Munupi Wilderness Lodge has been the proud host to world renown fisherman and journalists. Aside from superb fishing in spectacular surrounds, Munupi Lodge’s exquisite food, relaxed atmosphere and friendly staff created a truly memorable experience.
Renowned fisherman who have enjoyed Munupi Lodge and the surrounding estuaries and rivers include Mark Berg, Rex Hunt, Powderfinger’s JC, Curtis Stone & Ben O’Donoghue, Jason Kennedy (Fishin Trip), Andrew Ettinghisn (ET), Steve Starling, Kaj Bush, Dean Lukin, AFL Stars – Dean Rioli, Maurice Rioli, Lindsey Gilbee, Ryan Griffin and Rugby Stars Phil Waugh, Dean Mumm, Alistair Baxter and Patrick McCutcheon, Rick Huckstep and many more.
Above is a testimonial from Australian television presenter Mark Berg from the show Fishing Addictions. Mark Berg is also featured on over half a million fishing DVDs in Australia. In this testimonial, Mark talks about his time at Munupi/Clearwater Lodge and why it’s one of his favourite places to visit and fish.
A measure of where I go fishing in my spare time, is if I have been to a certain place and I return as a paying guest. One such place is Munupi Lodge on Melville Island. The lodge offers a perfect base for me to explore some of my favourite Barra estuaries. The Black Jewfish of this region are also the best and most prolific I have found anywhere. I also like to drift along the flats in search of cruising Threadfin salmon. I find the lodge and its facilities to be comfortable and safe and the food is of a very high standard. I can thoroughly endorse Munupi Lodge.
Kind Regards,
Rex Hunt
Through my job as the bass guitarist in Powderfinger I have travelled extensively over the last 20 years and have been lucky enough to have some great life experiences. My recent experience fishing on Melville Island while staying at Clearwater Lodge/Munupi Wilderness Lodge was one of my favourites.
From the moment you arrive in this idyllic setting you realise you have landed in a very special place. We were greeted by owners Michael and Kerri and fishing guide Dave. The lodge itself is perfect for dining and socialising after a fantastic day fishing. The rooms are comfortable with air condition and the beds are big enough to sleep sideways if one wishes. The kitchen works on the motto “more is more” when it comes to the food. They were happy to cook fish we had caught each day and we were able to try many beautiful dishes from battered Barramundi to grilled or poached Mangrove Jack and Fingermark, as well as the renowned seafood platter.
My passion for fishing was completely fulfilled whilst fishing these pristine waters. If you are a fan of flicking for Barra and Jacks you can’t go past the creeks of this magnificent place. Our guide Dave was equally brilliant and his preparedness to keep us on fish all day is a real testament to the professionalism of Clearwater Lodge.
In one word – awesome.
JC
I’ve travelled all over Australia, north, south, east and west catering to our audience on our TV show Fishin’ Trip. But the fishing at the Clearwater Island Lodge/Munupi Wilderness Lodge is by far like nothing I’ve ever experienced. To walk 30 yards to the boat and then be thrown into some of the hottest bait and lure angling this country has to offer I was pinching myself with disbelief. I hope that every fair dinkum angler has the opportunity to do this at once in their life.
It may sound selfish but I like the remoteness and personal service which Clearwater/Munupi management and their team offered us. The food is right up there with the fishing, to have a genuine home cooked meal every night whether it be fresh seafood, steak or the fish we had just caught was 5 star service on the mainland but it seemed a way of life on the Island.
Michael, David, Kez and the boys – JK is coming back to STOP THE BUS again.
Kind regards
Jason Kennedy
I think that filming surfing the menu has got to be the best job in Australia. Curtis and I get to go to some amazing places and meet some great people. I think that the time we spent at Munupi Lodge on Melville Island was up their with the best location that we filmed at. I love fishing and I love good food and at Munupi Lodge you get both. The fishing environment is pristine and the hospitality that was shown to us by Michael, Kerri and David was first class, and the food was definitely the best we had the whole third series. I am really looking forward to seeing the episode and hope to be back fishing soon. Munupi Lodge Rocks!
Ben O’Donoghue
Surfing the Menu
Despite not having the greatest time for tides, we all believed it to be the best fishing trip we had ever been on and would certainly have no reservations about recommending it to anyone who wishes to catch an abundance and variety of fish, learning new fishing techniques, or even catching that fish of a lifetime. Living was comfortable, the food sensational (those rissoles are right up there with the Barramundi, Golden Snapper, and chilli crab), and the service and professionalism of the guides were second to none. Thanks again, for my fish of a lifetime.
