2016/17 VISITOR’S GUIDE
ATHERTON TABLELANDS
& Beyond
Uplifting by Nature On and off road drive adventures
OUTBACK GULF SAVANNAH
Country Towns
Gourmet Delights TROPICAL WATERFALLS
Uplifting by nature
athertontablelands.com.au
www.athertontablelands.com.au 1
René started building in 1987
See and touch natural crystals
René Boissevain is a man with a passion.
He has spent a lifetime travelling to every corner of the world to collect crystallised mineral specimens, gemstones, fossils and rocks. He searches only for the best - the most perfect, the most extraordinary, the most valuable, the rarest and the biggest. To house his growing collection of more than 600 individual pieces, René has built 250 m2 of tunnels and
4000 kilo of rose quartz built into a fountain
grottos for you to explore. The imagination of one man to build a fantasy cave is only surpassed by the quality and size of the crystals and fossils. This natural history collection can been compared to the best in the world. Carefully positioned and delicately lit, you are free to discover in your own time and encouraged to touch and photograph the crystals.
Open your mind and put all expectations aside, this is not your average museum…
Be Different!
be the first to see inside a 44 million year old geode
Established in 1983, Fascinating Facets is a combination of gallery, rockshop and jeweller. The selection of fossils, gemstones,
unique jewellery and gifts from around the world is overwhelming and the prices very reasonable. You can crack a geode formed 44 million years ago or select a spectacular piece or Amethyst from the rotating carousel. This family business prides itself on offering only natural crystals and gemstones from around the world.
Atherton museum and shop open 7 days* - 69 Main Street Atherton QLD Australia - phone 4091 2365 Open weekdays 8.30 am - 5.00 pm Saturday 8.30 am - 4.00 pm Sunday & public holidays 10 am - 4 pm info@crystalcaves.com.au • www.crystalcaves.com.au *Admission fees apply. *Last entry to the museum is 1 hour before closing. * Free all day parking also for large vehicles. *Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Day, Good Friday and for the month of February.
2 www.athertontablelands.com.au Cairns shop open 6 days - 14 Spence Street Cairns QLD Australia - phone 4041 1031
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Welcome to the
Atherton Tablelands and beyond ... Tropical North Queensland is undeniably one of the most exciting and diverse regions to visit in Australia and the Atherton Tablelands sits at the very heart of it. With its breathtaking waterfalls, scenic vistas at every turn, impressive lakes, lush rainforest and rugged outback, a visit to this region promises to be one of great contrast, beauty and exploration. People often ask what is the best thing about the Atherton Tablelands but if you have ever visited the region, you will have discovered there is more than one. Visitors love to spend their days enjoying scenic country drives, leisurely boat cruises, wildlife spotting, experimenting with local food and unearthing the fascinating geological history.
Explore the gateways from the reef to the rainforest before you find yourself spoiled for choice in our stunning region. Plan to stay at least five days, as there is so much to see and do. Divide your time between the Southern and Northern Tablelands on what will be an unforgettable selfdrive journey, and see for yourself the changing landscape of our diverse region. For history buffs, the Atherton Tablelands boasts some incredible historical points of interest from wartime to Chinese settlement and Australia’s early pioneer days. Country markets brimming with local produce and homemade crafts are also worth a visit.
For those who like to play, you are entering an adventure playground complete with water sports, mountain biking, hiking and camping. Roadside stalls offer a bounty of fresh goodies, and depending on the season expect to find mangoes, watermelon, papaya, avocados, potatoes, pumpkin, blueberries, strawberries, bananas and more. For more information once you are here, be sure to consult one of the friendly volunteers at the accredited Visitor Information Centres . For more information on where these centres are located turn to page 51. During your stay with us, please acknowledge the traditional owners of this amazing region, and learn more of their ways. Enjoy your holiday and thanks for visiting.
AthertonTablelands @AthertonTablelands AthertonTablelands PUBLISHER: Tropical Tablelands Tourism ADDRESS: PO Box 257 Atherton QLD 4833 PHONE: 07 4096 7405 • FAX: 07 4096 7415 EMAIL: office@athertontablelands.com.au SALES & EDITORIAL: Strategic PR ADMIN: Smart Data Virtual Office Solutions GRAPHIC DESIGN: www.artus.com.au IMAGES: TQ, TTNQ, Strategic PR and Michael Petersen Photography WEB: www.athertontablelands.com.au
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Contents 4
Finding Your Way
6
The Great Tropical Drive & Great Barrier Reef Drive
8
The Savannah Way & Gulf Savannah
12 Cassowary Coast & Canecutter Way 16 Gourmet Delights 18 Birding & Wildlife 20 Adventure & Tours 22 Millaa Millaa & Waterfalls 24 Herberton & Irvinebank 25 Malanda 26 Regional Maps 30 Regional Event Highlights & Markets 32 Atherton 35 Ravenshoe, Innot Hot Springs & Mt Garnet 36 Tolga & Walkamin 38 Lake Tinaroo 39 Lakes District 40 Yungaburra 43 Mareeba 46 Chillagoe & Petford 47 Julatten, Mt Molloy & Mt Carbine 48 Kuranda 50 National Parks
Finding your way to the Tropical Tablelands Tropical North Queensland has rightfully earned its reputation as one of the most beautiful and diverse localities to visit in the world and finding your way around has never been easier, with some fantastic tried and tested drive routes that all lead to the Atherton Tablelands and beyond.
Chillagoe & The Wheelbarrow Way The Wheelbarrow Way encompasses some of the richest and most important history of our national heritage between Mareeba and Chillagoe. Drive through ancient landscapes, with spectacular escarpment formations and be sure not to miss the beautiful limestone caves at Chillagoe. Spend some time in Chillagoe touring the historic copper mines of the Old State Smelters and marvel at ancient indigenous culture at the Chillagoe Museum, housing some of this country’s oldest and most important Aboriginal rock art. Be sure to take a torch for your tour to the Bauhinia and Pompeii Caves.
Cooktown & Cape York The push to the tip of Australia is a must for the intrepid road warrior. Visit amazing Aboriginal rock art and pioneer relics, marvel at nature in the national parks or try your luck sport fishing. Why not stop at Mt Carbine Caravan Park enroute? It is ideally located for further exploration of the Palmer River Gold Fields, Lakeland Downs, the Annan Gorge, the mysterious Black Mountain and historic Cooktown. Heading out west to Palmer River visitors to the solitary roadhouse perched above the famous river can get a glimpse of the remnants of one of north Queensland’s most famous gold mining towns. The rich gold fields attracted tens of thousands of miners in the 1870s, including large numbers of Chinese. This ultimately led to the establishment of the ports of Cooktown, Port Douglas and Cairns. 4 www.athertontablelands.com.au
HISTORIC VILLAGE HERBERTON
A GREAT AUSTRALIAN STORY Spend the day at the Historic Village Herberton. With more than 60 restored period buildings showcasing Australian collectibles, machinery, vehicles and thousands of genuine antiques, the Historic Village Herberton is one of the most significant outdoor museums in Australia. Plan to spend the day and treat yourself to delicious homestyle cooking at the Bakerville Tearooms. Don’t forget your camera and dogs on leads are welcome. Special event programs run during school and public holidays. Visit the website for more information.
Adventurous by nature
2009 2011 2013 2014 WINNER
ENTRY INCLUDES 3 DAY RETURN PASS OPEN HOURS High season Mid-March to Mid-October 9am–5pm, last entry 3.30pm Low season Feb to Mid-March & Mid-Oct to Christmas 9.30am–4pm, last entry 2.30pm Refer to website for more information
Historic Village Herberton 6 Broadway, Herberton, Queensland 4887 Ph: 07 4096 2002 Allow a 90 minute drive from Cairns Day tours operating from Cairns available
historicvillageherberton www.athertontablelands.com.au 5 WWW.HISTORICVILLAGEHERBERTON .COM.AU
The Great Barrier Reef Drive
Great Tropical Drive The Great Tropical Drive offers self-drive travellers a holiday choice unlike any in the world with its vast array of experiences and ever-changing scenery taking in pristine rainforests, azure coastlines and the dramatic landscapes of rural and outback Queensland. The 2079km Great Tropical Drive incorporates the coastal drive from Cooktown through Cairns and Townsville to Ayr and Charters Towers in the south, plus the hinterland Tablelands’ communities of Mareeba and Atherton. Incorporated within the Great Tropical Drive is a series of 13 shorter Tropical Discovery Trails, enabling visitors to explore shorter sections or offshoots of the primary route. The route travels through areas of enormous environmental and Aboriginal significance, including 70 National Parks, conservation areas and state forests, the Great Barrier Reef, Hinchinbrook Island and World Heritage tropical rainforest. Towns along the Great Tropical Drive offer insights into the early history of the area, while others present opportunities to savour unique tastes of the tropics and experience exhilarating adventures.
One of the most iconic stretches of road in all of Australia is now officially recognised as the Great Barrier Reef Drive after receiving approval from the Queensland State Government. While the 140km section of road will still remain known officially as the Captain Cook Highway and Cape Tribulation Road, the new name is set to encourage self-drive travellers to make the spectacular journey. Starting in Cairns, the Great Barrier Reef drive takes in the rugged coastline from Ellis Beach to Port Douglas, past Mossman and over the Daintree River before meandering through the world heritage listed Daintree Rainforest on the way to Cape Tribulation.
Some of Australia’s best-known attractions, such as the Undara Lava Tubes, can also be seen on this drive. From Cairns, through Port Douglas and on to Cape Tribulation there is 140km of tropical coastline that stretches along the Coral Sea. This is truly one of the most spectacular drives.
ATTRACTIONS There are a great number of things to do along this route. Deserted beaches are a plenty while Rex Lookout, between Cairns and Port Douglas, is highly recommended for a stop and photo opportunity as the hang gliders make the most of the cliffs to soar above the shimmering Coral Sea.
Visitors can tailor the Great Tropical Drive itinerary according to their personal interests, length of visit and preferred destinations.
No journey would be complete without a visit to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures.
While a few of the offshoot trails require a 4WD, most of the primary loop of the Great Tropical Drive is sealed, making it safe and easily accessible for all vehicles.
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See the big crocs up close during feeding times as well as experience the wetland boat rides and wildlife presentations. Hartley’s is family friendly and offers a three-day return pass, giving you all the time you need to explore this attraction.
TOURS Sweet Farm Tours, in the picturesque Whyanbeel Valley just north of Mossman, offers a great experience on a working sugarcane farm and cocoa plantation. Learn how cocoa is grown right here in Tropical North Queensland, and discover for yourself why their Daintree Estates Chocolate is becoming known as Australia’s best chocolate. Get back to nature with one of the most experienced cruise operators on the Daintree River. The Crocodile Express has been operating eco croc and wildlife cruises since 1979 and as your guide takes you along sections of this ancient waterway, take in the wildlife and flora along the foreshore and creeks. You may even be lucky enough to see Scarface, the Daintree River’s alpha male croc, who is an impressive four metres long and estimated to be around 50 to 70 years old.
STAY AT CAIRNS’ NORTHERN BEACHES Book direct and save on accommodation at Villa Marine, located at one of Cairns’ best kept secrets at beautiful Yorkey’s Knob Beach. This beach resort has all types of holiday apartments and rentals to suit any budget and with a tourist information centre onsite for your convenience, it is easy enough to arrange car hire and tours.
50 m TO BEACH
10 MIN TO CARINS TOUR INFO CENTRE ONSITE PEACEFUL & NEXT TO RAINFOREST 9 VILLAS ONLY
VILLA MARINE
HOLIDAY APARTMENTS 8 RUTHERFORD ST YORKEYS KNOB BEACH CAIRNS
07 4055 7158 villamarine.com.au
BUDGETE & DELUX ED
SELFCON
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Crocodiles - Birdlife - Reptiles Departs Daintree Village & Daintree Gateway 2 Cruises One Low Price !
www.CrocodileExpress.com Save10% book online P 4098 6120 5 Stewart St Daintree
more online For more information on where to stay and what to see on the Atherton Tablelands visit
athertontablelands.com.au
VISITOR CENTRE & GIFT SHOP
Gift Shop offers an extensive range of Australian Origin Chocolate and local products.
