Perched high on the fertile soils of the Atherton Tablelands, just west of Mareeba, Skybury Cafe & Roastery isn’t just a café — it’s a pilgrimage site for coffee lovers and curious travellers alike. This is where Australia’s coffee story truly takes root.
Skybury is home to Australia’s oldest commercial coffee plantation, established in 1987 by Ian and Marion MacLaughlin, and today remains a family‑run celebration of crop‑to‑cup culture. Here, more than 90,000 coffee trees flourish under Queensland’s tropical sun, producing award‑winning Arabica that’s as deeply fragrant as the sweeping countryside views that surround it.
Since opening its café and working roastery in 2006, Skybury has evolved into one of the Atherton Tablelands’ most beloved tourism destinations. Locals and visitors alike make the scenic drive to its elevated verandah just to sip freshly roasted brews, enjoy light lunches, and soak in the panorama of rolling hills.
The café experience is as layered as the coffee itself. Alongside expertly prepared espressos, flat whites, cold brews and barista‑crafted specials, guests can indulge in farm‑fresh cakes, scones and seasonal dishes inspired by the very produce grown around them — including Skybury’s signature sweet red papayas.
Inside, interpretive displays and a virtual coffee tour deepen the connection between crop and cup, while the adjacent gift shop offers freshly roasted beans and a suite of plantation‑made goods to take home. Whether it’s a casual catch‑up over coffee or a relaxed lunch with a view, Skybury blends hospitality with genuine agricultural pride — a true FNQ gem.
Visit Skybury
