The best way to appreciate why our coffee is so highly regarded across the world is to join us on a fully escorted tour of the coffee plantation. Day tours are available departing from Cairns, Cairns Beaches and Port Douglas or you can self drive to the centre. We also specialise in catering for educational groups.

Skybury Plantation Tour

The Skybury Plantation Tour is a fully escorted tour, undertaken by our expert tour guides. Departing at 10.30am, 11.45pm and 2.15pm, and taking approximately 1 hour, the tour will take you on a journey of coffee discovery. You will discover why the Mareeba area provides the perfect growing conditions for some of the world’s finest coffee.

Returning to the coffee centre, you will see at close hand a working dry processing plant. Here you will learn how dried coffee is processed, graded and bagged - ready to be exported around the world in our distinctive Hessian sacks.

In the coffee lab, your guide introduces you to coffee tasting or ‘cupping’, a traditional practice used to evaluate quality and taste. Your guide will explain how coffee taste is affected by processing systems, roasting and storage conditions. Through specially chosen samples, you will taste for yourself how different processes produce different coffee flavours. If time permits you will learn some of the skills of the coffee barista, explaining the importance of roast, grind and extraction, as well as the various ways of preparing coffee.

Your tour finishes with a viewing of the amazing ‘Coffee Dreams’ movie. The movie showcases the diversity and history of our region, contrasting the creation of the area in the aboriginal ‘dreamtime’ with the modern stewardship of the land on the plantation. You will see the plantation in flower, the locally built coffee harvester in action, the Skybury wet plant processing fresh coffee cherries and hear the stories of those who work the land.

Educational Groups

Mum and Dad probably drink it, but where does it come from? The Australian Coffee Centre is a great place for kids and young adults to learn how coffee is grown, harvested and processed - all on Australia's oldest coffee plantation!!

Why not swap your indoor classroom for an outdoor classroom at our amazing coffee plantation. We offer guided tours of the plantation, all undertaken by those who work on the farm. Our standard tour includes the following:

• An introduction to coffee trees, how we grow them and feed them and why the Mareeba area is perfect for growing coffee;
• Viewing of the mighty Skybury Coffee harvester (except when it is harvesting in inaccessible areas);
• Learn how coffee is processed on the farm, then see our great Coffee Dreams movie.

The tour takes approximately one hour, depending on the size of the group. We encourage the kids to touch, feel, explore and question and stimulate their imagination.

The Centre is surrounded by acres of native gardens and wildlife that lives in this area.

We cater for any size group and we can tailor our tour to suit your needs. Just ring and discuss with our functions co-ordinator. We invite you to visit the plantation in advance and join one of our guided tours to familiarise yourself with what we can offer. This will help to plan your excursion.

School Group Pricing (incl. GST)

• Children under 4 years: Free of charge
• Children between 4-14 years: $8.75 per child
• Students between 14-18 years: $14.65 per student
• One adult per 10 children free of charge. Additional adults $14.00 per person

We can even organise lunch - please contact our Centre Manager for more information.

Tour Bookings

Bookings can be made by contacting The Australian Coffee Centre direct by emailing info@skybury.com.au or phoning +61 7 4093 2190. Current terms and conditions are available on request.