The beautiful lakes, rivers and waterfalls of the Atherton Tableland region are the place to play during summer

The cool, elevated plateau behind Cairns is the preferred playground for locals once the lakes and rivers fill with the welcoming rains of the green season. 

Beautiful all year round, the lakes of Tinaroo, Barrine and Eacham come into their element even more now during the steamy summer months.

Book yourself into one of the region’s many motels, hotels or B&Bs for a few days and enjoy a green getaway.

Southern waterfalls
This is the home of the highly recommended waterfall circuit, which begins near Millaa Millaa on the Palmerston Highway. Follow the winding, scenic road past the attractive Falls Teahouse to the fairytale drop of Millaa Millaa Falls.

This much-photographed cascade has become an apt emblem of the Highlands. Drive along the hilltops through the lush farms to Zillie and Ellinjaa Falls, the next stop on the circuit.  East is Mungalli Falls with superb views of the North Johnstone River Gorge.

Down the old Palmerston Highway on the way to Ravenshoe visit Souita and Pepina Falls – they’re signposted from the highway. Australia’s widest waterfall, the Millstream Falls, is located 5km past Ravenshoe. Continue on the Tully Falls Road to see Little Millstream Falls and the breathtaking lookout over the sheer rock escarpment at Tully Falls – the drop is 295m.A further 15km along is Koombooloomba Dam, an excellent spot for camping, fishing and enjoying a pristine wilderness.

Central waterfalls
Dinner Falls is located inside the Mt Hypipamee National Park, also home of the Mt Hypipamee Crater, a geological oddity which has resulted in a very deep hole. Follow the signs off the Kennedy Highway and walk through the rainforest track until it splits off to Dinner Falls.

At Malanda, take a refreshing stop at Malanda Falls where the North Johnstone River runs over a wide lava flow into a popular, year-round swimming pool. There are two rainforest walking tracks and this is a great spot to see scrub turkeys.

Northern waterfalls
Between Mareeba and Kuranda, turn off at Tinaroo Creek Rd and follow the signs to Emerald Creek Falls – an ideal picnic spot with lots of excellent swimming holes filled year round. 

Towards Kuranda, the Davies Creek National Park contains a series of pools and waterfalls fed by Davies Creek. The best of the falls is a 75m drop and there are lots of walking tracks leading to lookouts. It would be difficult to find a more picturesque spot than some of the rainforest and pools here and camping is permitted.

The biggest of all the waterfalls has its home in Kuranda. Spectacular all year round, the majestic Barron Falls is at its awesome best during the wet season. Barron Falls is the grand-daddy of the region’s waterfalls and one you won’t want to miss.

Granite Gorge
Here in this lovely spot off the beaten track near Mareeba, big granite boulders have created safe swimming holes. The gorge’s land is privately owned and an on-site caretaker asks a small fee on entry of $5 per person or $10 for a family. Picnic areas and toilet facilities are also maintained, which makes this a perfect spot – even more so on a hot day. Granite Gorge is located southwest of Mareeba, turn off the Kennedy Highway on to Hansen Rd and follow the road signs to Granite Gorge.

Lake Eacham
Fed by an underwater spring and unaffected by drought, this large lake sits like a tranquil jewel in its surrounding rainforest. It has a large grassy area ideal for picnics and no motorised boats are allowed. There’s an easy track around the lake – great for walking off the picnic and on weekends a small canteen sells light refreshments. Turn off to Malanda at the top of the Gillies Highway.

Lake Barrine
Sister to Eacham and ideal for swimming too, Lake Barrine has a lovely restaurant, the Lake Barrine Tea House, which overlooks the lake from its gracious old verandas. A top way to experience the lake is by the wildlife cruise which departs four times a day and gives a gentle boat ride around the perimeter of the lake.  It has excellent wildlife viewing and commentary and a great price of $14 for adults and  $7 for children.

Mareeba Wetlands
The Mareeba Tropical Savanna and Wetland Reserve is a unique community conservation project combining environmental education and nature-based tourism. The reserve protects more than 1.6ha of savannas and wetlands, providing a sanctuary for much of tropical Australia’s savanna and wetland flora and fauna. From the award-winning timber Visitor Centre, you can hire hand-crafted timber canoes to paddle among the birds and lillies ($15 per hour hire) or choose to float across the surface of Clancy’s Lagoon on the electric boat, the Buralga.  Tour times are 11.30am, 1.30 and 3.30pm and cost $10 each.

 

Share this article