Kennedy Springs Country Escape covers over 80 hectares in the picturesque natural settings of the Kirrama Range in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. The fully equipped homestead can comfortably sleep up to 7 people and features a campfire space with uninterrupted views of the sanctuary and Girringun National Park.
Enjoy bushwalking, wildlife viewing and swimming in crystal clear rainforest fed creeks, or take a short trip to the sister-property Meunga Creek Farm to learn about holistic cattle farming as part of the Mahogany Glider Recovery Project.
Kennedy Springs is located in close proximity to Blencoe Falls, Hinchinbrook Island, Cardwell and Mission Beach.
Rusty Smith and Justine Douglas are the owners of Kennedy Springs, a cattle farm, wildlife sanctuary and eco-accommodation for short-term farm stays. Rusty and Justine are currently conducting ecological surveys in conjunction with conservation groups in order to gain a better understanding of the wildlife on their property.
The property features extensive natural vegetation as well as several permanent springs and 3 perennial watercourses, Kennedy, Alma and Leike Creeks.Vegetation consists mainly of open eucalypt communities dominated by forest red gums (E. teriticornis), with ironbark (E. paniculata), stringybark (E. obliqua), moreton bay ash (Corymbia tessellaris) and mahogany interspersed with improved pasture and native grass species. The property also features eucalypt woodlands with shrubs and pockets of scrub in some areas. Riparian communities also occur along the watercourse and feature vine forest, watergums, melaleuca species and Queensland maples (Flindersia brayleyana). The property also features spring fed communities and pandanus swamp communities.
Wildlife found on the property includes sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps), agile wallabies (Macropus agilis), freshwater turtles and freshwater fish such as jungle perch (Kuhlia rupestris), black bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri) and mangrove jack (Lutjanus argentimaculatus). Spotted-tailed quolls (Dasyurus maculatus), mahogany gliders (Petaurus gracilis) and tree kangaroos (Dendrolagus lumholtzi) have also been sighted near the property.
Kennedy Springs also houses a wide variety of migratory and resident bird species including southern cassowaries (Casuarius casuarius), paradise kingfishers (Tanysiptera spp.), plains turkeys (Ardeotis australis), blue-winged (Dacelo leachii) and laughing (Dacelo novaeguineae) kookaburras, red tailed black cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus banksii), black-necked storks (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus), buff-banded rails (Gallirallus philippensis), quails, wedge-tailed eagles (Aquila audax), large-tailed nightjars (Caprimulgus macrurus), rainbow lorikeets (Trichoglossus moluccanus), barn owls (Tyto alba), rainbow bee-eaters (Merops ornatus), dollar birds (Eurystomus orientalis) and various raptors. The Brolga (Grus rubicunda) is sometimes seen in grazing pastures where billabongs and freshwater swamps occur.
Contact the owner
This sanctuary has been listed by Rusty Smith and Justine Douglas who can be contacted by phone on 0437 630 577 or douglassmith10@bigpond.com