Tuesday - Saturday 9:30am - 4:00pm
FARM TOUR BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL
(07) 4098 8134
www.sweetfarmtours.com www.athertontablelands.com.au 7
The Savannah Way The 3700km Savannah Way stretches from Cairns on the east coast to Broome on the west coast via Katherine in central Australia. The route traverses some of the country’s most rugged and spectacular scenery, including five World Heritage listed areas and more than 15 national parks. Part of its allure is its remoteness and lack of development, as it passes through savannah woodlands, historic mining towns, Aboriginal communities, cattle stations and ever-changing geological wonders.
THE ROUTE The road from Cairns to Karumba is sealed and suitable for caravan and two-wheel drive touring. Four-wheel drive adventures can be found on side or alternate routes and the largely unsealed roads from Normanton to Burketown and beyond are recommended for 4WDs and off-road equipment. You can visit the Savannah Way all year round – the summer and winter months have their unique aspects. Travel is uncrowded during the summer season from December to March, when the countryside is lush and birdlife prolific. Traversing the six Gulf Savannah shires of Etheridge, Croydon, Carpentaria, Burke, Mornington and Doomadgee, the route features unusual outback attractions and welcoming country towns. Activities include fishing, exploring natural springs, caves, waterfalls and lakes ideal for bird watching. Croydon town was famous for its gold rush, but the port for the gold was Normanton, which is now the major service centre in the Gulf Savannah. Karumba, at the Norman River mouth, is the centre for prawning and barramundi. Don’t miss the Barramundi Discovery Centre or sunset at Karumba Point. Beyond Karumba and Normanton lies Burketown, Gregory, and Boodjamulla National Park’s spectacular Lawn Hill Gorge and the World Heritage listed Riversleigh Fossil Fields. Although much of the stretch from Gregory Downs to Boodjamulla, (formerly Lawn Hill) National Park near the Queensland-Northern Territory border, is unsealed, the destination of Lawn Hill Gorge and the famous Riversleigh Fossil Fields is well-worth a little dust. This area is easily accessible by two-wheel drive vehicles during the dry season. The town of Katherine is renowned for the magnificent 13 gorges in Nitmiluk National Park, where you can canoe, take a boat cruise, swim, walk and enjoy a scenic flight. 8 www.athertontablelands.com.au
Gulf Savannah The Etheridge region to the west of the Atherton Tablelands still echoes with the romance of the famous gold rush days that drew thousands of miners to try their luck at a series of sites from the mid-1860s. Relics of those days can still be found throughout the district and around the settlements of Mount Surprise, Einasleigh, Forsayth and Georgetown. Several goldfields, base metal fields and gem fields still excite fossickers today. The “poor man’s” Etheridge goldfield, so-called because you don’t need expensive equipment, has never been worked out. Modern day prospectors with metal detectors and hand tools find specimens such as coloured topaz, agates, sapphires, smoky quartz and other precious stones, and gold nuggets. Visitors to the region will enjoy getting off the beaten track, camping in remote locales by waterholes with giant paperbarks, bird watching, visiting historic ghost towns and simply enjoying the tranquillity amid the region’s wooded savannah grasslands.
MT SURPRISE is the first town encountered within the Gulf Savannah when travelling from the East. This railway town on the old Cairns to Forsayth line is an ideal area to fossick for gemstones, explore the Forty Mile Scrub National Park, cool off at Junction Creek just a few miles west, or swim in the Einasleigh River, especially in the early part of the year after the storms. Here you can see a wide range of gem stones and learn how faceting is done, join a dig at a local claim with expert guides or explore by yourself with hire equipment, mud map, fossicking licence and advice. The O’Brien’s Creek designated fossicking area, 37km north of Mt Surprise, is a well-known topaz area and yields gorgeous stones.
Blue Topaz
Agate
Bring this ad into the Georgetown TerrEstrial Centre to get your FREE Etheridge Tourism Kit
Gold Nugget
Unea rth Etheridge Suggested Itineraries
1. Savannah Way ¬¬Undara Lava Tubes ¬¬Fossick for Gems at Mt Surprise ¬¬Newcastle Ranges ¬¬TerrEstrial Centre Georgetown ¬¬Cumberland Chimney
Cobbo
ld Gor ge
2. Lava Tubes, Gems and Gorges Trail ¬¬Undara Lava Tubes ¬¬Fossick for Gems at Mt Surprise ¬¬O’Briens Creek ¬¬TerrEstrial Centre Georgetown ¬¬Flat Creek Station ¬¬Cobbold Gorge ¬¬Agate Creek Gemfields ¬¬4WD Gilberton Outback Retreat to The Lynd ¬¬Alternate route through Forsayth to Copperfield Gorge Einasleigh
Undara Lava Tubes
3. Fossicking Trail at Mt Surprise ¬¬Topaz at O’Briens Creek ¬¬Ted Elliot Gem Collection TerrEstrial Centre ¬¬Gold at Flat Creek Station ¬¬Agate and Thunder Eggs at Agate Creek Gemfields ¬¬Gold at Gilberton Station ¬¬Agate Display at Goldfields Hotel Forsayth ¬¬Copperfield Gorge Einasleigh ¬¬Kidston Gold Mine and Dam ¬¬Gems
Coppe
rfield G
orge
4. Cairns to Gulf Savannah – 3 Day ¬¬Travel through Tablelands ¬¬Innot Hot Springs ¬¬Undara Lava Tubes ¬¬Fossick for Gems at Mt Surprise ¬¬TerrEstrial Centre Georgetown ¬¬Cobbold Gorge 5. Townsville to Gulf Savannah – 3 Day ¬¬Harvey’s Range Road through Thornton’s Gap ¬¬The Lynd Oasis Roadhouse ¬¬Copperfield Gorge Einasleigh and Miniature Display at the Hotel
¬¬Forsayth
Goldfields Hotel to view the famous Agate Display ¬¬Cobbold Gorge ¬¬Via Georgetown and Undara Lava Tubes 6. Hughenden to Georgetown – 3 Gorges Trail ¬¬Hughenden to Porcupine Gorge National Park ¬¬The Lynd Oasis Roadhouse ¬¬Einasleigh to Copperfield Gorge ¬¬Agate Display at Goldfields Hotel Forsayth ¬¬Cobbold Gorge ¬¬TerrEstrial Centre Georgetown Mineral Collection
Events: Easter@Einasleigh 25-27th March Outback Rock & Blues, Undara Experience 22-24th April Georgetown Rodeo 24-25th June Oak Park Races Early July Forsayth Turnout 6th August Forsayth Tusk & Toad and Horse Sports Long Weekend 1-2nd October Flat Creek Finch Count 1-2nd October Opera in the Outback, Undara Experience 6-8th October Einasleigh Horse Sports 10-11th Dec Bushman’s Ball, Georgetown New Year’s Eve
TerrEstrial Centre
Low Street, Georgetown QLD P: (07) 4062 1485 | E: terrestrialgeorgetown@bigpond.com www.terrestrialgeorgetown.com.au For more information on suggested itineraries visit: www.savannahway.com.au www.athertontablelands.com.au 9
The Undara lava fields west of Mt Surprise is the toe of the lava flow that originated from the 164 craters of the McBride Plateau. There are basalt tunnels, which run for some 100 miles underground and can be accessed only through the Savannah Guide Post located at the Undara Lava Lodge on the edge of the Undara Volcanic National Park. You can take local day tours or take advantage of the camping and accommodation on offer. Guided tours can be organised either by Undara Experience or Bedrock Village. Walk the path of an ancient volcano during the day then sleep cocooned in an antique railway carriage. Check the Undara Experience website for details of the famous Undara Opera in the Outback and the Undara Outback Rock and Blues events.
FORSAYTH is the terminus of the Savannahlander’s four-day journey from Cairns. It is located within the Etheridge goldfield and adjacent to the Agate Creek Mineral Reserve. Ask the locals about some of the mining relics you can see when you visit. The newly renovated Goldfields Hotel offers meals, accommodation, general store and fuel (diesel and unleaded).
EINASLEIGH is a tiny township originally named Copperfield, which began life after the discovery of copper in 1866. It is on the Savannahlander rail line and sits among some unusual scenery with flat top hills rising out of grasslands.
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The Einasleigh Hotel is walking distance from the beautiful Copperfield Gorge. The town comes alive at the famous races and rodeo, usually held around Easter.
GEORGETOWN sits west of the Newcastle Range and is the administrative centre for the region and a service centre for local pastoralists and mining operations. Gold was discovered near here in the mid-1860s and a reminder of this is the Cumberland Chimney, 20km west of town. It is all that remains of the gold crushing plant – it processed nearly 66,000 ounces – built by Cornish masons. The adjoining dam is a great place for bird watching, especially in the dry season. The town is home to a motel, hotel and caravan parks. A must-see in Georgetown is the TerrEstrial Ted Elliott Mineral Collection of more than 4500 display specimens. About 90km from Georgetown is the striking Cobbold Gorge, formed through sedimentation of the Hampstead Sandstone 134 million years ago and hewn by nature to leave permanent waterholes beneath spectacular cliffs. Cobbold Gorge forms part of a working cattle property and access to the gorge is by Savannah Guide-led boat trip and tours. Camping, powered sites and cabins, meals and tours are all available through Cobbold Gorge Camping Village.
Another outpost in the Etheridge Shire is The Lynd Junction, about 80km from Einasleigh. Accommodation and meals are available at the roadhouse and caravan park, which boasts the Guinness Book of Records’ smallest bar in the world. Fossickers may be interested in the Moonstone Hill Resource Reserve, about 90km south of the Lynd Junction on the Kennedy Development Road. The Etheridge region is an exciting, geological wonderland with history and romance at its core. Remember that any fossicking requires a permit and make sure you know where to dig as mining claims and mining leases are ‘no-go’ areas. When you have had your fill of the excitement and discoveries of the rugged, red Savannah country, head East towards the calming, soft greens of the Atherton Tablelands.
TRAVEL TIP: Did you know the Etheridge Region is located just a couple hours drive west from the Atherton Tablelands, making it close enough for a weekend away or a longer relaxing break?
w w w . u n d a r a . c o m . a u
Reservations Essential • Freecall 1800 990 992 Email res@undara.com.au
DISCOVER THE TABLELANDS WITH AVIS Tropical North Queensland is famous for its lush rainforests, spectacular white sandy beaches and historic towns. And what’s the best way to see it all - in an Avis car of course! You’ll receive: • Competitive rates • Portable GPS • Free Holiday Vouchers • Professionally maintained low kilometre vehicles To make your reservation please call:
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Picture caption to go here.
Picture caption to go here.
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Cassowary Coast & Canecutter Way The Cassowary Coast region provides a stunning gateway to the Atherton Tablelands with beautiful beaches, offshore islands, rainforest-fringed freshwater streams, majestic mountain ranges and rich seas and agricultural land producing food from fish and shellfish to vegetables, sugar cane, beef and ultratropical fruit.
TULLY is home to the iconic giant ‘golden gumboot’, sugar mill tours during the cane crushing season and white-water rafting.
Where better than the Cassowary Coast to see the endangered Southern Cassowary – a two metre tall flightless bird and a key disperser of rainforest seeds? In a quirk of nature, it is the male cassowary that incubates the eggs and raises the chicks.
INNISFAIL, the regional centre, is a pretty
MISSION BEACH is one of the few places where the Wet Tropics and Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Areas meet. The reef is closer to Mission Beach than places further north and local firms offer reef fishing, snorkeling and diving trips, and sightseeing trips around the Family Islands, including famous Dunk Island. At Mission Beach you can “jump the beach”, taking in a birds-eye view of the reef with a skydive before landing on the sand. Perhaps a rainforest or beachside walk is more your style, or simply relaxing and enjoying a delicious meal at an excellent local eatery. CASSOWARY COAST is Australia’s banana-growing hub and centre of a growing ultra-tropical fruit industry, with mangosteens (the ‘queen of tropical fruit’), lychees, rambutans, guanabana (sour sop) and now cocoa, with a chocolate factory at Mission Beach. It encompasses the larger towns of Innisfail, Tully, Cardwell and Mission Beach.
