The beginning of a dream
Our story
In the early 1990s, Nick and Amelia Hannaford, the creative minds behind Flames of the Forest, began a wild love affair with Tropical North Queensland.
They made (or rather didn’t make!) a living selling produce from their tropical orchard at the local Port Douglas market, and dazzling locals and visitors alike with their introduction of Green Ant Juice, made from… well, green ants. Locally caught by hand, of course.
After one too many occupational bites from the little critters with the tasty butts, Nick came up with a practical combination to rid the property of the pests while making money at the same time.
A huge thank you to the fabulous Flames team for the Chairman's Club event. The food, ambience, and service was superb - it was very special made only by all of your Flames team efforts.
Heather Coplestone
Director, Destination Pacific Australia
In their lush rainforest garden, the Hannafords began throwing spectacular themed parties, setting up banquet tables in the middle of the babbling creek. They introduced elves, pixies, and faeries, alongside other wonderful woodland characters for entertainment, serving tropically inspired three- course meals to guests… not forgetting soursop and green ant daiquiris!
Word soon spread of the wonders happening in the rainforest. Together with Nick’s chef training, Amelia’s creative spark, and both for their offbeat event ideas and seamless execution, demand for special events outside their friendship network began.
Their originality was celebrated with national recognition in hospitality and tourism industry awards, and international guests who had heard about these completely unique events in the middle of the tropical North Queensland rainforest - they then knew they were onto something special.
More than twenty years on, Flames of the Forest has gained global recognition for its creativity and truly distinctive event space implementation, and is Australia’s only genuinely immersive rainforest dining experience.
Whether you are looking to hold a corporate event, a wedding, or throw a special birthday celebration; whether you’d like to experience an evening with Traditional Landowners telling stories from the Dreamtime, or be enveloped by music and beats under a rainforest canopy, Flames of The Forest will ensure your evening is unforgettable.
Guests never know what surprises await them when invited to an event at Flames of the Forest.