Far North Queensland in Australia is full of bucket-list destinations. Head slightly inland from the East Coast and you’ll find spectacular natural scenery in the Atherton Tablelands. Give yourself plenty of time around Cairns to make the most of this incredible area! Here’s my complete travel guide for visiting the Atherton Tablelands.

Where Are the Atherton Tablelands?

This region is big – it stretches from Tully in the south, all the way up to Kuranda north of Cairns. It goes from the coast to Chillagoe in the west. If you’re traveling on the East Coast, you’ll almost definitely be visiting Cairns – so it’s easy to tack on an adventure to the Atherton Tablelands.

How to Get Around the Atherton Tablelands

You will need a car to see most of the top spots in the Atherton Tablelands. While there are some public transport options available between main towns, the best places are rural and remote – so having your own set of wheels is essential. There are options if you don’t have your own transportation, though!

The Best Tours for the Atherton Tablelands

Joining a tour is the best way to experience the Atherton Tablelands if you don’t have a car. This waterfall tour from Cairns is one of the most popular out there, and visits quite a few of the main sights. You can do a tour on the Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail – the train stops at Barron Falls – to explore that area. You can also go for a hot-air balloon ride over Mareeba, and see the Atherton Tablelands from above! These are the top Atherton Tablelands tours for seeing the most spots around the region.

You can find other tours to the Atherton Tablelands below!

The Best Places to Visit in the Atherton Tablelands

I spent over a week zig-zagging around the Atherton Tablelands, and seeing everything outside of Cairns – amazing hikes, incredible waterfalls, and more. There really is so much to do here!

Josephine Falls

This is a beautiful waterfall in Wooroonooran National Park, with multiple levels of cascades. It’a super popular swim spot – perfect for a quick dip or spending the afternoon! Some of the rocks are so smooth you can use them as a slide – it’s less than 10 minutes from the car park.

Babinda Boulders

Babinda Boulders is another popular swim spot – the water might be a bit chilly depending on the time of year, but it’s so nice! It’s a very short walk to the water, where you can see the massive rocks that give the spot its name. Walk out to see the Devil’s Pool, a 1.3-km return hike – it took me about 20 minutes there and back.

Paronella Park

Walk through a historic, mystical, ruined mansion at Paronella Park. It’s even more atmospheric as it’s now surrounded by a lush rainforest – all the dream of a Spaniard, who opened the park to the public in 1935. It’s one of the most-visited tourist attractions in the area, with a big marketing budget. You’ll be seeing Paronella Park billboards from hundreds of kilometers away! Note that it’s a hefty $55 AUD admission fee – however this does include one night of van accommodation at their caravan park, just down the road. You can see part of Paronella Park and cross the bridge over Mena Creek Falls for free, if you’re short on time or on a tight budget.

Tchupala Falls and Wallicher Falls

These are two pretty, underrated waterfalls, accessed from the Palmerston Highway. I only saw two other people on the trails here – it felt so secluded! It took me 40 minutes altogether to hike to see both of them.

Nandroya Falls

Nandroya Falls is a stunning single-drop waterfall, set in a gorge and with a large pool at the bottom. It’s meant to be nice for a swim – I didn’t go as the water was a bit chilly! It’s about 6km there and back, otherwise you can take the long way back. This is what I did, and it was about 7.85km total. It took me 1 hour and 40 minutes, including some time at the waterfall. Also, watch out for snakes here! I saw one right by the path, very close to the waterfall.

Millaa Millaa Falls

This is a very popular waterfall in the Atherton Tablelands. There’s a large pool, perfect for swimming, and a big picnic area. I found it a bit busy for my tastes, but it’s a gorgeous place to stop and relax.

Zillie Falls

Part of the Waterfall Circuit in the Atherton Tablelands, Zillie Falls is (surprise surprise) another waterfall you can’t miss. Hike down from the car park and check out the view from the observation deck – it’s a short walk.

Ellinjaa Falls

Ellinjaa Falls completes the trio of the Waterfall Circuit – Millaa Milla, Zillie, and Ellinjaa – in the Atherton Tablelands. This waterfall, like Zillie Falls, is just a short walk down from the car park. I had the whole place to myself when I was here!