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CARDWELL is the stepping off point for Hinchinbrook Island, the largest island national park in the southern hemisphere. It is also home to the Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre, representing artists from nine traditional owner groups. town built on the confluence of the North and South Johnstone rivers. In the wake of the 1918 cyclone, the town was rebuilt in the Art Deco style. The town centre is worth a visit, boasting Australia’s largest concentration of Art Deco buildings, with examples of Spanish, Sicilian, Moroccan, Italian and Anglo Saxon Art Deco design facades.
CANECUTTER WAY is a major highlight of this region, and is a 52km scenic drive between Kurrimine Beach and Innisfail. Billed as the ‘Greatest Detour in North Queensland’, the scenic drive provides plenty of reasons to leave the Bruce Highway to catch a glimpse of the sweet life in the tropics. Named for the men who laboured hard, cutting the sugar cane by hand with cane knives in the days before mechanised harvesters, the Canecutter Way meanders from the Coral Sea-lapped shores of laidback Kurrimine Beach, past cane land and papaya and banana plantations, through picturesque towns with old country pubs and World Heritage listed rainforest to Innisfail and the southern access to the Atherton Tablelands via the Palmerston Highway.
Paronella Park- The wonderland that was voted the #1 must do in Far North Queensland
Enjoy restaurant quality food and drink at pub prices at the
Mena Creek Hotel
1671 Japoonvale Rd Mena Creek Ph: 07 4065 0000
www.paronellapark.com.au
Extend your experience stay overnight in either Paronella Park’s Cabins or Mena Creek Hotel’s Rooms
Corner of Japoonvale Rd & Mena Crk Rd , Mena Creek Ph: 07 4065 3201
www.menacreekhotel.com.au
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ATTRACTIONS Kurrimine Beach is famous for King Reef, which is so close to shore that walking tours are offered on the lowest of low tides. It is also popular with fisher folk. The quiet hamlet includes awardwinning Kurrimine Beach Holiday Park, a family favourite with its own water park. A leading attraction nearby is the Berryman family’s Murdering Point Winery, where visitors can enjoy free guided tropical fruit wine tasting and discussion of the bush tucker and locally sourced fruits used to make the medal-winning wine. Quality dry, sweet and fortified wines are produced from fruits such as mango, passionfruit and lychee and bush tucker Lemon Aspen and Davidson Plum. Follow the road to Silkwood, which maintains religious and cultural immigrant links with Italy. The tradition of the Feast of the Three Saints is celebrated on the first Sunday of May, with a parade, feast, and fireworks. The town is home to the famous Aussie Pepper and the smallest National Australia Bank building. Mena Creek’s history is flavoured with the romantic story of Jose Paronella, a Spanish immigrant with a dream and a passion for castles and hard work. In the 1930s he opened his pleasure gardens and reception centre, Paronella Park, powering the venture with hydroelectric generators. Today the dream continues at this restored, intriguing venue. During the day, visitors are charmed by guided tours, including the Tunnel of Love. By night, the park presents a dramatic evening tour. Paronella Park was voted the number one thing to do in the 2009 RACQ poll and has since been recognised as the best major tourism attraction in the region. Camping and cabin accommodation is available. Visitors can also stay locally at the caravan park and camping grounds with its six boutique cabins or at the Mena Creek Hotel, which offers airconditioned rooms (including family room options). Mena Creek is home to a number of walks, including the Gorrell Track, an easy 3.7km to MacNamee Creek’s lush rainforest and picnic spot. The cane track runs through the centre of South Johnstone so it is a good place to grab a coffee or a beer and experience the sight of the colourful little locomotives hauling cane bins to the local mill during the sugar cane crushing season. Next stop is Wangan where award-winning pies are on offer.
Cassowary Coast to the Atherton Tablelands The southern access to the Atherton Tablelands provides a scenic drive along the 55km Palmerston Highway from the coast, through Wooroonooran National Park, to the township of Millaa Millaa at the top of the range. After turning off the Bruce Highway 5km north of Innisfail, the vista opens out on to cattle and cane farm land with breathtaking views of mountain fringed valleys and the southern aspect of Mt Bartle Frere. At 1622m, this is Queensland’s highest mountain. Continue past the Nucifora tea plantation and into the World Heritage rainforest, stopping en route to experience the Mamu Tropical Skywalk, a 350m elevated walkway in the traditional country of the Mamu Aboriginal people. It offers close-up views of rainforest plants, insects and birds high up in the rainforest canopy, along with spectacular panoramic views of the World Heritage area, including North Johnstone River gorge and surrounding rainforest-clad peaks. Interpretive signs tell the story of the rich culture and history of the area and explain the rainforest’s complex web of life. There are numerous camping areas and places to swim in the cool, fresh water of the North Johstone River as you drive through Wooroonooran National Park. Sections of the Palmerston Highway are quite steep so observe the speed limits. Keep an eye out for the overhead “possum ladders”, which allow native animals to cross from rainforest on one side of the wide road to the other without having to come to the ground and risk being hit by vehicles. The endangered Southern Cassowary and even feral pigs (definitely ground-dwellers) have been spotted along this section of highway. From Millaa Millaa continue on the Millaa-Malanda road or take the Old Palmerston Highway tourist drive (not suitable for caravans) to the Kennedy Highway north of Ravenshoe.
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N9 S ESGI UAGE D I U IO GNT LAN D U A ERE DIFF
mamu tropical
Queensland’s longest elevated walkway, and tallest observation tower offers visitors the exhilarating expereince of being high in the rainforest canopy, along with providing spectacular panoramic views of World Heritage rainforest landscapes. OPEN EVERY DAY
Mamu Tropical Skywalk Palmerston Highway, Innisfail Phone 07 4064 5294 www.mamutropicalskywalk.com.au
Don’t forget to visit our sister attraction
Just 25 minutes from the Skywalk 1671 Japoonvale Road Mena Creek, Queensland Phone: 07 4065 000
www.athertontablelands.com.au 15
Gourmet Delights The rich fertile soils of the Atherton Tablelands not only provide some of the country’s most breathtaking scenery, it also supports an agricultural industry worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Here you will find coffee, tea, milk, sugar, tropical fruits and cheese, plus avocados, citrus, paw paw, potatoes, herbs, pumpkins, watermelons, blueberries, strawberries and more. Growers also continue to diversify their farming practices, bringing a bounty of tropical fruit wines, liquors and spirits made from mangoes, lychees as well as more exotic fruits. You can sample these at a number of cellar doors including Murdering Point Winery, Golden Drop Mango Winery, De Brueys Boutique Wines and Mt Uncle Distillery. At Millaa Millaa, the biodynamic dairy Mungalli Creek produces exquisite cheeses, yoghurts, icecream and milks. If you love exploring new flavours why not take a lesson in native cooking at the Rainforest Bounty Cooking School located nearby? Its slow food experience begins with a stroll through the native fruit orchards and kitchen gardens before a hands on cooking class.
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At Mareeba, you enter the coffee zone. Australia’s oldest coffee plantation, Skybury, is an attraction not to be missed. Perched on the Great Dividing Range around 550 metres above sea level, Skybury Café is located at the edge of the 350 acre (150 ha) coffee and tropical fruit plantation and is a place where visitors can taste and take home some of the world’s purest Arabica coffee. It is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm, offering light lunches, wraps, cakes, scones, smoothies and, of course coffee. In town, a gourmet feast awaits at The Coffee Works. Compare the finest flavours of coffee, tea, chocolate and liqueur. Don’t miss the exquisite chocolate in the chocolaterie. Take the time to stroll through the gift store, offering unique homewares and gifts handpicked by the owners, after enjoying a delicious meal with coffee to finish. Gourmet travellers will also discover Food Trail Tours, the day tour that has all the foodie highlights. Travel off the beaten track to visit private plantations, experience exotic tastes, and uncover secrets even locals do not know.
Sweet Farm Tours, near Mossman in Whyanbeel Valley, offers an educational journey covering everything you ever wanted to know about Australian origin cocoa and a working sugarcane farm. This personalised farmer guided tour covers everything from estate to plate, with a yummy sampling of their Daintree Estates Chocolate at the end. It is recommended to book ahead to avoid disappointment.
DINING OUT Nick’s Swiss-Italian Restaurant, Tolga Woodworks Cafe, Bridges Cafe at Mt Uncle Distillery, Snibbles in the Rainforest at Atherton Rainforest Motor Inn, Tinaroo Lake Resort and the region’s picturesque, welcoming pubs are just some of the recommended places to eat.
Want to learn more N DS’ about TABLELA the
on’t miss PRODUCE? D blelands Tastes of the Ta nnually festival, held a in October.
The Original Boutique Roasters & Chocolatiers of Tropical Australia.
Mareeba CBD MAR EEBA
WE ARE HERE Turn at Jackaroo Motel
Mareeba Main Street
Est. 1988
.com.au
ROASTERY+CHOCOLATERIE Port Douglas 1 hr
136 Mason St Atherton Ph 4092 4101
30 min
Indulge a little, Discover a lot! Over 50RS FLAVOUed creat ! by US
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Kick b fabulousacBk & enjoy Flamin cake & dele BQ lunches, coff ’ ee ctable de sserts!
Relax as y lusciouosu sip and savour exclusive LIQUEURS to CoffeeW orks! S FT GI T EC Find the PERF ous …from gourmet to gorgeter s! raf the to ed ck we’re pa
Kuranda 30 min Cairns 1 hr Mission Beach 2.5 hrs
Mareeba Heritage Museum
BLENDIST TO SyU es ever onS! TASTE
discover ourH GO WILD! … leaves FRES rare beans + lantations! from LOCAL p
LD over 2,00st0 COFFEEWOR la S …see the rl TREASUREd d! o w e th of their kin in *Brin you togrethis with $ 5 OFFceive… every Adult COFFEEENTRY to EXPERIWORLD ENCE !
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Explore and enjoy… • Café • Gift Shop • Boutique Roastery • Chocolaterie!
MAREEBA TOWNSHIP (turn at the Jackaroo Motel)
www.coffeeworks.com.au
CoffeeWorld Experience open 9-3pm
HOT TIP: Arrive in the morning & allow at least 2 hours to Explore!
Picture EVERY caption to go here. caption to go here. OPEN DELICIOUS DAY 9-4 pm! Only 1Picture hour from Cairns & Port Douglas! www.athertontablelands.com.au 17
Wildlife Playful platypus, dancing Brolgas, and cute tree kangaroos are just some of the unique Australian wildlife you can encounter in the region. Viewing and studying wildlife is made possible by a network of National Parks, bushwalks, wildlife spotting tours and the knowledgeable interest of so many local people. The Bat Hospital in Atherton is internationally known, and has a visitor centre where you can see and learn more about microbats and flying foxes. You can also see wildlife at excellent attractions such as Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures. If you look very hard, you may spot a Lumholtz’s or Bennett’s Tree Kangaroo up high in the branches or platypus in freshwater lagoons.
WORLD HERITAGE STATUS The outstanding natural values of Australia’s Tropical Rainforests were recognised in 1988 when the Wet Tropics of Queensland was inscribed on the World Heritage List. You can learn more about World Heritage listed places from regional visitor centres, or look for the green tree frog logo as you explore the area.
Birding Birdwatching on the Atherton Tablelands attracts global attention due to the diverse avifauna and variety of local habitats including riverine, wetland, woodland, rainforest, grassland, agricultural and parkland. Birders can easily find the best spots by downloading the free Bird Trails North Queensland app, which highlights all the top locations in the region with GPS precision and provides a wealth of birding information. Top birdwatching spots include the dry regions of Mt Molloy and Kaban, Nyleta Bird Hide (Hasties Swamp), Nardellos Lagoon, Bromfield Swamp, Abattoir Swamp, the National Parks of Mt Hypipamee, Crater Lakes, Davis Creek, Barron Falls, Mt Lewis, Mareeba Wetlands and the Wongabel State Forest. October to April may be the region’s hotter and wetter months, but it is also the time when the migrant species arrive from Papua New Guinea, including the beautiful Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Channel-billed Cuckoo and Common Koel. Many birds such as the White-eared Monarch and Noisy Pitta are also breeding at this time of year, and are easier to observe as they search for food. During the cooler, drier, winter months from May to September, Victoria’s Riflebirds are displaying and winter breeders such as White-eared Monarch can be seen. At this time, Brolgas and Sarus Cranes can also be found on the Atherton Tablelands feeding on the agricultural fields.
