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Things to do in
Atherton Tablelands

Our most recommended things to do in Atherton Tablelands

From Cairns: Atherton Tableland Wilderness Tour with Lunch

From Cairns: Atherton Tableland Wilderness Tour with Lunch

Embark on a full-day trip to Atherton Tableland from Cairns and admire the lush beauty of tropical North Queensland. Visit Wooroonooran National Park, swim in Lake Eacham, and enjoy lunch in Malanda. Your 11-hour excursion begins with a drive to the Wooroonooran National Park. Stop for a swim at Josephine Falls, which features a huge natural rock slide. Travel across the volcanic landscape of the Atherton Tablelands. Marvel at the 18-meter-high Millaa Millaa Falls, framed by lush rainforest and tree ferns. Enjoy lunch at The Top Rail in Malanda before heading to see a giant curtain fig tree. Try your luck at platypus spotting in Yungaburra and enjoy a last swim at Lake Eacham before the trip back to Cairns.

Barron Gorge: Half-Day Barron River White-Water Rafting

Barron Gorge: Half-Day Barron River White-Water Rafting

Experience white-water rafting in Barron Gorge National Park, known for its rugged rainforest mountains, steep ravines, and the falls carved out over thousands of years by the Barron River. Enjoy optional pickup from Cairns or Port Douglas before heading to the national park. Meet your guide at Lake Placid, and get ready for your river rafting tour on the river. Enjoy the area’s scenic beauty and a combination of calm water and a series of white-water rapids as well. Spend two hours navigating rapids up to grade three. No experience is necessary, making this a good choice for beginning rafters. There is also plenty of excitement for the more experienced. Please note: $30 per person River Levy payable on the day of travel

Cairns: Behana Gorge Waterfalls & Rainforest Adventure Tour

Cairns: Behana Gorge Waterfalls & Rainforest Adventure Tour

Prepare for an adventure filled with sliding, jumping, climbing, abseiling, and exploration amidst the natural wonders of Behana Gorge. This experience offers unparalleled flexibility, allowing you to choose activities that best suit your preferences. It provides a thrilling challenge for intermediate and advanced adventurers, while also catering to first-time or less experienced explorers at their own pace. The Behana Waterfalls course grants exclusive access to stunning locations such as Behana Gorge, where a series of cascading waterfalls converge into a breathtaking natural bowl. Immerse yourself in the lush green rainforest and marvel at the ancient granite formations while taking in the awe-inspiring views. Alternatively, Crystal Cascades offers another remarkable setting—one of the most popular waterfalls in the Cairns region. Surrounded by tropical rainforest, Crystal Cascades features a 2km track passing numerous water pools, where you can enjoy a 30-meter zipline into a refreshing pool, abseil through waterfalls, and engage in jumps and slides, all while appreciating nature in a unique and adventurous manner. Your safety is our top priority. Our expert guides will provide thorough information and clear instructions on using the gear, as well as optimal positioning for climbing, jumping, sliding, and abseiling, ensuring you're fully prepared for the adventure ahead from start to finish. Please note that we select the best location for each trip based on daily water levels and weather conditions, ensuring an optimal and safe experience for all participants. Please note that we may use Crystal Cascades on our 6.30am departure, otherwise our 10.00am and 12.00pm departures will be at Behana Waterfalls

From Cairns and Northern Beaches: Rainforest River Tubing

From Cairns and Northern Beaches: Rainforest River Tubing

Get an adrenaline rush on a fantastic river tubing activity in a beautiful rainforest close to Cairns. Escape the usual tourist path and join the locals in the Behana Gorge, where a canopy of trees arch over gently tumbling waters, or experience the small rapids of the Mulgrave River in safety. Navigate the river fully supervised by a minimum of two guides on the water at all times. Suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels, the activity requires no previous experience and includes all safety equipment. Spend a couple of hours floating down a pristine stream in the rainforest and soak up the sights, sounds, and smells of the natural surroundings. Please note $15 per person River Levy payable on the day

