Visiting Mt Uncle Distillery: An Atherton Tablelands Day Trip from Cairns
Updated: 3 days ago
About an hour's drive from Cairns, up the range and onto the Atherton Tablelands, there is a working distillery where gin, rum and Australian agave spirit are made on the same property where the agave is grown. If you are looking for things to do in Mareeba, planning a Tablelands day trip or just want a very good tasting, here is what to expect at Mt Uncle Distillery.
Where is Mt Uncle Distillery?
You will find us at 1819 Chewko Road, Walkamin, in Far North Queensland. Walkamin sits between Mareeba, about ten minutes up the road, and Atherton, about fifteen minutes the other way. From Cairns it is roughly 75 kilometres, around an hour's drive through the Kuranda Range, which makes the distillery an easy stop on any Atherton Tablelands loop. The cellar door is open daily 10am to 6pm, closed public holidays.
The guided tasting
The heart of a visit is the guided tasting at the cellar door: $20 a guest for four 15ml pours you choose from FNQ Rum Co., Agave Australis and Botanic Australis, while learning how the flavour is built through fermentation, copper pot distillation and tropical maturation. Reserve a tasting here.
What you'll be tasting
FNQ Rum Co. Rum made from local sugarcane syrup rather than molasses. Iridium was named World's Best Pot Still at the 2021 World Rum Awards, and Platinum was the World Rum Awards' World's Best Sugarcane Spirit in 2024.
Botanic Australis. Six Australian gins, each built on its own selection of botanicals, from the classic Original to the crimson Ooray Plum Gin made with the native ooray plum.
Agave Australis. Australian agave spirit from blue agave grown here on the Tablelands and roasted in a volcanic rock pit. New to the category? Read our guide.
Live music and events
The distillery runs a busy calendar: Saturday Sessions with live music, the monthly Music at the Mount, free Music Bingo and Trivia nights. If you are timing a visit around an event, see what's on here.
Common questions
Do I need to book?
Guided tastings can be reserved online through the cellar door page. For a casual visit, walk-ins are welcome.
How far is it from Cairns?
About 75 kilometres, or roughly an hour by car. Mareeba is about ten minutes away and Atherton about fifteen, so the distillery combines easily with the rest of the Tablelands.
Is there food at the cellar door?
Yes. The cellar door serves a cheese board at 35 dollars and a charcuterie board at 45 dollars, prepared fresh each morning and available daily during opening hours. Coffee from White Whale Coffee Roasters in Cairns is on from 10am, with tea, chai and hot chocolate too.
Can I buy bottles to take home?
Yes. Bottles are for sale at the cellar door, and they also ship Australia wide from the online shop.
Can we book the distillery for a private event?
Yes. The distillery hosts private functions from 6pm, for birthdays, corporate events, staff parties and milestone celebrations. The agreed function area becomes private for your group, on a minimum spend on Mt Uncle food and beverage. Enquire about private events.
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