Did you know? There are more than 430 bird species in the Wet Tropics and the Great Barrier Reef and 327 of these can be seen right here on the Atherton Tablelands.
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CAFE Light Lunches • Hot & Cold Drinks • Cakes & Scones • Coffee • Papaya • Bananas
the webs it our mont e for coffee sp hly ecials
Why not visit Australia’s oldest coffee plantation to enjoy freshly roasted barista coffee and the most breathtaking views on the Tablelands?
FRESH ROASTED COFFEE PACKS • FRUIT SALES • GIFTWARE & MERCHANDISE • CHOCOLATE COVERED COFFEE BEANS • COFFEE LIQUEUR OPEN: Monday to Friday 9am – 4pm (Closed weekends, Good Friday, and over the Christmas holiday period. Please check the website for opening hours during this time)
Located 9km west of Mareeba, 1.5 hours drive from Cairns / Port Douglas 136 Ivicevic Road, Mareeba
/SkyburyCoffee P 07 4093 2190 ❘ E info@skybury.com.au GPS S 17° 00.662 ‘E 145° 20.296’
TM
www.skybury.com.au
www.athertontablelands.com.au 19
Adventure
Tours
If you love the outdoors, then the Atherton Tablelands offers some of the best and most diverse adventures that can be found. Experience the heights of hot air ballooning, sail the calm waters of Lake Tinaroo, fire up the jet ski for some heart pumping fun, snag a world record barramundi or take in some of the best scenery across the Tablelands on dedicated mountain bike trails.
Want to explore all that the Atherton Tablelands has to offer but prefer to sit back, relax and let someone else do the work? Choosing a guided tour can be a lot of fun and ensures you get the most out of your visit, learning a lot about local culture, art and history along the way. Tours also offer the chance to meet other like-minded travellers and, of course the friendly locals.
HIKING With the option of summiting Queensland’s two highest mountains – Mt Bartle Frere and Mt Bellenden Kerr from the Atherton Tablelands, the region has also become a draw card for hiking enthusiasts.
MOUNTAIN BIKING Mountain biking is an exhilarating way to experience the stunning beauty of the Tablelands and there is no doubt this region offers some of the best mountain bike and road cycling adventures. The Atherton Forest Mountain Bike Park has world class dedicated mountain bike trails and is conveniently located just 3km from Atherton township. There are currently 60km of single track and endless fire trails. At Dinden State Forest Mareeba, the Davies Creek Mountain Bike Track has approximately 21km of fireroad and single track loops.
HORSE RIDING There is an extensive network of tracks suitable for horse riding, particularly on the Herberton Range. These tracks were first explored by the pioneers and were later used by miners and timber getters.
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FOOD EXPERIENCES Food Trail Tours offers unique and exclusive food experiences that will allow you to savour regional foods at their source and hear the stories behind the foods. Departing from Cairns daily, you will travel across the Tablelands where you will sample locally grown coffee, macadamias, cheese and more.
OUTBACK EXPERIENCES Let Billy Tea Safaris take you to the Chillagoe Caves and outback with stops at Mt Uncle Distillery and Mareeba Wetlands.
TABLELAND TOURS Offering waterfall, rainforest and savannah tours, Tablelands Tours and Transfers covers a lot of ground, highlighting some of the region’s top attractions on their small and personalised tours. They also offer transfers to the Atherton Tablelands.
Transport Trans North offers three return trips weekly from Cairns to Karumba connecting at Undara, as well as six return services weekly from Cairns to Cooktown, including an inland service via Mareeba and Lakeland.
Let Billy Tea Safaris take you there! Chillagoe CAVES & O UTBACK
Day Tour
Waterfall Tour
Rainforest Tour
Ph: 4032 0077 www.billytea.com.au
Savannah Tour
Spectacular World Heritage Tropical Rainforests • Rolling green Tableland mountain pastures • Outback Historical Towns • Swim under cascading Waterfalls • Must see local attractions - Lake Barrine, Millaa Millaa Falls, Curtain Fig Tree, Babinda Boulders and so much more.
Visit our website for ion or m e informat s. ur to on our
BOOK TODAY! Office 4225 0133 | Mobile 0428 732 444
the Atherton Tablelands the smart way & get mobile!
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Food, Wine and Discovery See more of the region
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Atherton Tablelands
DISCOVER
Ask about our special tailor Charter Service to selected North Qld destinations - you choose what you want to see!
PASSENGER & LIGHT FREIGHT SERVICES
Bus & Coach
ice CAIRNS- KARUMBA Serv ed comfort
3 return services weekly in air-condition Cairns to Karumba
Monday, Wednesday & Friday
Karumba to Cairns
Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday
Service connects with:
Undara Experience • The Gulflander • The Savannahlander
Service CAIRNS- COOKTOWNioned comfort
6 return services weekly in air-condit
Discover the Atherton Tableland’s history, World Heritage Wet Tropics and visit Lake Barrine, while you explore what regional food and wine producers have to offer. Savour foods at the source and hear the stories behind the foods.
Includes regional, tropical fruit wines, chocolate, cheeses, macadamias, coffee, and plantation tours. The tour departs from both Cairns and the Northern Beaches.
Tel: 4041 1522
www.foodtrailtours.com.au
Cairns to Cooktown (Coastal)
via Mossman & Wujal Wujal Monday, Wednesday & Friday
Cooktown to Cairns (Coastal) via Wujal Wujal & Mossman Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday
Cairns to Cooktown (Inland)
via Mareeba & Lakeland Sunday, Wednesday & Friday • Same Day Return
Ph: 07 4095 8644 during office hours Email: atherton@transnorthbus.com.au
Atherton Tablelands
For further information on fares, timetables, service updates and online bookings please visit
www.transnorthbus.com.au www.athertontablelands.com.au 21
Millaa Millaa Beautiful Millaa Millaa, known as the Village in the Mist, is the gateway to the southern Tablelands. The image of its picturesque waterfall has graced thousands of travel pages. At 850 metres above sea level, the town is nestled among emerald hills surrounded by lush dairy pastures, majestic rainforests and magnificent waterfalls.
Other falls to visit include Pepina and Souita, which are located 10km from Millaa Millaa along the Old Palmerston Highway towards Ravenshoe. From town, travel east 11km to Junction Road and follow the signs onto the Mungalli loop, which includes Mungalli Falls, the highest waterfall on the Atherton Tablelands.
MILLAA MILLAA TOWN The
MISTY MOUNTAIN TRAILS Millaa
village celebrated its centenary in 2011 and its rich, rural heritage is outlined in the local museum. Don’t miss the massive Kauri pine logs evidencing the logging industry of the past. Next to the museum is a covered picnic area featuring a sculpture of the famed explorer, Christie Palmerston. One of the most superb vistas in the region can be seen from the Millaa Millaa Lookout just west of town.
Millaa is also the gateway to the Wet Tropics wilderness long distance walking trails. More than 130km of tracks have been constructed.
WATERFALLS Millaa Millaa’s picturesque waterfalls, which have been attracting visitors for over a century, are Queensland Heritage listed. The Waterfalls Circuit begins at Theresa Creek Road just east of town and the drive encompasses Millaa Millaa Falls, Zillie Falls and Ellinjaa Falls. All the falls have walking tracks, however Millaa Millaa Falls also has picnic tables, change rooms and toilets.
This network of short and long wilderness tracks takes visitors through pristine, high-altitude rainforest with crystal clear creeks, waterfalls and panoramic views. These tracks are intended for visitors with medium to advanced bushwalking and navigation skills.
GOURMET PRODUCE Don’t miss the successful bio-dynamic/organic dairy, Mungalli Creek, where you can sample its range of award-winning products as well as watch them being made.
Tropical Waterfalls Here in the northern tropics, there is plenty of water. Luckily, the rivers and streams cascading from the highlands to the coast spill over terrain that creates natural features such as lakes and waterfalls, which are stand-out attractions in the region. Here you will find Australia’s tallest waterfall (Wallaman Falls), the widest single-drop waterfall (Millstream Falls) and even a waterfall that featured as the tribal council on the television series Survivor (Blencoe Falls).
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It could be easy to spend days exploring all the waterfalls across the Tablelands. All the waterfalls are easily accessible and within a reasonable distance from each other. Some of the more notable falls include Millaa Millaa Falls, Zillie Falls, Ellinjaa Falls, Mungalli Falls, Nandroya Falls, Tchupalla Falls, Malanda Falls, Dinner Falls, Lake Eacham Falls as well as the Millstream and Little Millstream Falls.
Tropical Cuisine and Nature Discoveries
Authentic paddock to plate cooking school and Sunday lunches using fresh local produce and native Australian rainforest fruits.
(07) 4076 6544 • info@rainforestbounty.com.au
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Herberton & Irvinebank
In the late 1880s, miners like John Moffat created a boom on the back of the tin they extracted from the bush clad hills. Today, Herberton’s wellpreserved buildings and inviting streets are drawing people back with a new vibrancy. Connect with Australia’s history and folklore by re-visiting the past.
HISTORIC VILLAGE HERBERTON This astounding collection of Australiana is an entire village of over 60 buildings on the fringe of the Herberton township. Spanning two centuries, the dwellings, vehicles, memorabilia and antiques, which fill this cultural asset have been meticulously restored and inventively displayed. Among many treasures, there is a fully restored 1926 rail ambulance and a genuine pioneer’s slab hut built in 1870. The original Herberton State School c.1883 is a great place to take children and show them the pews and slates yesteryear’s pupils made do with.
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New attractions at the Village include Elderslie House, an historic 130-year old pioneer homestead that has been meticulously restored to its former glory. Must see exhibits also include the coach house, chemist shop, John Deere tractor shed, Day’s Garage and more. Serving food daily is the Bakerville Tearooms. Visitors are encouraged to spend the day. Dogs on leads are welcome and the Village is open seven days.
HERBERTON TOWN The oldest town on the Tablelands has its entire precinct listed on the National Heritage Register, and is best discovered via its intriguing photo posts and self-guided Heritage Walk. See the earliest building, the 1881 School of Arts, in the main street and wander down to the Jack & Newell Store c.1882, which houses the fascinating Spy & Camera Museum. Open seven days, this fascinating museum is one-of-a-kind and will transport visitors from downtown Herberton to the cold, dark streets of the former USSR and the world of espionage. Learn the history of photography, starting at the birth of today’s modern camera and finish with owner Michael Peterson’s favourite – the spy camera.
THE RAILWAY MUSEUM Also worth a visit is the Railway Museum, located at the end of John Street. Open on weekends and public holidays, the museum is operated by the volunteer organisation The Atherton-Herberton Historic Railway Inc. Having restored the old train line, they now operate train rides from Herberton Station to the Historic Village Herberton on a regular Sunday timetable between 10am and 3pm. Please check the Historic Village’s website for more information on public and school holidays.
THE HERBERTON MINING MUSEUM AND INFORMATION CENTRE Occupying the site of the first big tin discovery at the Great Northern Mine, the museum has themed areas telling the fascinating story of Herberton’s mining history and the town’s development. There are mineral collections on display plus a small theatre for multi-media displays.
IRVINEBANK Established in 1882, Irvinebank boasts many century old buildings such as Loudoun House, the original home of the town’s founder John Moffat and now a museum. At nearby Montalbion, a former Cobb & Co. stop, you can fish in the dam and camp under the stars.
Malanda The pretty town of Malanda is situated in the heart of the Atherton Tablelands’ rainforest region. It is great for bird watching, bushwalking and taking a cooling dip in the falls. As well as being the centre of a highly successful dairy industry, the village has many resident artists. Their work can be viewed on an art trail showcasing a series of vibrant mosaics depicting the town’s history.
