Things to do in

Atherton Tablelands

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 Malanda Pub, before visiting Mount Hypipamee. Walk through rainforest on easy pathways. See wildlife around Dinner Falls, including brush turkeys and Boyd’s forest dragon. Visit the giant curtain fig tree, and try your luck at platypus spotting in Yungaburra. Enjoy a last swim at Lake Eacham, before afternoon tea and the trip back to Cairns.

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 complimentary transfers 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.

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!

Meet your experienced ballooning team at Atherton Tablelands at 6.00 AM, just in time to witness the inflation of the hot air balloons. Experience the fun and unique sensation of a hot air balloon ride over the Atherton Tablelands, Australia. Enjoy the picturesque landscape at sunrise with 60-minutes of flying time. At 6.30 AM the patchwork panorama below brings new sights every day, watch out for the variety of Australian birdlife and take in the peace and serenity that is hot air ballooning.

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.

Experience the diverse beauty of Daintree Rainforest, Cape Tribulation, and Mossman Gorge on 2 day trips from Cairns. Day 1: Learn the Aboriginal history of Babinda Boulders in the Atherton Tablelands, and go for a swim in the crystal clear waters of Josephine Falls. Slide down a waterfall on a natural rockslide before visiting Millaa Millaa Falls. Enjoy lunch at a Australia’s largest timber pub before a bush walk and time to swim behind a waterfall. Gaze into a volcanic crater and look for wild cassowary in their natural habitat. See the Curtain Fig Tree before heading to Lake Eacham, a dormant volcanic crater lake full of turtles. Watch the sunset before the drive back to Cairns. Day 2: Take a scenic coastal drive towards the Mossman Gorge and enjoy panoramic views of the Coral Sea along the way. Get a warm welcome from the local Aborigines on arrival, and then cross the Daintree River for lunch at a beach. Explore the ancient rainforest on a guided tour of Marrdja Botanical Boardwalk and learn more about the flora and fauna, from low-lying ferns and shrubs to the massive canopy and mangroves. Taste some locally made ice cream, and enjoy a wildlife cruise to look for crocodiles before the return trip to Cairns via Port Douglas.

Immerse yourself in Australia’s mining, timber and farming heritage at the award-winning Historic Village Herberton. Explore over 60 original buildings, each housing an extensive display of memorabilia. With quirky Australian collectibles, olden day machinery, vehicles and thousands of genuine antique items, the Village is regarded as one of the most significant outdoor museums in Australia. Take a self-guided tour and enjoy interactive live working displays of blacksmithing, woodturning, John Deere tractors, the printery, small engines, sawmill, and antique motor vehicles. Discover highlights such as the 130-year old grand pioneer homestead Elderslie House, the John Deere Tractor Shed, Coach house, Chemist and Toy Shop, and the delightful Bakerville Hotel - now a traditional tearoom. On Sundays, get the opportunity to experience a heritage train ride on the Atherton-Herberton Historic Railway.

Venture into the wilderness of Queensland's far north on a tour that makes nature and the outdoors fun and accessible. See waterfalls, lookouts, lakes, and craters on this day-trip of the Atherton Tablelands from Cairns. Experience the unique endemic wildlife and natural beauty of the Atherton Tablelands. Visit places like Josephine Falls, Babinda Boulders, Millaa Millaa Falls, and Lake Eacham. Choose what destinations suit you best with a flexible itinerary that caters to your group's interests. Make a stop for a swim in a freshwater waterfall or natural water slide and take a break for some coffee or tea. Be sure to also check out the ancient fig tree that's hundreds of years old. Your knowledgeable guide will help you to learn more about the region as you explore the terrain.

This excursion offers visitors to North Queensland the opportunity to explore a private wetland reserve known for its highly-prized birdwatching experience. Encounter diverse habitats, stumble upon endemic wildlife and have a chance to spot up to 220 different species.  Begin your day with an early morning pickup and start exploring the wetland by 7:30 AM. Enjoy the morning tranquility as you walk around the lagoon in search of bush birds, ducks, geese, and many more species.  In the afternoon, stop for a picnic lunch and travel to the nearby Atherton Tableland to visit what is known as the oldest continually growing tropical rainforest in the world. Be stunned by the Tableland's beautiful landscape and continue your birdwatching excursion.