Zipping back into action
EXPRESSIONS of interest have opened for the sale of Cape Tribulation’s Jungle Surfing Canopy Tours.
The business ceased operation early this year after a tragic zipline accident in October 2019. The incident resulted in the death of an Adelaide man and injuries to his wife.
Following the accident, the zipline was decommissioned as part of the Workplace Health and Safety investigation.
“Qualified and experienced zip line consultants have been engaged to assess the required pathway to recommissioning the operation in line with industry safety standards and expectations,” Stacy Quaid of Colliers International said.
Company liquidator John Goggin, of Worrells Solvency and Forensic Accountants, is offering the business assets together with a ground lease of the property for sale and lease through Colliers.
Since 2003, Jungle Surfing Canopy Tours and Night Walks Jungle Adventures have operated as a successful adventure tourism business.
“Visitors have explored the rainforest canopy from a unique perspective, with guided zipline and tree platform tours across a privately owned rainforest reserve adjoining the World Heritage listed Daintree National Park,” Mr Quaid said.
The business also provided guided night walks, designed to reveal a unique perspective of the ancient forests by exploring the forest floor after dark, an experience vastly different to during the day.
Visitors could trek through the jungle during day tours, discovering plants and animals, seeing strangler figs, ancient ferns and the lush canopy of the rainforest.
The original zipline concept was inspired by the ’90s film Medicine Man, which planted the seed for Jungle Surfing founder, local pharmacist Stephen Walsh.
In 1995, he started selling tours through his Port Douglas shop, operating guided day and night walks through his private, rainforest property in Cape Tribulation.
Mr Walsh died in 2010 but the business continued, attracting more than 20,000 visitors and generating revenues in excess of $2 million a year.
“It is planned that the EOI process will identify a skilled and experienced operator able to restart the business and return this important attraction to the community,” Mr Quaid said.
EOIs close on November 25 with the expectation the business will be operational in the short term. Contact Stacey Quaid at Colliers International on 0418 773 258.