ATTRACTIONS Take a break at the historic Malanda Hotel and step inside for a cool ale. The Malanda Dairy Centre in the main street features an innovative retro milk bar restaurant. Nearby Tarzali has a terrific attraction in the Tarzali Lakes Aquaculture Centre. Here you can buy the freshest fish possible. The park and its natural surroundings are a place for families and groups wanting to participate in activities such as platypus tours, fishing, nocturnal tours and camping.
ACCOMMODATION Today’s visitors have a choice of accommodation options including The Canopy Rainforest Treehouses and Wildlife Sanctuary and the Malanda Falls Caravan Park.
ACTIVITIES The Malanda Falls Visitor Centre is a great place to start. Allow time to browse the fascinating displays and learn about this unique tropical region, its natural history and its people. The area’s traditional owners are the Ngadgon-ji people. Informative and highly personalised guided rainforests walks are available on weekends or by appointment at a small cost. Centre volunteers provide local information so make sure you ask about the guided rainforest walks through the Conservation Park, which are moderate, enjoyable trails.
Hogan Road, Tarzali Phone: 4096 5364
www.canopytreehouses.com.au Just a pane of glass between luxury & wilderness
In the rainforest surrounding Malanda there have been more recorded daytime sightings of the rare Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo than elsewhere. It is common to see platypus, turtles and lizards as well. Two self-guided walking trails, the Tulip Oak Walk and the Rainforest Walk weave through the forest or along the banks of the North Johnstone River. Each walk takes approximately 30 minutes to enjoy and begins near the visitor information centre. The beautiful Malanda Falls is a mustsee stopover with year round swimming and picnicking. Not far from Malanda is Bromfield Swamp, an extinct volcanic crater. Hundreds of Sarus Cranes and Brolgas roost here each winter. It is a stopping point for bird enthusiasts hoping to see the enchanting dancing displays of these birds.
The ideal escape for the whole family right next to nature.
www.malandafalls.com.au
Phone (07) 4096 5314 • malandafallscaravanpark@yahoo.com.au
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REGIONAL EVEN Visit www.athertontablelands.com.au for a comprehensive
Atherton Gem Festival
CALENDAR March 2016
The Atherton Tablelands Mineral & Lapidary Club will once again host this event, which will run from 7am to 4pm on August 7. Visit the many stalls selling, gemstones, jewellery and more as well as learn about gem cutting, faceting and silversmithing. The Tolga Markets will also be held on this day on Racecourse Road, Tolga.
11 – 20 Feast of the Senses 26 Kuranda Easter in the Park 26 – 28 Norman Barra Classic (Easter)
Mareeba Rodeo Festival
April 2016
Hold onto your hats as the Mareeba Rodeo and Festival gets under way from July 2 to 17. Don’t miss the Downtown Parade, Garden Show, the announcement of the Rodeo
22 – 24 Undara Outback Rock & Blues 30 Mt Garnet Races 30 - 2 Tinaroo Sailing Club May Day Regatta
May 2016 1 7–8 13 – 15 14 – 15 28
Mt Garnet Rodeo Big Weekend Chillagoe Rodeo The Great Wheelbarrow Race Pioneer Weekend, Herberton Dimbulah Lions Festival
Queen, wood chopping, agricultural shows and more. The Rodeo will be held on July 16 to 17. www.mareebarodeo.com.au
June 2016
Tablelands Folk Festival
10 – 12 Weipa Fishing Classic 16 – 17 Cooktown Discovery Festival 24 – 26 Laura Rodeo, Races & Horsesports
Celebrating music, friendship and cultural understanding, the Tablelands Folk Festival is the
July 2016 1–3 2 – 17 8 – 10 11 – 12 16 – 17 28-31
longest running folk festival in Queensland. Held in Yungaburra, surrounded by rainforest and crater lakes, it features family entertainment over four days from October 20 to 23.
Oak Park Races Mareeba Rodeo Festival Malanda Show Atherton Show Mareeba Rodeo Christmas in July, Mareeba
www.tablelandsfolkfestival.org
August 2016 7 13 13 14 27
Atherton Gem Festival Mt Carbine Bull & Bronc Ride Nth Qld Gold Panning, Mareeba VP Day Memorial Service, Tolga Mareeba Multi Cultural Festival
September 2016 3–4
70th Herberton Flower Show
October 2016 1 – 15
Torimba Festival Mardi Gras & Parade 8 FNQ Country Music Festival, Mareeba 6 – 8 Opera in the Outback 15 – 23 Crocodile Trophy (Mountain Biking) 16 Tastes of the Tablelands 20 Tablelands Folk Festival, Herberton 23 Kuranda Festival 21 – 23 Tablelands Folk Festival, Yungaburra 22 – 23 Atherton Bike Festival
November 2016 11 Christmas Carnival, Main Street, Atherton 12 – 13 Yungaburra Triathlon
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Tastes of the Tablelands This event will be held at the Chinese Temple Grounds on Herberton Road on October 16 from 9am to 4pm. Visitors are encouraged to come dressed for a garden party as there will be lots of shade, non-stop entertainment, gourmet food and cool drinks to while away the day. www.tastesofthetablelands.com
Kuranda Festival The Kuranda Festival on October 23 offers a big big day of entertainment and fun activities as the village in the rainforest celebrates the anniversary of its official survey. Quirky events include the Bash of the Barron River Raft Race and the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. Free activities include live music, horse and carriage rides and river cruises. www.kuranda.org
Kuranda Easter Celebration This huge Easter in the Park celebration will be held on Saturday, March 26 from 10am to 4pm. There will be loads of kids games, prizes, entertainment and the Easter egg drop for all the family. www.kuranda.org
Dates accurate at time of printing, and subject to change throughout the year.
NT HIGHLIGHTS list of events and markets plus organisers’ details.
Yungaburra Triathlon The third annual Yungaburra Triathlon will be held in 2016 on November 12 to 13 and will help raise funds for Australia’s wounded warriors and awareness of the Soldier On organisation. yungaburratriathlon.org
Feast of the Senses
MARKETS Archer Creek
2ND SUN OF THE MONTH, 7am-12noon, Kennedy Hwy.
Atherton 1ST SAT OF THE MONTH, 7am-12noon, Platypus Park, Herberton Rd. 2ND SUN OF THE MONTH, Atherton Show Grounds Lions Park, Louise St.
Herberton 3RD SUN OF THE MONTH, 7am-12noon, Wondecla Sports Ground.
This popular food festival will begin with the International Food Fare on Friday, March 11 and will run through until March, 20. Festival events will be held in Mission Beach and surrounds, Mena Creek and the Canecutter Way and Innisfail on the Johnstone River. www.feastofthesenses.com.au
Kuranda
EVERY DAY - Original Markets (9am-3pm) and Heritage Markets (9am-3.30pm).
The Torimba Festival The Torimba Festival is Ravenshoe’s biggest community event and will be held from October 1 to 15. The festival
EVERY SUNDAY 9am-2pm Speewah Country Markets.
Karumba
includes the timber craft exhibition known as the Festival of the Forest, which promotes Ravenshoe’s heritage as a former timber town. www.
EVERY SUNDAY (April until 6th September), 7am-12noon.
Malanda
3RD SAT OF THE MONTH, 7am-12noon, Malanda Showgrounds.
torimbafestival.com.au
Pioneer Weekend Step back in time as the Historic Village Herberton comes to life for one weekend a year on May 14 to 15. Watch experts demonstrate blacksmithing, wood chopping, tin panning, small engines and more. Enjoy great local entertainment and train rides for the family over the two-day event including live music from the Hillbilly Goats band. www.historicvillageherberton.com.au
Tinaroo Sailing Club May Day Regatta
Opera in the Outback & Blues Festival at Undara Hosting two fabulous events every year, the Undara Outback Rock and Blues weekend, April 22 to 24 and Opera In the Outback, October 6 to 8, have become firm favourites on the annual event calendar. As the sun slowly sinks below the distant horizon of the beautiful eastern Gulf Savannah, the stage is set for some of Australia’s most accomplished operatic performers
The Tinaroo Sailing Club also hosts one of the largest dinghy sailing regattas in North Queensland attracting up to 100 boats. This “May Day Regatta” is held over the threeday long weekend from the April 30 to May 2, 2016. The club grounds on Black Gully Road is the best spectator spot throughout the weekend.
Mareeba 2ND AND 5TH SAT OF THE MONTH, 7am-12noon, Centenary Park. Mt Molloy 1ST SAT OF THE MONTH, MarchDecember, 8am-12noon, Fraser Rd. Tolga 1ST SUN OF THE MONTH, 7am-12noon, Morrow Park Racecourse. Tumoulin
4TH SUN OF THE MONTH, 7am-12.30pm, Tumoulin, Ravenshoe.
Yungaburra
4TH SAT OF THE MONTH, 7.30am-12.30pm, Bruce Jones Park, Yungaburra.
to deliver unforgettable experiences, while in contrast the Undara Experience erupts for a fun filled weekend of rock and blues. www.undara.com.au
Dates are regularly updated online at www.athertontablelands.com.au
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Atherton From its beginnings as a timbergetters’ camp and staging post between the outback tin mines and the coast, Atherton has blossomed like its trademark Jacaranda trees into a diverse regional centre. Well known to the locals as a highland getaway destination, Atherton is also famous for its rich soils, which grow superb produce and flowers.
ATTRACTIONS The region has a wealth of artists whose works are best seen at the Tablelands Regional Gallery. Check out the wonderful pre-war Barron Valley Hotel, browse through the town’s quaint shops like Atherton Antiques & Australiana and enjoy a picnic at Halloran’s Hill with a view of the Seven Sisters volcanic cones. Hasties Swamp (Nyleta Wetlands) is a seasonal wetland with an annual wet and dry cycle. The two-storey bird hide provides wheelchair access on the lower section only. Finally, take time to get to know the inhabitants at The Bat Hospital on the road to Herberton. Here, you can meet flying foxes and microbats at the visitor centre. This internationally renowned facility is operated by a not-for-profit group dedicated to the conservation of bats and their habitat.
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They achieve the rescue, rehabilitation and release of hundreds of bats each year and the facility is open seasonally to the public.
THE CRYSTAL CAVES In the main street, you will find one of the most remarkable and novel attractions in the whole of Australia. The Crystal Caves are a spectacular private mineral collection with over 600 specimens made up of rare crystals, gemstones and fossils. These gemstones have been brought together by one visionary who found love at first site more than 40 years ago after cracking his first geode along the banks of Agate Creek in North Queensland. Rene Boissevain, together with his wife Nelleke, have made it their life’s work to build one of the largest mineral collections in Australia. Today, the caves are a natural history adventure museum where visitors don a miner’s helmet complete with headlamp for a fun tour of this fairytale cavern. Marvel at the world’s largest amethyst geode, The Empress of Uruguay, and the gravity defying attraction, The Magic Spheres. The Fascinating Facets gift shop is also an attraction in itself. It features the largest collection of amethyst geodes in Australia, beautifully displayed under lights to create a glittering showpiece.
History Back in the days of the pioneers, Atherton was a key town along the Mulligan Highway connecting the seaside port of Port Douglas to the newly opened tin deposits at Herberton. The highway passed through the present Main Street of Atherton, which was then known as Prior’s Pocket. Bullock teams hauled supplies up to Herberton and ore back to Port Douglas. The route also opened up the area to logging of magnificent rainforest timbers, and Cobb & Co ran a coach service up and over the Great Dividing Range. The road was named after James Venture Mulligan, as was the nearby Mount Mulligan. An adventurer and prospector, Mulligan was responsible for opening most of the North Queensland mining fields. John Atherton was another colourful local. A pioneer grazier and adventurer who lent his name to the town and the region, Atherton first discovered tin while prospecting in 1879, naming the site Tinaroo Creek, now the site of Tinaroo Dam.
The Bat Hospital
Visitor Centre
ic!
tast
Nestled amongst an amazing variety of native plants, birds, widlife, palms and giant karri trees, close to the centre of town and the Hospital.
