AN independent Australian-based developer, importer and distributor of leading products for those with a love of the ­outdoors has opened in Cairns, and already is expanding.

Adventure Friends, the first in Australia, has spawned a cafe, dubbed the Hammock Cafe, which opened a week ago.

media_camera PACKED WITH GEAR: Adventure Friends Manager Nick Lecke. Picture: Brendan Radke.

Owner and managing ­director Federico Colalongo plans to roll out both brands across Australia.

Store manager Nick Lecke said the cafe was created at the rear of the Abbott St store so customers could “test drive” the hammocks while having a coffee or a cold drink.

“They love to try the hammock before they buy so we came up with the Hammock Cafe,’’ he said.

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media_camera CHILL-OUT ZONE: The Hammock Cafe on Abbott St, where customers can sip their lattes and cappuccinos while lazing about in hammocks. Marco Massa gets his caffeine hit suspended off the ground. Picture: Brendan Radke.

“People love the hammock; it’s supportive and comfortable. So why not try it while having a coffee?’’

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Mr Lecke quickly put the Hammock Cafe concept into reality, cleaning up the rear yard, adding shade cloth, benches and other equipment.

He said Adventure Friends had been operating in a former Greek restaurant for about 11 weeks.

Mr Lecke said Mr Colalongo, who was currently in Germany buying more products, was a keen outdoors person and had invested about $300,000 in the venture.

“He’s Italian and came to Australia five to six years ago. He was holidaying in Alice Springs where he meet his wife Estelle and one year later they came to Cairns to live. They love it so much,’’ he said.

“He’s a hiker, a rock climber and an outdoor type of guy.’’

media_camera CHILL-OUT ZONE: The Hammock Cafe on Abbott St, where customers can sip their lattes and cappuccinos while lazing about in hammocks. Marco Massa gets his caffeine hit suspended off the ground. Picture: Brendan Radke.

Mr Lecke said Adventure Friends was formed after Mr Colalongo obtained the distribution rights for the Ferrino brand. Other brands include Vargo Titanium, Fallkniven and Merrell. Products sold ­include tents, camping and sleeping gear, backpacks and bags, footwear, socks, hats and caps, knives and electronic gadgets.

He said the store and cafe were open seven days a week.

Mr Lecke said it was a hit with backpackers as well as residents, who liked to go camping and hiking. He said the store was staffed by 10 ­people who enjoyed the ­outdoors and knew their ­products.

“At Adventure Friends we walk the talk, and we’ve walked in some pretty exciting and dangerous places,’’ their website says.

“We use the gear we sell on a daily basis ourselves and sometimes our lives have ­depended on it. Between us we’ve climbed the mountains of Europe and the Himalaya region, and explored the ­deserts of Australia and the jungles of Papua New Guinea.

“If you buy us a beer one day we’ll tell you about our ­adventures running a crocodile farm and facing death by wild buffalo attack.’’