Cannabullen Falls

Cannabullen Falls takes some work to get to. The trailhead is approximately 10km off the main road, with about 5km on an unsealed, gravel road. The hike is 14km return, with two creek crossings – one of which was a boots-off-and-wade-across situation. There are navigation arrows throughout the route, but you need to be paying attention. Then it’s a steep descent down to Cannabullen Falls Lookout, where you can see the view out over the valley.

It’s certainly an adventure – especially when you’re me and you hear a feral pig/wild boar on the hike, when you’re all alone! I’ve never been so relieved to get back to my car, haha. But this is a fantastic challenge for anyone wanting to go into the bush. It took me 3.5 hours, although I was hiking pretty fast at points due to the feral pig and rain. I’d probably have done it in 4-5 hours if I wasn’t rushing.

Tully Gorge Lookout

Tully Gorge National Park is split into two sections, with no road access between them – if you want to visit the lookout, you’ll need to drive in from Ravenshoe! You cannot access Tully Gorge Lookout from Innisfail/Tully. But the lookout is well worth a visit. This spectacular viewpoint is one of the best in the Atherton Tablelands. Follow the Rainforest Trail out along the rim, where you’ll come to an obvious end. If you want, you can walk out along the rocks to see the infinity pool and more views over the gorge – note that you do this at your own risk, it can be dangerous so be extremely cautious. The infinity pool was full of algae and not very appealing for a swim, but I loved the view here! I spent about 35-40 minutes hiking here.

Little Millstream Falls

This set of waterfalls has a few different cascades, all flowing down into the Millstream. You can walk all the way down to the base of the falls, or just admire the view from closer to the car park.

Big Millstream Falls

Big Millstream Falls is easily accessed from the car park – which is a different car park than the one for Little Millstream Falls. This is supposedly the widest single-drop waterfall in Australia! The basalt lava columns reminded me of Iceland and the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland.

Innot Hot Springs

These hot springs are perfect for relaxing – there are several pools, with different temperatures, to choose from! One of them was so hot I actually couldn’t even put my feet in. It’s free to access – park in the main car park outside the caravan park. I spent a while here in the late afternoon, after a busy day of hiking, and it felt amazing!

Hypipamee Crater

This is a huge crater, with steep, sheer granite rock walls surrounding it. Follow the short trail out to the viewing platform – if you have a wide-angle lens, bring it! It was difficult getting the crater and the top of the rock into one frame. You can walk past Dinner Falls on the loop back – it’s maybe 1km.

Yungaburra Platypus Viewing Platform

Hoping to spot a platypus in the Atherton Tablelands? Head to Yungaburra, which will be your best bet – there’s a viewing platform here, next to the river. Unfortunately, I didn’t see any platypuses when I was here, but I’d already been lucky enough to see them at Eungella National Park a few weeks earlier. Be patient, be quiet, and look for the bubbles – a sign that a platypus will be coming up for air momentarily!

Curtain Fig Tree

This is a spectacular bit of nature, estimated to be over 500 years old. The strangler fig tree grew vertical roots, which eventually transformed into a curtain of roots – the host trees amongst the strangler fig died away, leaving just the fig tree roots. It’s nearly 50 meters tall, and the trunk circumference is about 39 meters. There’s a boardwalk the entire way around the tree.

Cathedral Fig Tree

The Cathedral Fig Tree is another incredible place to visit in the Atherton Tablelands. Like the Curtain Fig Tree, it’s likely to be over 500 years old. This one also has a boardwalk around the base of the tree. When I went, there was someone climbing the roots up to the top!!

Lake Eacham

Lake Eacham is one of two volcanic lakes in the Atherton Tablelands. There’s a gentle 3km circuit around the lake, through the forest. This is a great spot for water sports like kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding. I saw some very cute turtles while I was here!

Lake Barrine

The other volcanic lake in the Atherton Tablelands is Lake Barrine. This one is a bit bigger than Lake Eacham – the walking trail around the lake is 5km. You can also see huge bull kauri trees, which tower over you by the lakeside. The teahouse here is a nice spot for lunch, with serene gardens overlooking the shore.