Bat
134 Carrington Road, Atherton (turn right off Herberton Road, 6km from Atherton) Phone: 07 4091 2683
Open daily for tours, bookings essential Tours at 3, 4 & 5 pm Adults $20, Children $10 (5-15 years)
• Semi self-contained Rooms • Two bedroom unit available • Room service meals • Free Wireless Internet
Enter an upside down world and discover the real stars of the night, both big and small
44 Cook St, Atherton Ph (07) 4091 3311 www.athertonhinterlandmotel.com.au
www.tolgabathospital.org Close to Hasties Swamp
YOU WILL LOVE THIS SHOP! EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED! FULL OF LOCALLY SOURCED ANTIQUES AND COLLECTABLES. A warm welcome awaits you. DROP IN AND SEE OUR CURRENT EXHIBITION – ENTRY IS FREE
The Tableland Regional Art Gallery Vibrant, Cultural and Diverse Exhibitions on show. OPEN: Tues to Sat 10am-4pm • Sun 10am-2pm 16 Robert Street • Atherton • PHONE: 4091 5261
www.tablelandgallery.trc.qld.gov.au
FREECALL: 1800 885 030 www.halloransleisurepark.com
152 Robert Street, Atherton QLD 4883 (Hwy ) Phone/Fax: (07) 4091 4144 Email: holiday@halloransleisurepark.com
AAAT CABIN
AAAT PARK
10%
UNT DISIGCHOTS MIN. 2N
13CTN044
Overlooking Atherton from the base of Hallorans’ Hill Lookout
* Not valid with other discounts. Door rates only.
SALT WATER POOL ❱ KIOSK ❱ BBQ ❱ WiFi INTERNET DRIVE THRU SITES ❱ CAMP KITCHEN ❱ GAS ❱ TOUR BOOKINGS 2 & 3 Bedroom Villas • Spa Villas • All Ensuite • Disabled Villa • All Self Contained • Patios • Reverse Cycle • Air-Conditioning
www.athertontablelands.com.au 33
SAHARA SEABED COLLECTION Next to the Crystal Caves, the adventuring Boissevains have created another attraction featuring some of the world’s oldest items. These fossils dating back more than 240 million years are found beneath ancient rocks under the Sahara desert, where sediment captured countless small animals such as the ancestors of the beautiful Nautilus shell and preserved them for all time. The Sahara Seabed Collection, which exclusively imports these homeware items and collectible fossils, gives collectors the opportunity to enjoy them today.
CHINATOWN Gold attracted Chinese settlers to North Queensland in the late 1800s and when the gold ran out, many turned to timber cutting and market gardening. The remains of Atherton’s Chinatown are now an archaeological site featuring the community’s fully restored place of worship, the Hou Wang Temple. The Temple was the social and religious heart of Atherton’s Chinese community. Apart from the temple itself, there was also a community hall, kitchen and pig oven. People gathered here to worship, celebrate festivals and discuss community issues. The Temple is part of a complex featuring a Chinese museum with interactive displays of Atherton’s Chinese heritage and a prized collection of original artefacts and historic photographs of the once bustling precinct. During October, the Chinatown grounds host the food festival, Tastes of the Tablelands.
AGRICULTURE The soils of the Tablelands are suited to horticulture and around the Atherton area they yield an amazing range of produce. Small to large farming enterprises produce lettuce, strawberries, macadamia nuts, bananas, beans, maize, corn, sugar cane and avocados. Sample these at roadside stalls and take away a memory of the taste of farm fresh produce.
ACCOMMODATION Atherton has always featured as a service centre and a stopover point for travellers. Today, the Trans North transport service provides linkages between Atherton, Kuranda and Cairns all the way to Karumba via Undara. Visitors can enjoy comfortable accommodation at the Rainforest Motor Inn, Atherton Hinterland Motel, or holiday parks such as Halloran’s Leisure Park.
Rural Outlook, on the outskirts of town... Atherton Holiday Park Large flat sites • Ensuite van sites • Pool • Country views 4km east of Atherton Post Office - on the Gillies Hwy.
Units • Villas • Cottages • Caravan Sites (07) 4091 1099 • www.athertonholidaypark.com 34 www.athertontablelands.com.au
ATHERTON FOREST MOUNTAIN BIKE PARK The Atherton Tablelands offers some of the best mountain bike and road cycling adventures in Queensland. Magnificent flowing single track, family trails, epic mountain bike rides and scenic back country roads that take the breath away are just some of the highlights on offer. Ride some of the newest single tracks in Australia only 3km from the Main Street of Atherton at the Atherton Forest Mountain Bike Park. Mountain bike along the Herberton Range’s lower slopes and flats, dipping into gullies and creeks and rising to the ridgelines of the surrounding hills. The trails meander through an open forest of gums, bloodwoods, mahoganys, she-oaks, grasstrees and cycads. Some of the trails pass former forestry experimental plots of teak, blackbutt and tallowwood trees. There is a range of different trails to suit all abilities, including green level, as per the IMBA standard, which is well suited to beginner mountain bikers. There is also a range of intermediate and black levels trails. The 6km section of blue level trail (Trail 6, also known as Ridgey Didge) has been designed and constructed by Glen Jacobs and his company World Trail. There are A and B lines around all technical trail features and berms that rival those on tracks anywhere else in Australia or New Zealand. Ridgey Didge is a must do for any mountain biker visiting the Atherton Tablelands. All these trails are rideable on a hard tail cross country bike but an all-mountain bike on Trail 6 is a lot of fun.
Ravenshoe, Innot Hot Springs & Mt Garnet RAVENSHOE Queensland’s highest town, Ravenshoe is 920m above sea level and is home to Windy Hill wind farm, which generates enough electricity to supply approximately 3500 homes. Surrounded by natural wonders like Millstream Falls and Lake Koombooloomba, the locals here live a lifestyle to be envied and celebrate it every year during the annual Torimba Festival and Festival of the Forest in October. The Ravenshoe Visitor Centre at 24 Moore Street provides first-class tourist information and has excellent displays on the rainforest, timber-milling, dairy farming and the World War II military presence in the area. It also incorporates the Nganyaji Interpretive Centre and Ravenshoe Heritage Gallery.
INNOT HOT SPRINGS In an often quoted local export story, the hot water bubbling out of Nettle Creek at up to 75 degrees celsius was bottled and shipped to Europe as a health treatment over 100 years ago. Today, visitors take to the waters at the Innot Hot Springs Leisure & Health Park, which has six public pools. Innot Hot Springs is also a great base for gem fossicking, fishing and bird watching. MT GARNET During its heyday, large deposits of
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Check our website for opening hours: www.nationaltrust.org.au/qld
copper, silver, tin and lead were extracted from Mt Garnet, the town named from a large garnet lode discovered during copper mining. If you would like to experience real Australian bush style hospitality, turn up at Mt Garnet on the first weekend of May for the town’s races and rodeo – as a community event this rates as one of the top in the country. www.athertontablelands.com.au 35
Walkamin
Tolga A thriving community today, Tolga began life as a simple staging post on the highway between Port Douglas and Herberton. At the outbreak of World War II, the region became a training centre and staging base for Allied forces.
As well as exquisitely crafted, handmade timber pieces ranging from small spinning tops and bowls to fine furniture, the gallery features a large array of hand-forged iron and hammered steel pieces, ceramics, fused glass and silver jewellery.
Discover the past at the Tolga Museum, which houses memorabilia of World War II and the local timber and agricultural industries and at the Tablelands Heritage Centre.
These showcase the collective talents of North Queensland’s finest artisans. There is also a great cafe, which serves lunches as well as morning and afternoon tea.
ROCKY CREEK WAR MEMORIAL PARK
For more locally sourced souvenirs, fine silver-smithing and a superb range of Australian gemstones fashioned into modern jewellery, visit the studio gallery Rainforest Gems.
From 1943 to 1945 the Atherton Tablelands was the largest military base in Australia, hosting between 100,000 and 300,000 troops from 140 different units. The Rocky Creek Memorial Park was established over a decade ago at what was originally the site of the largest field hospital in the southern hemisphere and honours servicemen and women. Dedication ceremonies are held in the park each August on the Sunday nearest Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day. For further exploration into the region’s war history, follow up your visit with a trip to the Mareeba RSL, which has excellent historical displays.
ATTRACTIONS Tolga is central, pretty and the ideal holiday base with a choice of budget accommodation. Tolga’s foremost attraction is the established fine woodwork gallery, Tolga Woodworks, on the main road.
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The Tolga racecourse is the venue for the markets, with a wide range of local produce and crafts on display on the first Sunday of every month. Heading to Atherton, the road turns into a leafy canopy of rainforest at the entrance to the Tolga Scrub.
Walkamin was built during the construction of Tinaroo Dam in the 1950s. Described as food bowl country, the site for the town was chosen due to its perfectly balanced weather patterns with the ideal climate for a wide variety of crops. Just north of Tolga, Nardello’s Lagoon is a peaceful retreat with waterbirds. Visit the Cellar Door and Bridges Cafe nearby at Mt Uncle to taste its excellent liqueurs and spirits. The distillery is nestled on the fertile foothills of Mt Uncle from where it claims its name. The mountain was named after the uncle of the founding pioneer John Atherton. Bridges Cafe looks out onto native woodland and provides a relaxing and comfortable atmosphere. Interestingly, it has the largest selection of teas on offer in North Queensland, with more than 50 from around the world.
gallery
T O L G A WO ODWORKS
&
studio
Creative woodturning
Stunning woodwork
Forged steel
Sculpture
Café
Glass
89-91 Kennedy Highway, Tolga Ph: 07 4095 4488 > www.tolgawoodworks.com.au Open 7 days 9am – 5pm > Closed February
DISCOVER
Gallery & Cafe
the Atherton Tablelands the smart way & get mobile!
www.athertontablelands.com.au 37
Where to stay
Lake Tinaroo At the very heart of the Atherton Tablelands is Lake Tinaroo. With over 200km of shoreline, it offers fishing, sailing and water sports enthusiasts plenty of room to spread out.
This “May Day Regatta” is held over the three-day long weekend from the April 30 to May 2, 2016. The club grounds on Black Gully Road is the best spectator spot throughout the weekend.
Each year more than 500,000 people visit the lake, which was built on the Barron River in the 1950s.
DAY VISITS There is plenty to see
Lush green scenery and deep, clear water affords the perfect backdrop for sailing, boating, canoeing, water skiing and more. Recreational fishing is also popular with ample opportunity to snag a barramundi, sooty grunter, sleepy cod, mouth almighty, archer fish, spangled perch and many species of crayfish, including the red-claw and yabby. Drive along the shores of Lake Tinaroo, stopping at Platypus Rock Lookout for a view over the lake and Tablelands.
EVENTS The Yungaburra Triathlon is an annual event held at the beautiful Avenue of Honour at Lake Tinaroo in November. This event embodies the essence of the Soldier On Organisation, which is to inspire and empower. The Tinaroo Sailing Club also hosts one of the largest dinghy sailing regatta’s in North Queensland attracting up to 100 boats.
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and do around Lake Tinaroo from fishing and kayaking to bird watching and bushwalking. Visitors to the region can also enjoy tours of the lake, or explore the surrounding national parks.
HISTORY Built in the 1950s on the Barron River, the dam wall is 45.1 metres high and traps enough water from the Barron River to create a lake three-quarters the size of Sydney Harbour. It was built to irrigate approximately 9000 hectares annually in sections of the basins of the Barron, Mitchell and Walsh Rivers, also supplying around 800 local farms from the channel system and streams fed by Tinaroo Falls Dam. This water also supplies the Barron Gorge Hydro Electric Power Station, above Lake Placid at Kamerunga, near Cairns.
Lake Tinaroo Holiday Park is a popular pet-friendly holiday spot with a range of accommodation options including 47 waterfront villas, poolside, family and studio units, budget cabins and caravan and camp sites. The park has plenty to keep the family entertained with a large resort-style swimming pool and a giant jumping pillow. Guests can also hire peddle carts, kayaks, canoes and boats. Tinaroo Lake Resort is a stylish home-away-from home with all apartment balconies providing views of the lake. The resort has an outdoor pool, barbecue area, library, restaurant and bar so there are plenty of places to relax and unwind after a day out on the lake.
