Coffee was first planted commercially in the Mareeba district in the late 1980s, and the industry has grown steadily to make the region Australia's dominant coffee-producing area. The Atherton Tablelands offer a rare combination of factors that produce exceptional beans: rich red basalt soil from ancient volcanic activity, reliable rainfall during the growing season, and elevation between 400 and 600 metres that provides the cooler nights arabica coffee needs to develop complex flavours.

Unlike most of the world's coffee, Mareeba beans are machine-harvested and processed locally, giving growers complete control over quality from tree to cup. The result is a distinctly Australian coffee - clean, smooth, and low in acidity - that has won national and international awards. Most Mareeba coffee is sold within Australia, making a visit to the plantations one of the few places you can taste genuinely Australian-grown single-origin coffee.

Jaques Coffee is one of Australia's largest single-estate coffee plantations, with 85,000 arabica trees spread across 60 hectares of rich red volcanic soil. The family-owned plantation has been growing coffee since 1999 and offers both guided and self-guided tours through the working plantation.

Open daily. Located on Leotta Road, Mareeba. Restaurant on-site. Group bookings available.

Skybury is one of Australia's pioneer coffee estates, growing premium arabica coffee and tropical fruits including papaya on the rich soils of the Atherton Tablelands since 1987. The estate offers plantation tours, a cafe with panoramic views over the coffee fields, and direct sales of their award-winning single-origin beans.

Located on Doyle Road, Paddy's Green (10 minutes from Mareeba town). Cafe open for breakfast and lunch.

Coffee Works in Mareeba town is a combined coffee roastery, museum, and chocolate experience. Watch coffee being roasted, learn about the history of Australian coffee production in the museum gallery, sample a range of single-origin coffees, and indulge in handmade chocolates. A popular stop for coach tours and independent visitors alike.

Located at 136 Mason Street, Mareeba (in town). Open 7 days. Coach and group bookings welcome.

The Australian coffee-growing industry is small by global standards, but it punches above its weight on quality. The Mareeba district accounts for the majority of national production, with plantations ranging from small boutique operations to large commercial estates with tens of thousands of trees.

FNQ Growers, established in 1944, represents the horticultural industry in the region and supports coffee growers alongside other crop producers. The annual Mareeba Coffee Festival, typically held in September, celebrates the local industry with barista competitions, cupping sessions, plantation open days, and coffee-inspired food and entertainment.

Beyond the major plantations, several smaller growers in the Mareeba and Atherton Tablelands area offer boutique coffee experiences. Many local cafes serve locally grown beans - ask for “Tablelands coffee” or “local roast” when ordering.

The three main coffee plantations can be visited in a single day from Mareeba town. Jaques Coffee and Skybury are both located a short drive from town along rural roads, while Coffee Works is right in the centre of Mareeba on Mason Street. A self-drive coffee trail takes around half a day, or a full day if you combine it with other Tablelands attractions.

The harvest season from June to October is the most interesting time to visit, as you can see picking and processing in action. However, all three plantations offer tours and tastings year-round. Guided tours from Cairns are available for those without their own vehicle, often combined with other Tablelands highlights like Granite Gorge or the Curtain Fig Tree.

Buying coffee beans direct from the plantations is often cheaper than retail and ensures maximum freshness. Most plantations also ship Australia-wide if you want to continue enjoying Mareeba coffee after your visit.

Australia is one of the few developed nations that grows coffee commercially. While production is tiny compared to Brazil, Colombia, or Ethiopia, Australian coffee - primarily from the Mareeba district - is recognised for its consistently high quality, clean processing methods, and fair-trade growing conditions.

Mareeba coffee has gained recognition at national and international specialty coffee awards. The clean, low-acid profile of Tablelands arabica makes it popular for espresso blends and single-origin filter coffee. For coffee enthusiasts, visiting the source of Australian coffee is a unique experience that cannot be replicated anywhere else in the country.