Richard Konarski
CEO Quest Apartments
Nick Suriano
Quest Apartments
Micah Adams
Fishing Journalist and Author
Never, have we eaten better. They treated these Americans like royalty. You name it, we got it. Except sunshine. When we booked here in Australia, you do not make a reservation, you make a booking. Michael so politely tried to ‘scare us off’ because of the frightful weather but the stubborn Americans needed another adventure and so, David and Michael graciously gave it to us!
The Barramundi is the fish these waters are famous for but my favourite was the powerful Queenfish. David put us on the Barra right off with me missing my first one (the big one, of course) but followed with another great spot. I have read that the Bonefish is the fastest fish in the ocean but I’ll race anyone’s Bonefish with this Queenie! WOW – I thought I’d hooked a torpedo. We could have caught hundreds of Mangrove Jacks and Golden Snapper (they just wouldn’t stay off our line!). I could write pages about the fantastic meals we were always served PLENTY of fresh sushi & Suze loves the pumpkin soup.
Suze and Jim
Travellers
After being encouraged from a mate to go fishing at Melville island i was interested but didn’t know how good it was going to be and how much of a life changing experience it was. The fishing and food was out of the world. From the the professional crew, boats and fishing gear through to the peaceful and completely natural location, i was blown away. The meals at night while watching the sunset was the freshest and most tasty seafood i have ever eaten. I though i would struggle being away from my family for 5 days but the intensity of the fishing and even catching the biggest Barramundi for the week at 87 cms, time went by so fast and so did the nights after having a few beers and talking about the days fishing. The managers are very special people who really have the gift of customer service and knowing how to fish too. They really care about everything from every meal, every hour out in the boats, and to the service they and their staff offer. All i can think about at nights is fishing as only got back 4 days ago and how to tell my family that we have to head back there next year as have to cancel trip to fiji. This may be a work in progress for me but i cant get the lodge out of my mind.
Everything you try just works beautifully. From spinning the flats for big barra, threadfin and blue salmon, bottom bouncing for the ball tearing black jewfish and golden snapper, prospecting unfished creeks for ravenous barra and mangrove jack and of course the mind blowing bluewater fishing for a host of pelagic and reef species. Couple this with a magnificent sunset view over Apsley Strait, to die for meals and very comfortable air conditioned accommodation with all the mod cons, and you are in sportfishing heaven.
I have fished thousands of fishing locations across Australia and never have I found a place like it. I can safely say that this will always be the dream fishing location that I yearn for. The fish are big, bad and plentiful and many of them are in trophy class sizes. And the beauty is there is always somewhere you can try on a lee shore if the weather doesn’t want to play the game. Michael and Kerri Benton will ensure your stay is a memorable one with the awesome fishing, spectacular coastal scenery, succulent restaurant quality meals and plenty of fantastic company. Every keen fisho needs to fish Clearwater Island Lodge at least once in his lifetime. Life is way too short! STEVE HUNT
Just a quick note to say thanks for everything on our recent trip to Munupi Lodge, It was a pleasure to meet you guys and also your fine staff members,everything you provided for us from the great tucker to the accommodation was `Top Shelf` (including the scotch) Please pass on our thanks to Glen for his efforts to put a few pisspots onto some great fish, he is a great asset to your business and a nice bloke as well!! Take care & hope to meet up again one day.
Just a short note to say thanks for the terrific time we had at Munupi. Kerri, Linda, Dave, Chris and crew were terrific. As I said to Kerri, its the little things that make a difference and you guys really go the extra mile to make everyone welcome and feel important. A big thanks to Linda for looking after Dad when he was feeling poorly on the last day. Dave, Chris and Niney were excellent guides and the boats were comfortable, tidy and well out-fitted. The fishing was excellent .. I tallied up 22 new species while I was there and have hit the 50 mark overall .. very pleased with a 87cm Barra and a 20 and 25lb Black Jew. The food was unbelievable all week .. actually I cant offer any suggestions on how you can improve anything at the lodge. I’m recommending Munupi to all and sundry here in Port Macquarie and to friends in Sydney. I will be back.
I just wanted to say thankyou for your hospitality last week. The five days on Melville count as one of the best experiences I have had. The whole package is just terrific – from sitting down at dinner with the whole family, the fishing with three great guides, the opportunity to have a few beers and a game of darts with the locals – everything contributed to a great week. Please thank the boys – David, Chris and James again for me. They are extremely professional in what they do and a pleasure to spend a day on a boat with. Your focus on making sure we as clients enjoyed ourselves is a credit to you both. We all agreed that we will be back sooner rather than later.
A quick note, to thank you for our stay with you, the week before last. We thoroughly enjoyed our time and in all respects our expectations were exceeded. You were both very accommodating. Our stay and experience was very enjoyable. Without doubt you will have to put up with us again. Thanks Stephen, John, Brett and Mark