Lakes District Take a refreshing swim in an ancient crater lake, marvel at trees more than one thousand years old, stand in the world’s longest lava flow, see fairytale limestone caves and steep yourself in fascinating cultural history. The Atherton Tablelands could easily be described as majestic, but what is truly awe-inspiring are the region’s waterfalls and lakes. Here in the Wet Tropics, water falls out of the sky often, creating shimmering lakes and spectacular waterfalls.
THE CRATER LAKES The twin volcanic crater lakes of Barrine and Eacham are tranquil pools of water fringed by rainforest. Formed approximately 12,000 years ago by violent volcanic eruptions, it took several hundred years for water to fill these giant craters and for the trees to grow back, creating the placid lakes used today by families and tourists for recreation.
There are no streams that flow into or out of the lakes, water is only lost through soakage and evaporation and only replenished through rainfall. Many people are surprised to discover the level can fluctuate by up to four metres between wet and dry seasons. At Lake Barrine, take a cruise to spot wildlife and enjoy a break at the quaint 80-year old teahouse, which serves excellent devonshire teas. There is also a short walk to the towering twin Kauri trees, thought to be over 1000 years old. At Lake Eacham, a long stretch of grassy lawn meets the lake’s edge and there are barbecues, picnic areas, an all weather shelter and toilets. Guests at the neighbouring Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodges enjoy free guided nocturnal animal viewings each evening.
AROO LAKELITDIN AY PARK
&
Budget to Deluxe Waterview Villas / Great shady sites to suit – get in early! / “Stay 7, Pay 5” deal* bookings required / FREE Wifi / FANTASTIC NEW camp kitchen! / Large drive thru slab sites / Water sport equipment for hire – stand up paddle boards, canoes, kayaks! / Boats and jet ski tours also available! (Seasonal – bookings required) / Pet friendly / NEW Owners / Resort style pool and jumping pillow / On site CAFÉ! / Residential HOME PARK! / Fire pit sites / Shop, fuel, firewood, gas refills and ice available
LTHP3618.JCA
HO
Lake Tinaroo Holiday Park
Address / 4 – 28 Tinaroo Falls Dam Rd, TINAROO Qld 4872 Email / bookings@lthp.com.au
To book please call 07 4095 8232 or www.LTHP.com.au
• Fully appointed, 4½ star AAA rated, self-contained, luxury apartments on the shores of Lake Tinaroo • Magnificent lake views from all apartments • Fully licensed restaurant • Conference facilities • Perfect for couples, groups and families
Phone/Fax (07) 4095 8912
www.tinarooresort.com.au
info@tinarooresort.com.au
Mention this ad for a 5% discount on accommodation bookings* *Subject to availability
www.athertontablelands.com.au 39
Yungaburra Avenue of Honour The Avenue of Honour opened on June 22, 2013 to honour the Australian Diggers who lost their lives in Afghanistan. This living memorial commemorates the courage and commitment of those who served and is dedicated to the memory of the young men who made the ultimate sacrifice serving their country. Private Ben Chuck, one of three commandos killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan in 2010, was from Yungaburra. Located within the Avenue is a sculptured set of wings in full flight depicting the contributions made by all services and symbolising the undaunted spirit of the Australian Diggers.
Events On the fourth Saturday of each month the famous Yungaburra Arts & Crafts Markets, the largest and most popular of all the region’s country markets, are held on the green in the village centre. Fresh produce, flowers, homemade crafts, local wines, books, wooden furniture, clothing and more can all be found here. In late October, the Tablelands Folk Festival takes place in various venues around the village, bringing musicians, singers, poets and fans from around the region and interstate. Nick’s Swiss-Italian Restaurant is the place to celebrate Octoberfest in early October with German beer, music and dancing.
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Yungaburra, the historic heart of the Atherton Tablelands, is a picturesque village established in 1890. With 18 heritage-listed buildings, it is the largest National Trust village in Queensland and with its lovely streetscapes largely unchanged from those early pioneer days it is easy to see why. Wide verandahs and historic shop fronts line the pretty lanes, while charming cafes, award-winning restaurants and arts and crafts galleries complete the picture.
ATTRACTIONS Yungaburra’s high profile landmark, the amazing Curtain Fig Tree, is only minutes from the village and is accessed by a short boardwalk from the sealed road. The Cathedral Fig Tree, another 500-year old strangler fig, is located in the nearby Danbulla State Forest. The Lake Eacham Hotel, or Yungaburra Pub as it is commonly known, is a magnificent showpiece of federation architecture. Nick’s Swiss-Italian Restaurant, an awesome Alpine-style chalet, has also become an icon in this Australian country town.
ACTIVITIES Bushwalking is the ideal way to encounter the wildlife of the surrounding areas. A network of easy and moderate walking tracks leads through wetlands, rainforest, scrub and lake-side paths.
The village is set below Mt Quincan, an extinct volcanic crater whose slopes cradle the award-winning timber pole treehouses of Mt Quincan Crater Retreat, which also happens to be a great place for wildlife watching or functions. The treehouses have been sensitively placed in the rainforest to maximise the privacy of the relaxing surrounds. Yungaburra’s focal attraction is the Peterson Creek Walking Circuit where there are nearly always platypus to be spotted. The re-vegetation program has ensured Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroos are also making their home there. The platypus viewing platform at Peterson Creek also provides an excellent place to watch these elusive creatures. Nearby Tinaburra Waters is popular for water skiing and windsurfing. There is easy access with a boat ramp and special areas set aside for water skiing and jet skiing. Active travellers will love exploring the lakes and trails by bike, hire or kayak. The world’s largest barramundi was also caught in these waters, coming in at 121cm long and weighing 38.75kg. The lake’s ability to produce world record fish also makes it a unique fishing destination. If you are looking for more adventure, hire a kayak, bike, or join a cycling tour.
Allumbah Pocket 33 Gillies Highway • YUNGABURRA
Yodeller’s Bar
Dine in or Take-away Best Pizza in North QLD 201, 2011, 2013
h Pocket AlluEnjoymbthealuxury, experience the heritage...
European Chefs
Ph: 4095 3330
Great hospitality, food and drinks
Winner Trip Advisor and Tourism Awards. Boutique self contained cottages in the heart of Yungaburra. Free wifi and complimentary wine. Heritage-style, self contained, boutique, bed & breakfast cottages, in the heart of Yungaburra.
24 Gillies Highway • Ph: 07 4095 3023 www.allumbahpocketcottages.com.au
Enjoy best Pizza in North Qld!
Ph: 4095 3577 Multi-AWARD WINNING Delicious pastas, local produc e & ho memade desserts A short w
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CELEBR
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alk to P
latypus spotting!
Lunch: FRI-SUN 11am - 3pm Dinner: TUES-SUN 5pm - 9pm
yungaburrapizzeria.com.au • nicksrestaurant.com.au
Your home away from home Afternoon Tea on Arrival Queen & Family Rooms available | In house Dining | Swimming Pool Microwave | Kettle | Toaster | Coffee Maker | TV/Video Functions catered for | Large Entertaining Area | Barbeque
28 Gillies Highway, Yungaburra • Ph: (07) 4095 3168
www. curtainfig.com
undercover swimming pool
Nestled amongst some of Tropical North Queensland’s most breathtaking scenery. A private paradise - luxurious self contained accommodation in awarding winning designed pole tree houses.
• Woodfires• Double spas • AAA 4.5 Stars • Unique wildlife
www.athertontablelands.com.au 41
YUNGABURRA HOSPITALITY Yungaburra is something of a foodie heaven. Nick’s Restaurant comes highly recommended, with great food, wine and a wonderful, jovial atmosphere. In 2016 the restaurant will celebrate 30 years under the ownership of Nick Crameri. Since opening in 1986, the restaurant has earned a reputation for its original dishes with a European and Australian flair. NIck’s also offers free guided tours of their organic garden, explaining the workings of their worm garden and the different herbs grown and used.
TRAVEL TIMES Atherton to Herberton Lake Eacham Lake Barrine Malanda Mareeba Millaa Millaa Ravenshoe Tinaroo Tolga Yungaburra
19km 23km 24km 20km 30km 45km 50km 20km 5km 12km
19min 20min 25min 20min 30min 45min 45min 20min 5min 15min
Cairns to Atherton (via Gillies) Atherton (via Kuranda) Kuranda Malanda Millaa Millaa Tolga
80km 93km 27km 77km 149km 84km
1hr 15min 1hr 30min 30min 1hr 15min 1hr 30min 1hr
Millaa Millaa to Innisfail Ravenshoe
65km 26km
45min 45min
Malanda to Herberton Millaa Millaa
38km 24km
40min 30min
Mareeba to Atherton Chillagoe Julatten Kuranda Port Douglas
30km 142km 54km 44km 79km
30min 1hr 30min 30min 30min 1hr 20min
Ravenshoe to Mount Surprise
Yungaburra is also known for its great hospitality and old fashioned country service, which can be experienced first hand from local hosts at Allumbah Pocket Cottages, Birds and Bloom Cottages or the Curtain Fig Motel.
SHOPPING The village features a garden centre, boutiques, art and gem galleries, crafts and country style antiques, a popular second hand book store and a foodmart/newsagent/ delicatessen. Today the town’s interests are fostered by the Yungaburra Business Association.
HISTORY Volcanic activity shaped much of the Atherton Tablelands and evidence of this is easily spotted around Yungaburra. There are the obvious geological features of the Seven Sisters (cinder cone hills) and Mt Quincan with its dish-like crater. Also nearby are Lake Eacham and Lake Barrine. These explosive craters known as maars were created when rising lava came in contact with the water basin. Yungaburra has existed largely unchanged since 1910 and the Eacham Historical Society has chronicled much of the town’s early history. The town’s original name was Allumbah Pocket, and in the early days of the 1880s miners en-route to the tin and goldfields used the hamlet as an overnight stopover. The readily available Old Town Loop Map, available from the local Visitor Information Centre, is another great way to take a self-guided walk around the quaint village nestled in the hills. It is very hard to resist the charm of this small village, offering unique accommodation, award-winning restaurants, adventure sports and fishing, an abundance of animal and plant life as well as early Australian history.
Award Winning cottages in peaceful surrounds Spa & fireplace Elegant, spacious Natural wildlife
MID -WEEK
SPECIALS AVAILABLE
166km
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2hrs 30min
Ph: 0438 953 330 • www.bnbcottages.com
Mareeba Located 417 metres above sea level, Mareeba is a region of breathtaking landscapes, rugged gorges, savannah grasslands, crisp blue skies and clear nights perfect for stargazing.
Its majestic building soars high above the Atherton Tablelands, offering breathtaking views, while the staff provide professional and friendly hospitality.
Mareeba is the largest town on the Atherton Tablelands, once serving as a railway and communications centre.
Fruit wines are another specialty of the Mareeba region. Golden Drop’s wines will introduce you to the delights of mango. Its wide range of products include sparkling wine, port and liqueurs, which are available at retail stores throughout the region.
A multi-cultural district rich in wildlife, museums, coffee and wine, Mareeba has a history going back to the gold mining days and a strong sense of community spirit, which sees support for traditional outback sports such as the famous annual Mareeba Rodeo. Considered the heart of Australia’s thriving tropical fruits and coffee industry, you will find large mango and paw paw farms, coffee and macadamia nut plantations, along with sugar cane, pineapples, cashews, bananas and a whole banquet of other crops.
COFFEE AND WINE Over 70% of Australia’s coffee crop is grown in Mareeba and you can taste, buy and explore at a number of local coffee roasters and coffee plantations. With a background of over 25 years roasting experience, Coffee Works owners, Annie and Rob Webber have always strived for excellence, creating and perfecting more than 43 rich and delicious coffees, luscious liqueurs and fine handcrafted chocolates. Located in the centre of Mareeba, Coffee Works offers a range of dining options, plus a selection of cakes, pastries, chocolates and more. Make sure you leave enough time to also take in Coffee World, a unique museum dedicated to the history of coffee. Taste, experience and take home Skybury Coffee. Skybury is Australia’s oldest commercial coffee plantation and is situated amid the rolling hills and huge rock formations behind Mareeba. Just 10 minutes from the town centre, Skybury Café is a destination in its own right.
At de Brueys Boutique Winery, taste the fabulous fermentations of lychee, mango, jaboticaba, bush cherry, mulberry, passionfruit and star apple.
