Atherton Tablelands
Tableland Regions
Kuranda
Mareeba
Tolga
Atherton
Yungaburra
Lake Tinaroo
Lake Eacham
Lake Barrine
Malanda
Millaa Millaa
Herberton
Ravenshoe
Chillagoe
Getting to the Tablelands
Accommodation
Activities
Tours
Hiking Tracks
Cruises
History
Aboriginal History
Markets
Flora & Fauna
Climate
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Atherton Tablelands - Attractions and ActivitiesAll roads in and around the Atherton Tableland are suitable for conventional 2WD vehicles. Although some roads are dirt, these are graded and cause minimal discomfort for passengers. While driving, keep a keen lookout for the abundant wildlife that inhabits the region, scrub turkeys, large lizards, snakes and cassowaries all may wander beside the road. Native animals often cross the roads to access drinking holes and feeding grounds, so please drive with due care and help protect our fauna friends. The number of activities and attractions at the Atherton Tablelands is huge.
Wine TourThe Golden Pride Mango Winery is the site of Australia’s largest mango plantation, take a guided tour around the property, inspect the wine making process then kick back for a spot of sampling, find a bottle of something golden and delicious, buy it on the spot at better than wholesale prices. Platypus Viewing
The Atherton Tablelands has a large population of these strange and unique
Australian animals. The platypus is a semiaquatic egg-laying mammal with
a broad flat tail, webbed feet, and a snout resembling a duckbill. They
are extremely shy and you need to be totally silent not to scare them
away. FishingYou’ve come to the right place. Lake Tinaroo is a fisherman’s paradise with the biggest barramundi in the world just waiting to hitch onto your lure. Lake Tinaroo is the only place in Queensland where you can legally fish for Barramundi all year around, and take them home if you catch them. Or if you aren’t interested in wrestling the silver monsters you can have a go at a black bream, a mouth-almighty, or famous red-claw yabbies. Water SkiingLake Tinaroo is the premier water-skiing destination in Tropical North Queensland. Many boat owners don’t like running their expensive machines in salt water, so Lake Tinaroo is their only remaining option. The water-skiers usually restrict their activities to the far end of the lake, such as Fong On Bay, leaving the large section of lake near Tinaroo Township for swimmers, sailors and canoeists. WindsurfingIn the late 80’s and early 90’s, windsurfing was a popular activity at Lake Tinaroo. Dozens of sails zigzagged across the lake making use of the fluctuating winds that rebound off the mountains surrounding the lake. Unfortunately, the popularity of windsurfing has declined in recent years, but you can still see the odd sail shooting across the water. Canoeing and SailingEvery weekend, small sail boats launch from the Tinaroo Boat Club and race around markers situated in the main bay area of the dam. Visitors to the lake are able to hitch a ride on the small boats if they want to experience the thrill of wind-powered travel. In addition, canoes are available for hire from the Lake Tinaroo caravan park. This is a great way to explore the arms of the lake in an ecologically friendly way. Sailing can be a challenge, however, because the wind shifts in direction and intensity depending whereabouts on the lake you are. The mountains channel wind in directions that can baffle a first-timer, but Lake Tinaroo is a terrific venue for sailing practice and makes your return to consistent winds seem very easy. BushwalkingThere are many bushwalking tracks throughout the Atherton Tableland region. Some hikes are short, taking under an hour to traverse. Some take many days. For more information about bushwalking tracks in this region see Atherton Tablelands Hiking Tracks. BirdwatchingThe Atherton Tablelands is home to over 300 species of birds ranging in size from tiny finches to large cassowaries. It is possible to see birds all over the region – even in the towns - but some places are reserved solely for bird watching. These include Wongabel Botanical and Hasties Swamp Walk near Atherton, where large flocks of Whistling-Ducks, Magpie Geese, Sarus Cranes and Brolgas are frequently sighted. Danbulla Forest DriveThe 27km Danbulla Forest Drive circles Lake Tinaroo, providing access to picnic areas, swimming holes, camping sites and walking tracks. The dirt road meanders through pine plantations, Australian scrub and rainforest all within a few kilometres. Along the road are campsites that are always popular on weekends. The campsites are: Platypus Rock, Downfall Creek, Kauri Creek, Fong-On Bay and School Point. The Danbulla Forest Drive starts at the top of the Gillies Highway and finishes at the Tinaroo Dam wall. The drive is pleasant and offers magnificent views of the lake. SwimmingThere are so many places to swim at the Atherton Tablelands, it’s almost impossible to list them all. Visitors can swim at swimming holes and creeks from Malanda to Mareeba. All locations are safe – there are no crocodiles or other nasties that can cause injury. Essentially, wherever you see a body of water you can swim! DiningThe major towns in the Atherton Tablelands all feature world-class restaurants that range from good old Aussie tucker to Swiss delicacies. See Cairns Dining for detailed information about restaurants. ShoppingThe various townships of the Atherton Tablelands provides abundant opportunities to souvenir local arts and crafts, pottery, gemstones, woodwork, genuine antiques and the vast array of culinary delights produces by the farmers and artesans that live in the region. Curtain Fig TreeThis is the most amazing tree you are ever likely to see. It is a picture of a century of natural history – a unique example of nature’s unpredictability and power.
