GOLD for Cape York Peninsula Lodge at 2022 Australian Tourism Awards
Indigenous-owned Cape York Peninsula Lodge has added a new accolade to its growing list of titles, winning Gold in the 4-4.5 Star Deluxe Accommodation category at the annual 2022 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, held in Sydney on 17 March 2023.
Cape York Peninsula Lodge is in the township of Bamaga in Far North Queensland’s Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) and close to Pajinka, the northern-most point of mainland Australia.
The Lodge is operated by Bamaga Enterprises Limited (BEL), a First Nations, community-owned organisation that reinvests its profits into scholarships, sponsorships, and community infrastructure.
Cape York Peninsula Lodge was selected as a finalist for the Australian Tourism Awards following its multiple-award win at the 2022 Queensland Tourism Awards in November 2022, winning Gold in the 4-4.5 Star Deluxe Accommodation category, and Silver in conjunction with BEL in the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Tourism category.
Cape York Peninsula Lodge Manager Harrison Mylrea (pictured far left) and BEL Director/Company Secretary Mark Lewis (pictured left) attended the Qantas Awards held at Sydney’s Dolton House on Darling Island.
BEL Chairperson Robert Poipoi said this new accolade for the Lodge recognised its outstanding hospitality and the unique cultural experiences it offered guests travelling to one of the world’s most extraordinary destinations.
“We are fortunate to be located in a special part of Australia where both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures live side by side,” Mr Poipoi said.
“Our guests can experience an interactive cultural performance illustrating the story of how we came to the NPA, our history, languages, musical instruments and dances through local groups such as the award-winning Naygayiw Gigi.”
In 2022, the Lodge added unique, Indigenous-guided tours to its array of guest experiences on offer.
“Our tours to Pajinka and Fruit Bat Falls to the south offer guests a rare opportunity to learn even more about the region as they journey through the natural wonders of Cape York and the NPA with an Indigenous guide,” Mr Poipoi said.
Guests can also enjoy traditional Torres Strait Islander dishes alongside modern Pacific-rim cuisine at the on-site Paperbark Restaurant.
The Lodge features 44 guest rooms, event facilities, a restaurant, hire car services, a pool, garden walks, Indigenous tours and other guest services. All guest rooms are appointed with quality fittings and furnishings that perfectly suit the hot and tropical climate of Cape York.
In 2022, BEL invested in and opened two significant tourism developments. These included a new 18-seater bus with 4X4 conversion, enabling Indigenous-owned and operated cultural tours to explore the NPA, and 15 motel-style units, providing much-needed mid-range accommodation to the region. Cape York Peninsula Lodge also upgraded its five onsite cabins to include ensuites and a kitchenette.
About Bamaga Enterprises Ltd
Bamaga Enterprises Ltd (BEL) was incorporated on 12 April 2002 and is an independent, Bamaga community-owned company.
The Indigenous organisation aims to support the community through the provision of infrastructure, and by funding local project development, sporting organisations and individuals through donations and sponsorships.
BEL is carefully managed so that funds generated can be reinvested into the community and to date has provided over $3 million in funding through its Socio Support Policy.
BEL operates BP Bamaga, Bamaga Tavern, Cape York Peninsula Lodge, Bamaga Motel and most recently, the local Australia Post branch.
Bamaga itself is a small town near the northernmost point of Queensland in the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA). As the gateway to Cape York and Pajinka, Bamaga subsequently attracts many visitors, including tourists, and those from the government and corporate sector.