From Cairns: Chillagoe Caves and Outback Full-Day Tour

From Cairns: Chillagoe Caves and Outback Full-Day Tour

See the Outback in Far North Queensland! Discover the Chillagoe Caves and the Outback on a tour alongside a licensed local guide. Visit Granite Gorge, enjoy lunch at a Chillagoe pub, go on a guided Chillagoe Caves experience and visit historical sites such as the smelters, rock art plus more. Your naturalist guide will meet you at your accommodation in an air-conditioned 4WD vehicle. After being picked up, ascend the McAllister Ranges and head west through Mareeba. The first stop is for morning tea at Skybury Coffee Plantation for tea, coffee and a light morning tea snack (included) while enjoying the serenity and views. There is also time to stroll and purchase something from the gift shop if you wish. Then, travel through historical towns and rolling hills rich in minerals eventually giving way to towering limestone karsts scattered around Chillagoe. Travel out to Chillagoe while listening to the informative commentary by your guide who will share information about the region's wildlife, history, and Aboriginal culture. Go on a caving experience in the Chillagoe-Mungaga Caves National Park with an expert local guide, this is a highlight of the day! Visit Balancing Rock for a photo opportunity and see and learn about aboriginal rock art before seeing the remains of the once-mighty Chillagoe smelters to ponder what it was like working there. Lunch is at a pub in the heart of Chillagoe town. After lunch, it's time to head to Granite Gorge Nature Park where you get up close to the wild rock wallabies who inhabit the area and other wildlife. The tour then returns down the range to Cairns.

Port Douglas: Breakfast with the Birds

Port Douglas: Breakfast with the Birds

Escape to a wondrous free-flight aviary and have a dining experience like no other. Breakfast among birds and other wildlife at the picturesque new Koala Habitat in Curlew Café, located at the heart of the Wetlands Habitat.  Enjoy comfortable banquet-style seating with up to 10 people on each table and interact with and feed koalas, kangaroos, colorful birds, and more in a relaxed spacious setting. Dine family-style in an exclusive seated area on fresh local produce from the surrounding area and food-rich Atherton Tablelands. Learn more about the diverse wildlife from the passionate gamekeepers and enjoy all the wildlife presentations!

Cairns: Paronella, Lake Barrine & Millaa Millaa Falls Tour

Cairns: Paronella, Lake Barrine & Millaa Millaa Falls Tour

The departure is from Cairns, we head south travelling past Walsh’s Pyramid, one of the largest naturally formed pyramids in the world. Here your guide will stop so you can grab a photo of this unique North Queensland landmark. Now it’s time to travel up the World Heritage-listed Gillies Highway climbing 730 metres above sea level whilst enjoying the breathtaking views over the Goldsborough Valley. Just before the top of the amazing Gillies Range is a short photo opportunity at the Heales Lookout before heading into the gorgeous Atherton Tablelands. The first stop is the beautiful World Heritage Listed Lake Barrine Crater Lake National Park. On arrival, your tour guide will take you on a short walk to visit the 1000-year-old Twin Kauri Pines, true giants of the rainforest. Enjoy a Devonshire morning tea with freshly-baked scones before departing for the historical town of Yungaburra, which has the most Nationally Listed Heritage buildings in Queensland. Go on a driving tour around this quaint town, showcasing the many Nationally Heritage buildings. Next stop is The Curtain Fig Tree located in the Curtain Fig Tree National Park. This amazing feat of nature reaching 45+ metres up into the tropical rainforest canopy. Follow your guide on the boardwalk to learn about the amazing formation of this 600-800-year old epiphyte. Spy endemic wildlife species in the rainforest canopy, like the rare Lumholtz Tree Kangaroo. From here, head through the historical dairy town of Malanda, home to Australia’s oldest continuously running commercial picture theatre. Your guide will drive you around this charming town showcasing the beautiful old pub and theatre. Travelling through extensive beef, dairy, sugar cane, and other diverse types of farming areas, arrive at Millaa Millaa Falls, one of Australia’s most photographed waterfalls. Have an option of swimming under the cool waters or you sit back, relax, enjoy the tranquility of nature. Now it’s time to descend from the mountains down the Palmerstone Highway through sugar cane & banana fields to the coastal town of Innisfail, after leaving Innisfail you will enjoy a delicious lunch. Paronella Park is the next destination with a 45-minute guided tour in English, Chinese or Japanese. Be guided through the extensive National Trust Gardens while learning the rich history of Hose Paronella’s wonderful achievements and the colorful history of how he built his Spanish Castle in the rainforest; you will have amazing photo opportunities of the breathtaking Mena Creek and Theresa falls. Spend approx 2.5 hours here allowing plenty of free time to enjoy the rest of the park at a leisurely pace. Then, return to Cairns.

