Location
WATERFALLS – Cairns region
What it is?
Waterfalls in the Cairns region
Far North Queensland is a waterfalls lover’s dream come true. There are so many that it is honestly hard to keep track of which ones you have been to. Winter is the best time to explore the waterfalls you need to hike to, as summer is too wet and too hot. Remember, this is far north Queensland; you can still swim very comfortably in winter!
What it offers?
To get to some waterfalls, hiking may be involved. Other ones are close to the road, and you have easy access to either a view or the water to be able to jump in.
I promise to name all the waterfall photographs as time allows.
Wheelchair Access?
May require assistance.
Some waterfalls have easy access for viewing, i.e. Millia Millaa and Malanda Falls.
Some have facilities (toilets), some don’t.
Please visit the Queensland Government Parks website for more information.
What we did?
One of my favourite things about the tropical north is the abundance of waterfalls.
Barron Falls (Din Din) – Amazing during/after the wet season. We drove up there one evening after it had been torrential rain all day. The force of the water was pretty amazing.
Davies Creek Falls – (Dinden National Park – Swim in the infinity pool at the top of the falls and pitch a tent at the campgrounds)
Emerald Creek Falls – Did Din West Forest Reserve – 10 min walk from the carpark.
Carrington Falls – a 6km grade3-4 track outside of Atherton (allow 2 hours)
Malanda Falls (easy to get to, and there is a caravan park right next to it)
Dinner Falls Mount Hypipamee National Park
Millstream Falls (the widest single-drop waterfall in Australia – Ravenshoe – Queenslands Highest Town)
Little Millstream Falls – near Ravenshoe
Papina Falls – 15 mins from Millia Millaa Falls
Millaa Millaa Falls – (There is also a lookout – one of the busiest of the waterfalls; plan your day to account for this)
Zillie Falls (7.5 km from Millaa Millaa)
Ellinjaa Falls (3 km past Zillie Falls – my favourite of the three)
Millaa Millaa, Zillie and Ellinjaa are part of a waterfalls circuit; see HERE for more details.
Souita Falls near Millaa Millaa on Middlebrook Road off the Old Palmerston Highway
Mungalli Falls (14mins from Millaa Millaa Falls)
Wallicher Falls (a 500-meter walk from Tchupala)
Tchupala Falls (Not far from Nandroya Falls is Tchupala Falls (pronounced Chu-par-la), A great spot to stop for a swim on your way down the Palmerston Highway)
Mena Creek Falls – Paranella Park
Josephine Falls – near Babinda
Halls Falls – Tucked away in Herberton Range Conservation Park, a 15-minute walk from the car park
Nandroya Falls (a 6km round trip to Nandroya and Silver Falls)
Mungali Falls – the highest waterfall on the tablelands
Clamshell Falls – Bahana Gorge – Gordonvale (on our list when we return)
Windin Falls (on our list when we return) – 3 hr return hike
Stoney Creek – Kumerunga. This is a lovely spot for a swim; hike to the top of the hill just before the fallen tree.
Crystal Cascades – Redlynch Valley – a series of swimming holes and an easy walking track next to the water’s edge.
Fairy Falls – access from the carpark at Crystal Cascades – be careful of stinging trees in this area.
Hartleys Creek Falls – (on our list when we return – The track leading up to the falls is roughly 7.5 km return and travels through the World Heritage Listed Wet Tropics Rainforest. Note: Crocodiles may be present in the brackish water further down the creek, and swimming here is not permitted.)
Vision Falls – (300m from Lake Eacham – wrong time of year when we went, and there was not much water, go after the wet season)
Murray Falls – Between Tully and Cardwell
McKenzie Falls – on the way to Ravenshoe (need a 4WD) in the Tumoulin Forest Reserve.
My top three waterfalls
Fairy Falls
Ellinjaa Falls
Barron Falls – the difference between low and high is amazing, and we saw both.
Waterholes include: Cardwell Spa Pools; Babinda Boulders; and Goomboora Park Redlynch.
Updates to this page will show the names of each waterfall/location/etc.
Please stay tuned while we continue working on our page.
Highlight?
The ones that have easy access to the water’s edge, and you can swim underneath.
Would I do it again?
I would revisit about 70% of the above-mentioned waterfalls. We have a few favourites, so unless we have visitors who want to see a certain one, we might stick to the ones we love.
They are all vastly different and worthy of seeing.
What do you need?
As a couple: Pre-downloaded maps on your phone (reception is patchy); water bottles; healthy snacks for the trails; wide brim hat: sunscreen; bug spray; good sturdy shoes/water shoes; swimmers and towels; picnic and picnic blanket.
Make sure you are aware of the distances and grades of tracks before embarking on a journey to a new destination. Make sure someone knows where you are going and when to expect you back. Tracks may be slippery when wet/raining. There are a number of locations where lives have been lost. Please take care and use your common sense.
With Kids: water; snacks; wide brim hat; sunscreen; bug spray; good sturdy shoes.
With Pets: Depends on each location. Some you can, and some you can’t. As there are some in National Parks, please check each location on the Queensland Government Parks website.
Yearly Events
N/A