A stay at Mungumby Lodge got Adam Javorčík an Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year award in the Macro category with this image, Symmetry of Lurking. Photo: Adam Javorčík.
The flora and fauna at Mungumby Lodge in Rossville are no strangers to being the focus of a wildlife lover’s lens, attracting photographers from across the world on the hunt for interesting subjects.
It was no different for Slovakian photographers Adam Javorčík and Jakub Hodan, who travelled all the way to Cape York for their entries in the 2024 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year award.
The pair recently reached out to lodge co-owner Hamish Haslop to share the great news – Mr Javorčík won the Macro category with an extreme close-up shot of a spider taken on site, while Mr Hodan took runner-up honours in the same category with an image of a spider web taken nearby.
“We get notified about all sorts of things when people get home and they look through their photos, but in terms of the Australian Geographic awards, I would say it’s the first time the lodge has been featured – certainly the first one we’ve been notified about,” Mr Haslop said.
“Jakub and Adam came to the lodge this time last year, and because they were interested in insects and macro photography, I spent some time with them showing them areas where we found some unique species.”
Mr Haslop said he bought the lodge with his wife 23 years ago, and moments like this continued to remind them why they fell in love with the place.
“Tourism on the Cape goes up and down, but at the end of the day, because we specialise in sharing what we love and the beautiful nature that kept us here, it really endorses that fact of why we bought the place and why we love the place,” he said.
“It’s really nice to have like-minded customers coming through, sharing their experiences, and being able to share our knowledge so that they go home rich with new thoughts and memories about the place they visited.”
Mr Javorčík said he was eager to return in the coming years after falling in love with Australia and its wildlife.
“The Australian continent has an amazing atmosphere that got under my skin, and this trip was an unforgettable experience for me,” he said.
“I have a great passion for reptiles, especially snakes, and these were one of the main goals of our trip, however, there was plenty to photograph, Jakub and I took a lot of pictures, with the spiders being the most successful.
“Although Slovakia has beautiful nature, in terms of biodiversity, it cannot compete with the fauna of Cape York, especially the rainforests, and I hope to return in the next few years.”
