The Heart of the Ark Just like a Garden of Eden, Tranquilla offers visitors a feast for the senses, writes Eugenie Navarre

The tropical plantation Hacienda Tranquilla stands in the midst of an internationally acclaimed garden, the unique Botanical Ark north of Mossman. This property is aptly named. A 12ha expansive garden, Ark contains rare endangered plants that have been rescued from around the globe. Alan and Suzy Carle's rescue missions are in the style of the biblical Noah who saved the World's animals in his floating ark. Alan's intrepid adventures into wild jungle to retrieve plants almost extinct, has proven over the years to be a dangerous pursuit.

To facilitate these extraordinary and expensive rescues, the Carle's vacate their wide veranda plantation- style home tucked into the heart of the Ark, and allow paying guests to experience this Garden of Eden. In recent years, the Botanical Ark has emerged as an international success story, winning the prestigious international Slow Food Award in 2001, with emphasis on dishes that incorporate taste bud delights from the Botanical Ark.

Guests who choose the Tranquilla experience have a rare opportunity to pick fruit and flowers from the rescued plants that now thrive. Tranquilla , beside a freshwater mountain stream and waterfall, offers a picture postcard perfect backdrop to a garden that is proving just two individuals can save part of our most precious gift, the environment.

One reaches Tranquilla through the hectares of plants, a memorable visual and sense experience. This house is a sensible tropical abode with large open timber decks reminiscent of the tea plantation homes of Asia. Bedrooms open on to the verandas, offering the nocturnal sounds of the forest. The house was built with the climate and environment in mind, a place for ease of living in a steamy tropical environment. It has been updated with a spa in a marbled bathroom, and a fully equipped gourmet kitchen.

This is the workplace where Suzy Carle prepares tropical delights for guests that arrive from around the World. Suzy's specialties, with recipes from their book The Botanical Ark, include cassava rossi, mango salsa, pomelo salad, coconut lime dressing, and Guanabana daiquiri.

Tranquilla takes its place among the most spectacular North Queensland houses representational of true tropical living.