From Cairns: Splash & Slide Waterfall Tour with Picnic Lunch

From Cairns: Splash & Slide Waterfall Tour with Picnic Lunch

Travel South for a taste of the Far North's best waterfalls in this exhilarating half day tour. Start your day with a leisurely 9.30am-10am Cairns pick up, the perfect antidote to those early mornings, before travelling through the stunning panoramas of Queensland's highest peak, verdant cane fields and pristine rainforest on your way to Josephine Falls. Bring out your inner child on the world famous natural rock slide slipping into the crystal clear waters, perfect for the young and the young at heart, or spot some of the Far North's native wildlife in the lush rainforest. Next stop, Babinda Boulders! A picnic lunch will be served alongside the fascinating Aboriginal history of this culturally significant site, the legend of trapped spirits and a tragic love story that will chill you to the bone. Enjoy a quiet afternoon swim, rest or explore the many walks before we return to Cairns, to be back at your hotel around 15.30pm.

Atherton Tablelands: Lakes, Waterfalls, Rainforest Day Tour

Atherton Tablelands: Lakes, Waterfalls, Rainforest Day Tour

This tour is one of Cairns most popular tours.. Over the past 20 years the combination of music, food, fun and breathtaking natural history has made them who they are. Your driver and “Gus the Bus” are as excited to be on the tour as you will be, they do it because they love showing off their backyard. On your journey you'll be swimming in pristine waterfalls and crater lakes, going on rainforest walks and enjoying seriously good food! Get ready to meet new friends and to enjoy a day you will never forget!

From Cairns: Atherton Tablelands and Paronella Park Day Trip

From Cairns: Atherton Tablelands and Paronella Park Day Trip

Begin your tour early in the morning by hopping on board a comfortable coach. Take in the the verdant landscapes of the Goldsborough Valley, before ascending to the cool tropical rainforest climes of the Atherton Tablelands. Ride next to towering rainforest trees which stand sentinel over the winding path. Stop at the Heales lookout for a spectacular vista over the valley and out to the Coral Sea. Head to the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area's Lake Barrine which is in the Crater Lakes National Park. Learn about the area’s ancient natural history on a guided walk to the 1000-year-old twin kauri pines. Admire these true giants of the rainforest, before being whisked off to Devonshire Tea. Have some locally-grown tea and coffee served accompanied by scones with jam and freshly whipped cream. Continue to the historical town of Yungaburra where the coach stops for a photo or two before moving on to the Curtain Fig Tree, which towers more than 45 meters over the rare Mabi forest of Curtain Fig Tree National Park. Listen as your guide shares the unlikely story behind the formation of this 600-800 year-old epiphyte. Walk along the boardwalk while looking for local wildlife in the rainforest canopy, like green ring-tailed possums, eastern whip birds, Victoria’s rifle birds, and the rare Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroo. Drive through the historical dairy town of Malanda. After Malanda, arrive at one of Australia’s most-photographed waterfalls, Millaa Millaa Falls. Jump into the cool rainforest waters as they tumble over 20 meters from volcanic lava flow formed over 1 million years ago. Refuel with a delicious la carte lunch before descending from the Atherton Tablelands via the Palmerston Highway. Pass through the traditional lands of the Mamu people. Take in views of expansive sugar cane and banana fields until you reach the coastal town of Innisfail. Reach the extensive National Trust-listed gardens at Paronella Park and go on a 30-minute guided tour that tells the story of the park’s memorable architecture, set amongst sprawling tropical gardens and inspired by founder José Paronella’s dream of a Spanish castle. Capture pictures of the Kauri Avenue to Teresa Falls, the Grand Staircase, and the suspension bridge over Mena Creek Falls. Go for another dip at Babinda Boulders (time permitting) where tranquil waters are nestled between striking granite boulders. Travel back to your pickup point in the city of Cairns in the evening with unforgettable memories of the stunning Atherton Tablelands and Paronella Park.

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What people are saying about Atherton Tablelands

Overall rating

4.8
(739 reviews)

It was a good day- explored different rainforests and waterfalls of Cairns. Our guide, Ky was brilliant very interactive and got us all involved and entertained with information during our bus journeys. She was very knowledgable and knew her stuff about the different sites. Due to how big the journeys were from one location to another there was a lot of travelling on the big and limited time in the different sites, waterfalls and swim areas.

The day was an adventure!! It took me waaaaay outside of my comfort zone. Jumping off cliffs was a WTF event for me as a have a healthy fear of heights The water was fresh and lovely and the gorge was beautiful. Both guides were helpful and encouraging I would recommend this tour

Our guide was fantastic, very outgoing, great attitude and had us all laughing very quickly. The rafting was alot of fun, we had never done it before and want to do it again after this experience. Fantastic young bunch of guides.

Scottie our driver/ guide was excellent. He provided a great commentary the whole tour and interacted well with us. It was a long tour but considering the distances needed to travel to see highlights, it was worthwhile.

Ben was an awesome tour guide. Very knowledgeable, funny and a great guy. Highly recommend!