s On & Where To Go August 2018