Lake Tinaroo

Lake Tinaroo is popular choice for boaters, skiers, fishers, and swimmers in the Atherton Tablelands. There are five camping areas in the Danbulla State Forest – I stayed at Kauri Creek, which was a lovely spot. I had a nice view overlooking the lake! This is a great spot to relax and enjoy nature for a few days.

Windin Falls

This is a spectacular waterfall in Wooroonooran National Park. The views out over the lush rainforest of Tropical North Queensland are out of this world – I felt like I could be in Jurassic Park! It’s 12.5km return, including the steep (and slightly dangerous) descent down to the falls viewpoint. I’ve seen lots of photos of people swimming here, but please note that this is done at your own risk, and might not be safe. The water was flowing extremely fast and was absolutely unsafe for swimming when I visited. It was still 100% worth the hike for those views though! It took me just over 2.5 hours in total.

Behana Gorge and Clamshell Falls

This pretty spot is only 30 minutes from Cairns, and easily accessed on a sealed road. The trail through the gorge is a bit boring as you pound the tarmac, but worth it in the end. You’ll be rewarded by the beautiful Clamshell Falls, which is the perfect spot for a refreshing dip! There’s room to lie out on the rocks and soak up the sunshine. It took me about 40 minutes to hike here, each way, and about 8km in total.

Walsh’s Pyramid

This is easily one of the best hikes in the Cairns area. You can’t miss the iconic peak of Walsh’s Pyramid, rising up over the Atherton Tablelands and the coast! The route is 6km total – it’s 3km up to the summit, and it is HARD. The trail is extremely steep, as you’re covering about 900 meters of elevation gain over a short distance. While it’s a difficult hike, it packs a huge punch – the views from the top are absolutely phenomenal! I highly recommend that you start this hike very early in the morning (I was on the trail by 7:30am), to beat the heat of the day.

There are a few scrambles, where you’ll need to use your hands to get over the rocks, but nothing technical. Hiking poles will be very useful for you on this hike. It took me almost exactly 4 hours – 2.5 hours to get up to the summit, and 1.5 hours to come down. The best part is after, when you see the distinctive peak from all over the area, and you can say, “I’ve climbed that!”

Crystal Cascades and Fairy Falls

Crystal Cascades is a set of cascading waterfalls, perfect for swimming. It’s close to Cairns, so it does get busy – especially on hot, sunny weekend days. You can follow the trail along the water out to the waterfall viewpoint, or just choose a nice spot on the river to relax for the day. If you want to ditch the crowds, take the unmarked trail from the far end of the car park for the short 10-minute hike to Fairy Falls.

Kuranda and Barron Falls

Kuranda is a small mountain village near Cairns, known for its markets. You can do a trip on the Kuranda Scenic Railway to get here, and take the Skyrail cableway back! Barron Falls is a large waterfall just outside of town – the train does stop here, so you can get out and snap a few waterfall pics. Unfortunately, I was here too early (before the markets opened), but it’s a great daytrip from Cairns!

Emerald Creek Falls

Emerald Creek Falls is a quieter waterfall in the Atherton Tablelands. A quick 10-minute hike will bring you to the lookout, and it’s about 10 minutes to walk down to the base of the falls, where you can swim. It’s one of the only waterfalls in the area that allows dogs! So if you’re after a dog-friendly day out, Emerald Creek Falls is a great choice.

Davies Creek Falls

Head into Davies Creek National Park for another epic waterfall. The trail to get to the water is fairly short, and there are numerous spots where you can swim in the creek. There’s also an infinity pool at the very edge of the waterfall – I couldn’t find it, although admittedly I didn’t look very hard. If you do choose to swim anywhere here, check the weather and monitor conditions – swimming, especially the infinity pool, might not be safe in fast-flowing water.

