Naturally it still takes work

COBBOLD Gorge owners Simon and Gaye Terry won silver at Friday night’s Australian Tourism Awards, but their remote operation has long had the golden touch.

Bold and beautiful, the business is yet another Far North tourism success story and highlights the surging demand for nature-based attractions.

Mr Terry said it took “20 years of groundwork” to create a world-class tourism attraction – but he knew what they had was unique.

“We are protectors, interpreters and guardians of this natural ancient wonder, which through continuous improvement and our dedicated team of staff makes our product and the guest experience the very best,” he said.

Kakadu National Park and Tasmania’s Freycinet National Park earned podium finishes in the Major Tourist Attractions category, further highlighting the popularity of natural tourism assets.

And of course Cairns, as the gateway to the Daintree Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef, should be buoyed by this.

But Mr and Mrs Terry did not just rest on their laurels or think remarkable natural settings alone would be enough to take them into the top-tier of Australian tourism operations.

They were innovative and listened to their customers.

Their upgrades over the years have included a mobile phone booster, drive-through powered sites and a new outback Queensland swimming pool.

With the domestic and international visitor projections looking strong, it would not be surprising if Cobbold Gorge soon went one better and claimed gold for the Far North. Hayden Smith hayden.smith@news.com.au