Veuve Clicquot has brought its first Sun Escape luxury takeover to Australia’s outback, pairing champagne, fine dining and guided wilderness experiences at Mt Mulligan Lodge in Far North Queensland.
The experience, which begins on October 1 and runs until August 31 next year, is set on a 28,000-hectare working cattle station near Ngarrabullgan, also known as Mount Mulligan. The lodge accommodates up to 28 guests and is reached by a 22-minute charter flight from Cairns.
After crossing the coast and travelling over eucalyptus woodland and red earth, visitors arrive beside the sandstone escarpment to find safari vehicles and chilled champagne waiting on the airstrip.
Veuve Clicquot Sun Escape reaches the outback
The French champagne house has staged similar events in destinations including Aspen, Singapore, Toronto, Las Vegas and Sydney. Its latest venture takes the concept into a landscape far removed from the traditional vineyard or city setting.
The lodge’s main pavilion opens towards an infinity pool beside a river weir, while accommodation includes riverside suites with open-air tin baths. Guests are warned that a crocodile lives in the area, although the water is considered safe for paddleboarding and kayaking.
Dining forms a central part of the stay. An evening meal cooked over an open flame includes Balmain bugs with Café de Paris butter, tiger prawns and bone-in rib-eye, alongside sweet potato served with honeycomb and sage butter.
The meal is paired with several vintages of La Grande Dame, Veuve Clicquot’s prestige cuvée, including the 2018 La Grande Dame Brut. Champagne years ending in eight are regarded by the house as particularly strong, with the 1928 and 1988 vintages among those held in high regard.
The following morning begins before dawn, with guests travelling in yellow, Clicquot-branded all-terrain vehicles to watch the sunrise over Ngarrabullgan. The mountain is sacred to the Kuku Djungan people, with occupation dating back about 37,000 years, and is associated with the Rainbow Serpent of the Dreamtime.
Guests are advised not to remove anything from the mountain. The area is also known for wedge-tailed eagles, whose appearance is considered a sign of being on the right path, although none were seen during the visit.
A hike leads to a natural swimming hole among the rocks, while other activities include bush excursions and time by the mineral pool. The stay culminates in a version of Veuve Clicquot’s Le Picnic, held beside the lodge pool with food prepared by Melbourne chef Audrey Shaw of Fitzroy’s Carnation Canteen.
The menu includes prawn cocktail and linguine made with coral trout marinated in Yellow Label champagne. A DJ provides music as guests dine beside the pool into the evening.
The Luxury Couples Experience costs from 27,300 Australian dollars per couple for two nights, including helicopter transfers and dining. A three-night Luxury Takeover for up to 28 guests is also available, with the price provided on application.
The project draws on the history of Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin, who took over her family’s champagne house in Reims after the death of her husband in 1805. Known as the Grande Dame of Champagne, she is credited with innovations including the riddling table, vintage champagne and blended rosé.