The fig tree is from the strangler fig species Ficus virens. The curtain
effect results from one tree leaning against another tree on a 45-degree
angle. The strangler vine then grew along the oblique angle of the leaning
tree, dangling 15 metres to the ground to create the curtain affect. As one of the largest trees in North Queensland, the Curtain Fig Tree is fascinating and unusual. The tree is located just outside the small township of Yungaburra on the Atherton Tablelands. From Yungaburra, head towards Atherton for one kilometre and follow the sign on the left side of the road towards the tree. A short drive along this narrow road will take you to a small car park. From here, there is a 50-meter walk to the tree along a wooden boardwalk. Lake EachamThe premier crater lake at the Atherton Tablelands, Lake Eacham is one of the best places for swimming. The lake is always glassy-calm, making it safe for children. A large grassy picnic area with barbeque facilities is located on the banks of the lake. Lake BarrineA relaxing yet informative cruise around this crater lake operates many times each day. This is a great way to see the flora and fauna at Lake Barrine from the comfort of a cruise vessel. Twin Kauri PinesA short 2-minute walk from the car park at Lake Barrine are two gigantic Kauri Pine trees. These trees are hidden among the dense rainforest surrounding the crater lake, but as you walk along the footpath in their direction they suddenly appear through the trees. The trees are huge, very impressive, and definitely worth seeing if you visit Lake Barrine. Malanda FallsThis waterfall is located beside the quiet main road leading into Malanda, and is great for a refreshing dip or a family picnic. The waterfall is wide, but only about 4 metres high, which makes it fun for leaps into the fresh water. Trees provide shade on the grassy areas. Waterfall CircuitThis 15km drive through lush dairying country tracks down waterfalls tucked away in deep crevices and dense pockets of rainforest. Millaa Millaa, Zillie and Elinjaa Falls plunge over vertical lava walls into inviting pools and splashing creeks. Mungalli Falls, the highest of the four, is only a few kilometres away. The road to Mungalli Falls follows a mountain spur with breathtaking views over to the Bellenden Ker Range and Mt Bartle Frere, Queensland’s highest mountain. The waterfall circuit is an essential part of any visit to the Atherton Tablelands. This trip takes in spectacular waterfalls that cascade into pools of water that are home to fish, turtles and other freshwater creatures. Visitors can swim in almost all the waterfalls – signs will indicate whether you can do so or not. The waterfall circuit begins only minutes from Millaa Millaa, where the Millaa Millaa Falls, Elinjaa Falls and Zillie Falls are located. The drive to these falls is along a paved road with signs along the way to make it easy and enjoyable. All three sites have toilet facilities and are great for picnics. Don’t forget to bring along your camera! The best way to see the waterfall circuit is to get a local tourist map. These are free and available from most petrol stations and information centres in the region. They will greatly assist your travels. Mt. Hypipamee CraterSituated approximately 25 kilometres from Atherton on the Kennedy Highway, the Mt. Hypipamee Crater is a 124m deep extinct volcano blowhole. The crater formed as a result of escaping gases blasting a vent hole clean through solid granite. Hasties SwampHasties Swamp is a bird watchers paradise. During the wet season, the 56-hectare swamp fills will water and attracts insects and abundant birdlife. It is a completely natural quagmire that is rarely visited by travellers at the Atherton Tablelands. To get to Hasties Swamp, drive towards Herberton from the Atherton/Tinaroo region. A sign on the left side of the road indicates the location of the swamp. The road towards the swamp is dirt, but adequate for regular vehicles. The best bird watching sight is right at the end of the road on a grass area under eucalypt trees. Open GardenHundreds of camellias, tropical rhododendrons and masses of azaleas in bloom follow the line of the meandering 3 1/2 acres of gardens, over hillocks and down to one of the six water features fed by the natural spring. Meander around the water gardens and enjoy the wonderful ambience with the diversity of plants and bird lifethat is Hillside Eden Gardens.
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