There are heaps of cool 'blokey' activities to do on the Atherton Tableland, west of Cairns. Just one of which is racing around the MakoTrac at Mareeba, about an hour's drive from Cairns.

AT first glance, the Tableland is a haven for romance where couples can cement their love or rekindle a fading flame.

But on a recent visit along the winding roads from Kuranda through Mareeba, Atherton and Yungaburra, I discovered a unique side to the region.  

It may not be well known that there is plenty of stuff for blokes to do when they want a bit of adventure and, dare I say it, relaxation.

It was a tough job but somebody had to do it.

There was strong coffee and a big steak for lunch, a dose of adrenaline on four wheels, old pubs with cold beer, a taste of locally brewed rum and an experience usually exclusively enjoyed by women, a hot stone massage.

Other must sees include fishing on Tinaroo Lake and a spin in go-karts at the world class MakoTrac facility near Mareeba.

There were also fantastic hours spent behind the wheel, driving through the sloping hills at a cruising speed that was so enjoyable it was almost a disappointment to reach each destination.

I say almost, because it’s difficult to be disappointed with the spots I visited.

First stop, Skybury’s Australian Coffee Centre. The Tableland is renowned as possibly Australia's top spot for a hit of caffeine, with award-winning coffee crops dotted across the region.

But the sprawling plantation and remarkable architecture at Skybury, near Mareeba, is the mother of all coffee centres.

To appreciate the complexity and scale of the Skybury operation, it's best to start with an escorted tour.

Expert guides explain the life cycle of coffee and the farming processes needed to take it from a seed all the way to your cup.

Best of all, you can impress people - mainly women - with an intimate knowledge of the humble coffee bean after a tasting of various blends and roasts.

Armed with the background story to Australia’s oldest coffee plantation, you can kick back on the majestic deck overlooking the undulating hills of the property and enjoy a cold beer and a man-sized portion of medium rare steak for lunch.

Next on any bloke’s to do list should be Mt Uncle Distillery at Walkamin, for a post-lunch tasting of locally made premium spirits.

Specifically, you should road test the yet to be released Platinum white rum, three times distilled and due for release in January.

Mt Uncle Distillery is also set to launch its own vodka and whiskey, so lovers of premium spirits should make room on their top shelf in advance.

Armed with a full stomach after lunch and a responsible taste of alcohol, it’s probably time to take your bottle of Mt Uncle liqueur or spirit back to your accommodation for a nightcap or two in preparation for the next day’s adrenaline fuelled action.

And a morning ATV quad bike ride and barbecue lunch at Blazing Saddles off the Kennedy Highway between Kuranda and Mareeba is the place to do it.

Cruising through the rainforest on four wheels is, without doubt, an essential experience for every full blooded male - and girl - with a need for speed and adventure.

Guides provide full briefings before each tour so first time riders can comfortably tackle the zig-zagging track.

After a half-day adventure on four wheels, there is only one way to cap off the ultimate bloke’s tour of the Tableland, a hot stone massage at Eden House Retreat and Mountain Spa.

It was with some trepidation that I stepped into the tranquil surrounds of the Tablelands' only dedicated spa centre.

This was supposed to be a tour for men doing manly things, after all. But the Eden House Mountain Spa is fast becoming popular with local lads.

I was booked in for an hour long hot stone massage, billed as a “unique, therapeutic treatment using hot stones and organic coconut oil combined with rhythmic massage techniques to release tension, toxins, stress and soothe the body”.

Despite my reservations, the truth is that the massage was absolutely brilliant, and lived up to the elaborate description on the brochure.

Eden House owner Gordon Chuck said males account for just three per cent of all spa and massage treatments across the industry.

If only blokes realised what women have known all along, massages and spa treatments kick arse, especially after a non-stop rum tasting, steak eating, coffee drinking, four-wheel riding adventure.

For more information about tours and activities on the Atherton Tableland, check out the links below:

> Activities and things to do in the Cairns region

> Book accommodation on the Atherton Tableland

> More information about holidays on the Atherton Tableland, west of Cairns

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