How We Operate

Mt Jukes is fully off-grid. Every choice on this property — from how the power runs to what happens with the surplus food — is intentional.

This page is a plain record of how the retreat works and what that means for the land.

Energy & Water

The retreat runs entirely on solar power with battery storage. No mains connection.

Water: 400,000 litres of harvested rainwater stored on site. Every tap on the property is filtered to commercial kitchen-grade drinking water from every outlet.

The spring water has No chlorine. No treatment. Mineral-rich water from the earth.

Food & Land

750+ trees have been planted on the property. The fruit forest alone has 350+ trees across 50 varieties. Land management follows permaculture principles — building soil, encouraging biodiversity, planting with purpose.

All produce grown on the property is organic. Meals for retreats and accommodation guests are made from scratch by Aune using seasonal produce from the property and local farms.

Surplus produce from the property goes to local homeless shelters and women’s shelters. What the property grows, the community shares.

Firewood

Fire is part of life on the property from April through September. Firewood is included with all two-night stay bookings.

We source firewood responsibly and use the fire pits as a genuine part of the off-grid experience — not as an aesthetic add-on.

The Spring

The natural spring at Mt Jukes runs cold and clear through 32-million-year-old volcanic rocks. No chlorine. No additives.

Swimming in the spring is available to all-day retreat and staying guests. It is one of the more unusual things about this place — mineral-rich water from ancient rock, right here on the property.

The Small Choices Add Up

  • Bidets in every bathroom — significantly less paper waste
  • 100% solar off-grid — no mains power drawn
  • 400,000 litres of rainwater harvested and stored on site
  • Commercial kitchen-grade water filtering — every tap is drinking water
  • Natural spring — no chlorine, no treatment
  • All property produce is organic
  • 750+ trees planted — permaculture managed
  • Surplus produce is gifted to local homeless shelters and women’s shelters
  • Firewood included — two-night stays

Mt Jukes Eco Retreat acknowledges the Yuwibara People as the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we operate in the Mackay region. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present, and emerging.

Caring for this land is not a brand position. It is an ongoing responsibility.