The Lions Den
About this opportunity
The Lions Den Hotel is one of Australia’s most recognisable outback pubs — a legendary Cape York landmark with a national following and a constant stream of travellers who plan their entire journey around stopping here. As a freehold tourism asset with multiple income streams, strong brand power, and a captive adventure-tourism market, this is a rare opportunity to step into a business with enormous commercial and lifestyle appeal.
What sets the Lions Den apart is its unique combination of history, character, and high-performing tourism trade. The venue attracts 4WD adventurers, caravanners, motorbike riders, backpackers, and international travellers seeking an authentic outback experience. With accommodation, camping, food, beverage, merchandise, and events all contributing to revenue, incoming owners inherit a diversified, resilient business model built for long-term success.
The freehold component adds significant value. The property sits on 2.75 hectares of freehold land, giving incoming owners full control over the hotel, accommodation, powered sites, camping areas, amenities, outdoor dining spaces, event areas, and operational outbuildings. The size and layout of the land provide excellent scope for future expansion, including additional cabins, glamping, premium powered sites, or enhanced event infrastructure. All existing buildings and improvements form part of the freehold, ensuring long-term security and flexibility for the next operator.
Key improvements include:
- Historic hotel building featuring the main bar, indoor dining areas, memorabilia display, and service counters
- Commercial kitchen equipped for high-volume food service, including all-day pizzas
- Outdoor dining areas with covered and open-air seating
- Beer garden and shaded social spaces
- Live music and entertainment area used for regular weekend performances and events
- Accommodation buildings, including private rooms and lodge-style cabins (as per online booking portal)
- Powered caravan sites with access to amenities
- Unpowered camping areas set within the natural rainforest surrounds
- Amenities blocks including toilets, showers, and laundry facilities
- Reception and merchandise area for check-ins and retail sales
- Operational outbuildings including storage sheds and service structures
- Parking and manoeuvring areas suitable for caravans, 4WDs, and tour groups
- Outdoor event spaces capable of hosting gatherings, live music, and seasonal activations
- Creekside access areas forming part of the visitor experience and natural attraction
These improvements are well-established and integral to the hotel’s long-standing reputation as a Cape York destination. The size and layout of the land provide ample scope for further development, including additional cabins, glamping, premium powered sites, or expanded event infrastructure.
Business Story
The Lions Den Hotel is a true Australian icon — a historic outback pub set on a 2.75-hectare freehold site surrounded by rainforest, creeks, and Cape York adventure routes. As one of the most famous stops in Far North Queensland, the hotel benefits from a constant flow of travellers seeking an authentic, character-rich experience. This built-in demand forms the backbone of a strong, diversified business model that includes bar and bistro trade, accommodation, powered sites, camping, merchandise, and regular live music events.
The freehold title includes all buildings and improvements: the hotel building, commercial kitchen, accommodation rooms, amenities blocks, powered and unpowered sites, outdoor dining structures, event spaces, and operational outbuildings. The landholding provides excellent flexibility for future development, allowing incoming owners to expand accommodation, enhance the campground, or introduce new tourism experiences as demand continues to grow.
Operationally, the venue is designed to handle high seasonal volumes with ease. The bar and dining areas provide a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere, while the outdoor spaces and campground capture significant additional spend from overnight guests. The kitchen is known for its all-day pizzas and hearty meals, a major drawcard for both locals and travellers.
With multiple income streams, a loyal following, and significant expansion opportunities, the Lions Den Hotel represents one of the most compelling tourism and hospitality freeholds in Cape York.
Our People
Denny brings a distinguished career spanning corporate management, national and international FMCG organisations, and hands on ownership of multiple small businesses. His background includes extensive experience in operational management, sales and marketing leadership, franchise management, and the successful ownership and operation of motels, courier services, and supermarket businesses.
Recognising a gap in the market for a communicator with deep operational insight and genuine commercial understanding, Denny established his business broking practice in 2007. Drawing on decades of combined corporate and small business experience, he has elevated the standard of business brokering through the creation of the Business Sales Group—comprising of NQ Business Sales, CQ Business Sales, FNQ Business Sales and SEQ Business Sales.
Today, the Business Sales Group operates as a highly automated, technology driven organisation, delivering exceptional reach, rapid response times, and a consistently professional product. This modern platform has set new benchmarks in efficiency, presentation, and buyer engagement.
Denny’s focus remains unwavering: to support both sellers and buyers throughout the transaction process and deliver outcomes that are fair, transparent, and commercially sound. He continues to grow the business footprint while embracing the latest technologies to ensure clients receive a premium, high quality service.
Elliott Millar is a business broker dedicated to making the sales journey clear, supported, and stress free for business owners. With five years’ experience as a Marine Engineering Officer in the Royal New Zealand Navy — including a secondment to the Royal Australian Navy — he brings a calm, structured, and dependable approach to every transaction. His background “supporting engineering teams in the management of critical naval assets” shaped his ability to stay composed under pressure and guide people through complex processes with clarity.
Elliott’s focus is simple: ensure clients feel informed, understood, and confident from the first conversation through to settlement. He breaks the sales process into clear, manageable steps, sets realistic expectations, and provides steady guidance so owners never feel overwhelmed or uncertain.
He works closely with clients to understand their goals, prepare their business for market, and present it in a way that reflects its true strengths. His people first leadership style — developed through mentoring teams and coordinating high stakes operations — ensures every client receives patient communication, thoughtful advice, and consistent support.
Whether managing enquiries, coordinating with buyers, or facilitating a smooth handover, Elliott prioritises transparency, communication, and a positive experience for all involved. His commitment extends beyond completing a transaction; he aims to make the entire process easier, more comfortable, and genuinely supported.
Elliott’s promise to his clients: clear communication, steady support, and a sales process that feels manageable every step of the way.
Phil started his working career in purchasing with large and multi-national companies in Sydney.
A family relocation to Bowen in 1974 was the catalyst to owning his own business.
Phil has been in various businesses from Pest Control to Delicatessen/Takeaway and has for the last 39 years built a wholesale business that has served Bowen, Whitsundays, Mackay and the Coalfields, from 1 truck and himself to 6 trucks and 15 employees.
This has given Phil a very solid knowledge of the area from Bowen to Rockhampton and what it takes to thrive in business there.
Phil has a strong knowledge of business and business practices built through the process of growing his own business as well as time spent on State Franchise Council and dealing with the many changing government policies in those 39 years.
The process of selling his own business has shown Phil the real need for a locally based business broker, easily contacted and heavily focused on the Central Queensland area, which has led to his involvement in CQ Business Brokers.