Turtle Head Rock

This is a fantastic hike in Davies Creek National Park. The loop is best done anti-clockwise, so the ascent is done and out of the way first. Start from the parking area between Upper Davies Creek Camp Nodes 3 and 4. The trail heads up through the forest and over rocks, with a few small sections to scramble over, before reaching Turtle Head Rock. There are great views out over the Tablelands here. Then, descend down into the forest. You’ll need to cross a creek to get back to the main road (I needed to take my boots off, but it wasn’t treacherous), where you can hike back to your car at campsites 3 and 4. Altogether, this hike was 7.1km with 320 meters of elevation gain, and took me almost exactly 2 hours.

Kahlpahlmin Rock

If you’re up for a challenging hike in the Atherton Tablelands, this is it! I chose to walk up the ridge trail, and down the rock trail. There is a parking area on Davies Creek Road with room for a few cars, and signs that mark the start of the ridge trail. Triangle trail markers indicate the route and where the routes intersect – be sure to keep an eye on these, as it’s not hard to miss one and get lost! Climb up through the forest, where you’ll reach the massive Kahlpahlmin Rock. You have the option of hiking down and around the rock, which I absolutely recommend. Once you reach the top ridge again, you can turn right to climb up for a view over the rock. But turn left, and you’ll get to one of the best-kept secret views in the Atherton Tablelands.

The path to the left brings you out to a large clearing, where there is a research station. Follow the trail markers down through the trees at the far end for about five minutes, where you’ll reach the forest edge. The view over the Atherton Tablelands – the forest, the mountains, the lakes, and the rivers – is simply phenomenal. I couldn’t believe my eyes!!

Once you’ve had your fill, head back down and around the rock, and follow the rock trail back to Davies Creek Road. You’ll then need to follow the road back to your car. My route was 15km, with 829 meters of elevation gain, and took me 5 hours in total. I only saw one other couple for the entirety of this walk – it is very isolated and remote. It was a challenge, but it was so rewarding!

Wallaman Falls (the highest waterfall in Australia), Cardwell Forest Route – including Attie Creek Falls and Cardwell Spa Pool – and Murray Falls are all spots that might technically be outside the Atherton Tablelands geographic area. That being said, I loved these places. If you’re planning a trip to the Atherton Tablelands, I absolutely suggest detouring and making time to see these spots!

Planning Your Trip to the Atherton Tablelands

This is a spectacular part of Far North Queensland, and you should give yourself several days here. Even more if you want to do all these hikes! The nearest airport is Cairns airport – I use Skyscanner to find the best flight deals. Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

Having a car will give you the freedom to see so much more of the Atherton Tablelands. If you don’t have your own set of wheels, joining a tour for the day will be the next best option! Check out the tours below to explore more of the Atherton Tablelands.

Where to Stay in the Atherton Tablelands

There are lots of options for campsites around the Atherton Tablelands, including free sites. Free camps I stayed at include Babinda Boulders, Gordonvale, Archer Creek Rest Area, and the Mount Garnet BP (which had free hot showers!). There are lots of campsite options in the national parks, too. I stayed at Upper Davies Creek for two nights, which costs $7.25 per person, per night. This was one of my favorite campsites, as I had basically my own private creek to swim in – book camp node 3!

If you’re not planning on camping, here are a few other options for the Atherton Tablelands:

• Budget: On the Wallaby Lodge – relaxed budget rooms at an eco lodge in Yungaburra
• Mid-range: Nightcap at Atherton Hotel – stylish and comfortable rooms with a convenient location, right in the heart of Atherton
• Mid-range: Atherton Hinterland Motel – clean and cozy rooms, close to Atherton
• Mid-range: Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodges – private lodges with an indoor pool, close to Lake Eacham
• Luxury: Crater Lakes Rainforest Lodges – stunning cottages, each with a spa bath, near Lake Eacham

Booking.com

Exploring the Atherton Tablelands was one of my favorite parts of my East Coast road trip. There is so much to see and do here – so many fantastic hikes to do, so many beautiful waterfalls to swim in. I loved this area so much, and would have loved spending even more time here! Don’t miss this area on a trip to Cairns. I hope this guide helps if you’re planning a trip to the Atherton Tablelands!

Have you visited the Atherton Tablelands? What were your favorite places?

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