A sugar cane train makes its way down the main street of Mossman

Mossman
Sugar milling town surrounded by fields of sugar cane.
Pity poor Mossman. There it is surrounded by a million tourists all eager to go and look at things and Mossman only has a sugar mill. The tourists who are staying at Cairns and Port Douglas all speed through the town on their way to the Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation National Park. They may, in the sugar harvesting season, be held up briefly as a sugar train makes its way across the main street to the sugar mill, but apart from that they have little cause to slow down.

Mossman is located 75 km from Cairns and 20 km from Port Douglas. It was named by the explorer George Dalrymple in 1873 after the minerals explorer Hugh Mosman. Mosman's fame is largely related to the moment when his 11-year-old Aboriginal servant, Jupiter, found gold at Charters Towers in 1872. The boom which followed the discovery did much to help the development of North Queensland.

The name of the town was changed from Mosman to Mossman to avoid confusion with the suburb in Sydney. A village was established in 1876. In 1896 the first sugarcane plantation was established in the area and the following year the Mossman sugar mill was opened.

Things to see:  

Mossman Gorge
To the west of the town is the Mossman Gorge, part of the Daintree River National Park. The park officers have constructed a series of walkways through the rainforest which allow visitors an excellent opportunity to inspect the fauna and flora of the region.

Sugar Mill Tours
In the crushing season from around June through to November a number of mills in the area are open for inspection.

	Tourist Information
	Queensland National Parks & Wildlife Services Mt Demi Plaza Cnr Front & Johnston Sts Mossman QLD 4873 Telephone: (07) 4098 2188
	Motels
	Demi­View Motel 41 Front St Mossman QLD 4873 Telephone: (07) 4098 1277 Rating: **
	Hotels
	Exchange Hotel 2 Front St Mossman QLD 4873 Telephone: (07) 4098 1410
	Mossman Hotel Front St Mossman QLD 4873 Telephone: (07) 4098 1417
	Royal Hotel 17 Front St Mossman QLD 4873 Telephone: (07) 4098 1468
	Lodges & Chalets
	Silky Oaks Lodge Finlayvale Rd Mossman QLD 4873 Telephone: 1800 737 678 or +61 2 9277 5050 worldwide Facsimile: +61 2 9299 2477 Email: reservations@poresorts.com Web site: http://www.silkyoakslodge.com.au Rating: ****
	Caravan Parks
	Mossman Bicentennial Caravan Park Foxton Ave Mossman QLD 4873 Telephone: (07) 4098 1922 Rating: ***
	Mossmon Gorge National Park Camping (permit required) Mossmon Gorge National Park Mossman QLD 4873 Telephone: (07) 4098 2188
	Newell Beach Caravan Park 44 Marine Pde Newell Beach Mossman QLD 4873 Telephone: (07) 4098 1331 Facsimile: (07) 4098 1331 Rating: ***
	Pinnacle Village Holiday Caravan Park Vixies Rd Wonga Beach Mossman QLD 4873 Telephone: (07) 4098 7566 Rating: ***1/2
	White Cockatoo Cabins 9 Alchera Dve Mossman QLD 4873 Telephone: (07) 4098 2222 Rating: ***
	Restaurants
	Chung Tai Chinese Restaurant Johnston Rd Mossman QLD 4873 Telephone: (07) 4098 1102
	Demi-View Restaurant 41 Front St Mossman QLD 4873 Telephone: (07) 4098 1277
	Exchange Bistro 2 Front St Mossman QLD 4873 Telephone: (07) 4098 1410
	High Falls Tropical Restaurant Whyanbeel Rd Miallo Mossman QLD 4873 Telephone: (07) 4098 8148
	Silky Oaks Restaurant Finlayvale Rd Mossman QLD 4873 Telephone: (07) 4098 1666