Atherton Tablelands Farm stay bed and breakfast accommodation Barking Owl Retreat is a small 41 acre cattle fattening property in Kairi on the Cairns Highlands. And is home to a small heard of droughtmaster steers, farm dogs 'Bear' the red Australian cattle dog, 'Neo' the Mini Fox Terrier, and Chinese Geese Tully & Lilly.
You can see the cows up close when they are fed molasses in their yards. Many guests have pointed out that it is so quiet and peaceful here on our property that you can actually hear the
cows eating their grass! The Farm dogs 'Neo' and 'Bear' always chaperone all of
our guests when they walk down to go fishing in the retreat's private Dam. The Chinese Geese 'Tully' and 'Lilly' also ensure to greet all of guests with their honk honk sound as they swim gracefully around the pond by the office.
'Neo' the Mini Fox Terrier is the oldest of our two dogs, and he is clearly the sweetest when guests arrive. He will beg for a pat. 'Neo' can generally be seen chasing dragonflys or butterflys. Our youngest and largest dog is 'Bear' the Australian Red Cattle Dog who we purchased from 'Cooroorah Australian Cattle Dog Breeders' in Childers, Queensland. 'Bear' is continually swimming in the pond at the house with our other newer addition of animals - The Chinese Geese. The gander is 'Tully' and his lady is 'Lilly'. 'Lilly' lived up to her name and nested in the lillies by the duck pond last year for some time. Firstly on a broken rain gage, secondly on a tangerine, then later on a mini tennis ball. She would not leave her nest even though she didn't have any eggs. The dogs unfortunately dined on her eggs daily before she sat. I wondered why they suddenly had such beautiful coats! Eventually 'Lilly' gave up. She will be a good mother some day. Well that day hopefully will come sooner rather than later as she is now sitting on 4 eggs (August 2010) which I carefully hid in the cupboard away from the dogs, and when she was ready to sit, I placed them next to her on her nest. She was thrilled and almost smiling as she rolled them ever so gently under her warm belly with her beak.
Here at Barking Owl Retreat you wake to the sound of bird song and hopefully will also be
lucky enough to hear the Barking Owl's soft wook-wook call as the sun sets.
Your Hosts Chris & Tanya Bassford
409 Hough Rd, Po Box 85, Kairi
Atherton Tablelands, Cairns Highlands
Far North Queensland, 4872, Australia
Phone/Fax 07 4095 8455
International +61 7 4095 8455
Mobile 0407 695 685
Email nest@barkingowlretreat.com.au