Not too far from the Daintree rainforest, you’ll find a sprawling landscape of lush green hills, which make up the Atherton Tablelands.
It’s safe to say the Atherton Tablelands are pretty huge! With a whole surface area of 65,000 square kilometres, it’s safe to say the Atherton Tablelands are pretty big.
That’s about the size of 2.9 million football fields.
Atherton Tablelands is often an overlooked area of Far North Queensland, but the scenery is unparalleled due to it’s rolling hills and vast scenery.
The Atherton Tablelands are one of those places where you’ll notice something new to do every time you go back! The hinterland is full of natural marvels and swimholes, as well as interesting and quirky towns, so you’ll have plenty to see and do in Atherton.
The star of the show for the Atherton Tablelands is, by far, nature. With plenty of waterfalls, forest trails and hikes, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to places in Atherton to explore!
Tin was discovered in the Tablelands, and after that, gold was extracted.
The tablelands have incredibly rich soils, which means they can grow pretty much anything and everything.
Visit Heberton
This charming little historic town is a must-see when you’re exploring the Tablelands. The charm of Heberton is all about the quaint, cute buildings. With rolling hills surrounding a cute town, Herberton is a tiny little gem of the Atherton region.
A dash of European charm, this tiny village consists of one central street with rolling hills and countryside all around it.
Visit the mining museum for a dip into the past, and explore the town’s rich history.
Millaa Millaa Falls
These wonderful waterfalls are just a short drive away from Cairns, and are located in the south of the Atherton Tablelands region!
There’s normally heavy rainfall in this upper section of the Tablelands, so the waterfalls are gushing! It’s a plunge waterfall that you can swim in.
Lake Eacham
Lake Eacham is a crater lake that is home to some gorgeous, serene views and a (very shy and tame) freshwater crocodile! The lake is extremely deep, and still glassy surface makes for a great swimming experience.
Exploring Lake Eacham? To check out the Lake at a quieter time, make sure you go during the day. If you can, try and go during school hours – this is when the lake is less crowded!
Millstream
There are two different waterfalls here at Millstream! You’ve got the big millstream falls or the small one. Both are equally spectacular!
The Millstream Falls has the widest single-drop waterfall in the whole country.
There is a waterfall quite unlike any other in the Tablelands, and not many people know about it, so it’s generally quite a quiet spot. Bring your camera for some incredible nature shots.
Learn about the World War 2 history, and take a walk around the top of the waterfalls to get yourself…
Heading to the Atherton Tablelands from the Daintree?
It’s about a 3-hour drive if you’re going from the Tablelands to the Daintree. Take the journey inland, or do the longer coastal route through Port Douglas.
The road to the Daintree can be a bit windy, so make sure you’re prepared for some windy roads.
Before you get to the Daintree, you have to get onto a ferry that takes you across the Daintree River. It’s not a river you’d want to swim in – there are crocs in the Daintree River! One-way ferry is $20, and a return is $40.
Want to explore the Atherton Tablelands? Come and join us on a tour to see more!