Who we are

From Banana Farm to Chocolate Paradise: The Charley's Story

In 2012, Lynn and Chris Jahnke saw possibility where others saw just a run-down banana farm. Today, that vision has transformed into Charley's Chocolate  - Australia's most awarded chocolate maker, nestled in the heart of Far North Queensland's World Heritage rainforest, next  to the Great Barrier Reef.

Our Home in Paradise

 

Step onto our 160-hectare Mt Edna property and you'll understand why our chocolate tastes like nowhere else on Earth. We are based where the Great Barrier Reef joins the Wet Tropics World Heritage rainforest.  Here, where ancient rainforest meets rich volcanic soil, our cocoa trees flourish under the tropical sun. Rare birds soar overhead, cassowaries wander through our protected rainforest, and the sweet scent of chocolate drifts from our state-of-the-art factory.

Visiting our rainforest with staff member Logan

 

What Makes Charley's Different?

True Tree-to-Bar Chocolate

While most chocolate makers buy their cocoa beans from around the world, we grow ours right here at Mission Beach. From the moment our cocoa pods form to the final wrapping of each bar, we control every step of the journey. The result? Chocolate that captures the pure essence of tropical Australia. 

Our Mt Edna plantation 

 Our Signature Collections:

-        Single Origin Australian Bars: Experience pure FNQ terroir with our Mt Edna, Crocodile Mountain, and Davidson Plum bars

-        Tree-to-Bar Creations: Taste single origin chocolate made exclusively from our own plantation beans

-        Local Flavour Combinations: Discover bars enhanced with tropical fruits and nuts from our FNQ neighbours and using cocoa from our neighbours in the Pacific

  

 A Journey of Excellence 

2013	Our first cocoa harvest - a moment of truth for Australian-grown chocolate
2014-2016	First bars, first awards won - proving tropical Australia could produce world-class chocolate
2017	International recognition at the Cocoa of Excellence Awards, Paris
2017-2019	Building our dream - state-of-the-art production facilities
2021	Celebrating local art with new packaging by FNQ artist Kim Rayner
2021-2023	Expanding our vision with Block 4 plantation
Today	Leading the development of Australia's premium cocoa industry

Charley’s is the most highly awarded chocolate maker in Australia.  All in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage area. For the pure experience of single origin Australian grown and made chocolate try our Mt Edna, Crocodile Mountain and Davidson plum bars.

 OUR AWARDS

Meet The Team Behind The Magic

Our success comes from passionate people who believe in creating extraordinary chocolate while protecting our precious environment:

 

Ruth Medd, Chair 

Wine enthusiast and cycling adventurer, Ruth brings her experienced leadership to guide our vision of sustainable chocolate making

 

Chris Jahnke, Executive Director
Our master chocolate maker combines his German heritage with Australian innovation to create award-winning flavours. His journey from transport marketing to chocolate crafting embodies our spirit of adventure.

Pete Faulkner, Director
A qualified dive instructor and regional economic expert, Pete ensures our business growth supports our local community.

Anne Pleash Director

One of only 207 Australians to swim the English Channel, Anne brings the same determination to stakeholder engagement and community relations. 

Visit Paradise: Where Nature Creates Perfect Chocolate

Our location isn't just beautiful - it's chocolate-making perfection. At 17.8 degrees south, Mission Beach sits in the sweet spot of the world's cocoa-growing belt. Here, where the Wet Tropics Rainforest meet the Great Barrier Reef, nature provides everything needed to create extraordinary chocolate.

Perfect Growing Conditions

• Rich volcanic soil packed with nutrients
• Abundant tropical rainfall
• Natural shade from our heritage rainforest canopy
• Warm temperatures that cocoa trees love
• Protection from the surrounding mountains

A Living Laboratory

Our state-of-the-art factory is surrounded by protected rainforest. Hers you can:

• Watch beautiful Superb Fruit Doves feast on native fruits
• Spot cassowaries wandering ancient pathways
• Discover how our local ecosystem influences chocolate flavours

Superb Fruit Dove

 

Your Chocolate Journey

Finding us is part of the adventure. As you turn off the Bruce Highway onto El Arish Mission Beach Road, you're entering chocolate country. Look for our signs guiding you to:

• Our viewing deck overlooking Mt Edna's cocoa plantations with Crocodile Mountain in the background
• Our climate-controlled chocolate making facility
• Our tastings experience where you get to enjoy the pure flavours of FNQ
• Our shop featuring our complete collection of award-winning chocolates

Experience Paradise

• Join us for a tour where you'll:
• Walk through our cocoa plantations
• Learn how tropical weather creates perfect fermentation conditions
• Discover how we transform cocoa beans into award-winning chocolate
• Taste chocolate at different stages of production
• Experience the difference that local ingredients make

 

While cyclone season (December to April) brings challenges, it's this wild tropical environment that makes our chocolate unique. Every bar captures the essence of our location - where pristine rainforest, rich soil, and generations of agricultural knowledge come together to create something extraordinary.

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Where to find us