Things to Do In Atherton Tablelands
The Atherton Tablelands, located in the gorgeous hills at the back of Cairns, is one of the top tourist spots in all of North Queensland, Australia.
This region of Australia is ideal for individuals on a tight schedule because there is a wealth of free or low-cost activities to partake in, such as the many walks, bike trails, waterfalls, rainforest drives, lakes, and intriguing history.
Here are 10 of the top free activities in the Atherton Tablelands to help you get started on your trip planning.
See Barren Gorge, National Park
Barron Gorge National Park is home to the world-famous Barron Falls, one of the most stunning displays of nature in this area, and is located just outside the colorful community of Kuranda.
Barron Falls is a free and beautiful boardwalk-accessible waterfall that drops 260 meters over a granite cliff.
For this reason, it is among the top free attractions in the Atherton Tablelands. The adjacent alternative town of Kuranda is most known for its thriving marketplace.
Therefore, if you have the time, you should definitely stop by to check out the wonderful local arts and crafts that are on sale here.
Consider visiting the Mareeba Heritage Museum
Mareeba, the main town in the Atherton Tablelands, is home to a fantastic Heritage Museum that details the region’s intriguing aboriginal and colonial history and is open to the public at no cost.
It’s definitely worth your time to spend an hour or two in this big museum, which houses interesting exhibits about the evolution of the local industry as well as several artifacts from the past.
Explore the Crystal Caves Store
A trip to Atherton, the second biggest town in the Tablelands, isn’t complete unless you check out the strange Crystal Caves.
The eccentric Dutch owner of this unique store has traveled the world in search of beautiful stones and jewels.
His amazing crystal collection is currently stored in a network of built tunnels under the shop known as “The Crystal Caves.”
Although entrance to the caverns requires payment, it is free to browse the shop’s impressive collection of precious stones.
You won’t believe me till you see it for yourself, but trust me when I say that it is incredible!
This is one of the most interesting free things to do in the Atherton Tablelands since there is a wealth of information on the minerals extracted, their origins, and the methods used to extract them.
Visit Queensland’s Highest Town and Get Some Air
If you’re looking for free fun on the Atherton Tablelands, a visit to Ravenshoe, the highest town in Queensland, is a must.
The buildings and artifacts along the main street of this charming ancient town speak volumes about the town’s rich past.
You may also visit the adjacent art museum or the largest wind farm in Queensland, Windy Hill Wind Farm, which I found to be shockingly beautiful and memorable.
Due to its elevated position, the drive to Ravenshoe rewards visitors with breathtaking panoramas of the surrounding Atherton Tablelands.
My favorite part of the trip was taking the winding road up the hill to the nearby village of Millaa Millaa.
Take a Waterfall Tour
The waterfall circuit is a scenic route that goes through some of the most impressive waterfalls in the Atherton Tablelands, all within close proximity to the town of Millaa Millaa. and that’s saying a lot for the Land of Water.
The Zilliie Falls, the Papina Falls, and the Millaa Millaa Falls itself are among my favorites, although there are many more to choose from.
Don’t miss the legendary Dinner Falls and Millstream Falls, either. These rushing waterfalls aren’t really a part of the Waterfall Circuit, but they’re close by and well worth the trip.
Untangle the Curtain Fig Tree
The massive Curtain Fig Tree may be seen not far from Yungaburra.
Located in a national park, this gigantic tree is quite astounding, and it’s still difficult to understand the whole thing, even the superb storyboards explaining how the wacky structure was developed.
One of the greatest free activities in the Atherton Tablelands, we also enjoyed the platypus-watching location on the neighboring Gillies Highway.
Views from the Kennedy Highway
It is most common for visitors to the Atherton Tablelands to go from Cairns, the closest major city, which is situated on the main coastal route and hence easily accessible.
The quickest route to the Tablelands from Cairns is through the Kennedy Highway, which branches off of the Captain Cook Highway.
This extremely winding road swiftly ascends the hills in this region, providing stunning vistas and a dramatic temperature shift.
You are suddenly immersed in a verdant green environment reminiscent of a tropical jungle.
Because of this, one of the finest free things to do in the Atherton Tablelands is to stop at several of the lookouts along the way to admire and photograph the panorama spread out before you.
Birdwatching in Mareeba Wetlands
One of the greatest free activities in the Atherton Tablelands, the neighboring Mareeba Wetlands are open to the public as well.
A beautiful nature preserve where you may see dozens of different bird species from the magnificent boardwalk.
You may also go to the Mareeba Wetlands and relax there if you like.
Experience the Rail Trails by Bike
With its beautiful landscapes and plenty of routes, the Atherton Tablelands is quickly becoming one of Queensland’s most popular adventure destinations.
The Rail Trails are highly recommended, and they span a distance of 6 kilometers of track between Atherton and Tolga.
If you’re looking for a more challenging ride, head to the Atherton Forest Mountain Bike Park, which features steep trails that wind through woods and mountains.
If you prefer to walk instead of ride, there are several paths to explore in and around Atherton.
The vista from Halloran’s Hill is well worth the effort of a short walk up its slopes. The vistas across the rolling hills would have been beautiful if we had arrived on a clear day, but alas, it was pouring when we got here.
Look Down into the Hypipamee Crater’s Depths
The beautiful Hypipamee Crater is one of my favorite spots in the entire Atherton Tablelands.
The huge hole in the terrain is now home to a magnificent lake within a national park with the same name, and staring over the railings into its dark depths was rather spooky.
While exploring this National Park, we were also treated to a sighting of a wild cassowary, thus solidifying its position as one of the top free activities in the Atherton Tablelands.
Conclusion
The Atherton Tablelands, located not far from Cairns, is a wonderful place to go any time of year if you want to see the diverse wildlife and rich cultural heritage of Australia.
Self-guided tours throughout the plains, as well as visits to museums and other cultural attractions, are just a few of the many things to do while in town. The Crystal Caves and the Mount Mulligan Escarpment are two of the region’s outstanding natural wonders, and the charming cluster of villages is home to many antique stores and art galleries.
The Tablelands itself cover a vast area, and within them are national parks, marshes, waterfalls, and waterfalls, as well as old rainforests teeming with natural flora and animals.