GET AIRBORNE Each year, more people choose to experience hot air ballooning in Mareeba than anywhere else on Earth. From the minute you arrive, you will marvel at the spectacle of so many large colourful balloons standing ready for take off at dawn. Enjoy the 360 degree panorama, before coming gently back to terra firma.
BIRDING The Mareeba region is acknowledged by birding experts as the richest region for birdlife in Australia. Nearly half of Australia’s 750 bird species can be found here, and birders have recorded over 300 species within a 15km radius of nearby Mt Molloy. The Mareeba Wetlands is a regionally significant Brolga and Sarus Crane roost.
ATTRACTIONS Beautiful sunny skies and crisp cool days ensure a morning out isn’t too hot either. After exploring the markets, make your way into the Mareeba Heritage Museum, which is also the town’s visitor information centre. Offering a real insight into the region’s rich history, the museum is a must do when visiting Mareeba. In fact, many visitors call into the museum for tourist information and end up spending a considerable amount of time there. www.athertontablelands.com.au 43
DID YOU KNOW?
Skybury is one of Australia’s largest exporters of Australian Coffee and supplies around 50% of Australia’s red papaya picking around two million pieces of fruit annually.
See into the past with displays on Aboriginal culture, tobacco, early explorers, pioneer and early history, the war years, the Mt Mulligan mine disaster and the timber industry.
The Mareeba markets are held on the second and fifth Saturday (when they occur) of the month between 7am and 12noon next door to the Heritage Museum in Centenary Park. Gourmet homemade jams, delicious fresh produce with an abundance of tropical fruit, arts and craft including woodwork, handmade baby clothes and stunning jewellery are just some of the things you will find at this great little market. Mareeba also welcomes plenty of grey nomads for its annual Christmas in July celebrations. The Far North Nomads Chapter of the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia hosts the event, which is held at the end of July. The event is now in its 17th year and has become an extremely popular celebration in Mareeba. The Mareeba Rodeo, which kicks off on July 2 and runs through until July 17, has a history dating back to 1949. See the town come alive with an agricultural show and exhibition, wood chopping competition, junior cowpokes, night parade, garden show and the announcement of the rodeo queen. 44 www.athertontablelands.com.au
Nature based experiences can include cooling off in the rock pools after exploring around Emerald Creek Falls where there are public toilets, barbecues and tables. There is also a walking track leading to an excellent lookout.
DISCOVER THE ATHERTON TABLELANDS THE ‘SMART’ WAY If you love Discover Magazine, you will love the app even more. Totally mobile, you will have up to date information about the Atherton Tablelands at your fingertips – and better yet this can all be downloaded before even leaving home so you don’t have to use up your valuable data.
DISCOVER
Events
Further on, located between Mareeba and Atherton is Mt Uncle Distillery, which has earned a reputation for its award-winning premium liqueurs. All are distilled on site, set amid landscaped gardens on a banana, avocado and macadamia plantation.
The Cellar Door and Bridges Tearoom/ Cafe also serves delicious produce seven days a week, as well as offering its unique gluten free banana flour.
FD REE OW NLO
AD
Interactive heritage displays for all the family
FREE ENTRY TO MUSEUM
Centenary Park, 345 Byrnes St, Mareeba (Lat 17° 01’ - Long 145° 25’)
Ph. 07 4092 5674 www.mareebaheritagecentre.com.au OPEN DAILY: 9am—5pm
www.athertontablelands.com.au 45
ChillagoeMungana Caves National Park About 400 million years ago Chillagoe was the site of a shallow sea with thriving coral reefs. Over time, the limestone formed by those ancient reefs has been folded, stretched, heated and weathered to form the jagged limestone bluffs and underground caves that characterise today’s remarkable landscape. These bluffs contain over 560 known caves, the largest having over 11km of passages. Travel deep beneath the surface to explore spectacularly-lit limestone caves. Three limestone cave systems, Donna, Royal Arch and Trezkin Caves, have been chosen by National Parks because of their different stages of natural development and have steps, walkways and lights for guided tours. Discover the hidden beauty of stalagmites and stalactites, and feel the excitement of following dark passages revealing breathtaking cave decorations. Above ground, take a ‘happy snap’ of Balancing Rock, an impressive limestone bluff and amble along walking tracks through open woodlands to spot agile wallabies, wallaroos and bustards. Be sure to listen for kookaburras laughing in the canopy.
TRAVEL TIP: Find out more at
www.npsr.qld.gov.au/chillagoecaves
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Chillagoe & Petford Easily accessed by conventional vehicles via the Wheelbarrow Way, Chillagoe is a genuine outback town with fascinating attractions and abundant wildlife. Starting at Mareeba, the Wheelbarrow Way was named after the gold mining pioneers who, when work was scarce and transportation limited, trudged out bearing their worldly goods in a wheelbarrow. An annual footrace with wheelbarrows commemorates this along The Way each May and raises money for charity. On route to Dimbulah, the gateway to the gold fields sprang up on the Walsh River to service the ore trains. Once mining faded, cropping became the focus and today sugar cane, mango and lychee plantations can be seen. Almaden, Petford and Emuford are all linked by the Etheridge railway line, which welcomes the Savannahlander train on its weekly run from Cairns via Almaden and Mt Surprise to Forsayth. Petford, the junction of the road from Herberton, was originally called Wadetown and known widely as a watering hole for the miners of the day.
Climb the range to the remains of the 100-year old Lappa Pub, another famed stopover of old. On entering the Chillagoe region, a dramatic landscape created by massive limestone bluffs and rock formations greets travellers. HISTORY After the gold rush in the 1880s, Chillagoe’s population grew to thousands in a new mining boom, however the muchanticipated mother lode of copper did not materialise and the State Government took control of the smelter until production ceased in 1943. The ore smelter was never reused and can now be viewed from a high vantage point that also features interpretive storyboards. The site of the old smelter is also of interest for visitors who can view the tall brick chimney set high on the hill overlooking the town. This is Chillagoe’s landmark that can be seen from a great distance. TOURS Billy Tea Safaris offer a fully inclusive one-day Chillagoe and outback day tour, so why not let someone else do the driving, so you can take in all the history.
Julatten, Mount Molloy & Mt Carbine MOUNT MOLLOY Further along the Mulligan Highway, 30 minutes from Mareeba, is the historic mining and timber town of Mount Molloy. It is named after Patrick Molloy who, while searching for stray bullocks, found the copper outcrop, which put the town on the map in the 1890s. Today, this small town with a population of around 300, is much more humble with a bakery, general store and petrol station. Its main industry is cattle grazing, however tourism is steadily growing as visitors discover the beauty, wildlife and history of this area and its surrounding towns of Julatten and Mt Carbine.
HISTORIC SITES Located at the south-east corner of the Mount Molloy cemetery near the mature grevillea tree is the resting place of James (Venture) Mulligan. A very condensed but beautiful biography of his life can be read on his tombstone. Visitors can also visit the old steam engine that was used to supply the power to the local sawmill, which is located at the southern entrance to Mount Molloy.
JULATTEN Tucked away in the rainforest just to the west of the popular coastal town of Port Douglas and just 10 minutes from its neighbour Mount Molloy is Julatten. This small town attracts thousands of birders each year on the lookout for species that include Spectacled Monarchs, Pale-Yellow Robins, Lesser Sooty Owl, Red-Necked Crakes, Pied Monarch, Yellow-Breasted Boatbill and OrangeFooted Scrubfowl. In summer, the spectacular Buff-Breasted Paradise Kingfisher is another highlight. NATURAL SITES Not far from all three towns is the imposing pyramidshaped Black Mountain within the Mowbray National Park. This National Park is popular among birdwatchers, with cassowaries known to inhabit the rainforest in this area. The park is also popular among bushwalkers, bikers and horse rides, featuring a few trails.
for birdwatching, where Golden Bowerbirds, Noisy Pittas, Blue-Faced Parrot Finches and Chowchillas can be seen.
MT CARBINE This is another historic town dating back to the 1890s when Wolframite was discovered on Carbine Hill. Mt Carbine Caravan Park is ideally located for the traveller wishing to explore the Palmer River Gold Fields, Lakeland Downs with its vast cropping areas, the Annan Gorge, the Black Mountain National Park, the Mt Mulligan Coal field, the beautiful Daintree Rainforest and historic Cooktown.
Nearby the Mount Lewis Forest Reserve can also be found and is home to some of the most accessible and scenic upland rainforest in the area. It is known as a good spot
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Activities
Kuranda Colourful and quirky, Kuranda is the place to find art, tropical handicrafts and jewellery by local artisans.
ATTRACTIONS One of Kuranda’s most treasured landmarks is the Barron River and its spectacular gorge, home of the mighty Barron Falls. The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, the largest butterfly flight aviary and exhibit in Australia is a beautiful garden aviary containing more than 1500 colourful butterflies. Birdworld Kuranda has one of the best single collections of free flying birds in Australia with over 300 species from around the world. BatReach is a rescue and rehabilitation centre operated by volunteers located off the main street. Admission is by donation. Kuranda’s Koala Gardens is ideal for visitors with limited time who want to see Australia’s best known wildlife like koalas, wallabies, wombats, crocodiles and reptiles.
RESTAURANTS AND CAFES Historic buildings from the past now house a variety of upmarket restaurants, cafes and bars. In between
shopping, try the locally grown coffee, honey, macadamia nuts and homemade ice creams or sit back and relax at one of the cafes or restaurants. Foodworks also offers a range of food items.
AROUND KURANDA The journey to Kuranda is an exciting one. Other than the scenic highway route, you can combine a Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and Kuranda Scenic Railway experience, allowing time to enjoy Kuranda in between. This popular option is a not to be missed opportunity to learn about one of the most botanically fascinating and diverse rainforests in the world.
Whether it is an original painting, individually designed jewellery, locally made sweets or a handcrafted bowl, these unique gifts are sure to be perfect even for the person who has everything. Offering free admission to its fossil and gemstone museum, why not get up close and personal with a nine-metre Allosaurus dinosaur skeleton at Emu Ridge Gallery. Many of the products sold in Kuranda are made by the people who live and work in the town.
WALKING TRAILS Kuranda has
History
a network of interlinked walks that provide access through the village and its surrounding environment, including Barron Gorge National Park. The Village Walk showcases the main street and finishes at the site of the original Kuranda markets. Jumrum Creek Conservation Park is a walk through the rainforest while the Jungle Walk passes through a regenerating forest. The River Walk offers a pleasant riverside stroll down a tree shaded esplanade.
During the 1960s, a new wave of settlers arrived, embracing the alternative lifestyle movement of the day and establishing Kuranda as an arts and crafts nexus. Catering for visitors, in one form or another, is the basis of commerce and lifestyle in Kuranda today.
www.kuranda.org ❘ Ph: (07) 4093 9311
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Over the years Kuranda has become a great place to shop. There are bargains to be had, as well as exquisite artisan pieces. Spend time browsing the unique stores or the delightful markets.
Kuranda has always been a magnet for visitors. The village began life in the 1800s as a retreat where locals could escape the heat and humidity of the tropical coast.
KURANDA KOALA GARDENS
SKYRAIL RAINFOREST CABLEWAY
See your favourite Australian animals at this boutique wildlife attraction. Wallabies & wombats, lizards, snakes, freshwater crocodiles & lots of koalas. Opportunity to cuddle a koala or a snake & have a photo taken (extra charge). Open daily 9am to 4pm.
Heritage Markets, Rob Veivers Drive Ph: (07) 4093 9953 | www.koalagardens.com
BIRDWORLD KURANDA
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway takes you on an amazing experience over Australia’s World Heritage listed Tropical Rainforest canopy and deep into the forest.
The best single collection of free flying birds in Australia - a spectacular display of over 300 birds from all over the world. Wander through this lush, tropically landscaped aviary - hand feeding & photo opportunities. Open daily 9am to 4pm.
Learn about one of the oldest continually surviving rainforests in the world with a complimentary Ranger guided boardwalk tour at Red Peak station. Continue on to Barron Falls station for spectacular views of the falls at three viewing platforms and the chance to discover more at the Skyrail/CSIRO Interpretation Centre.
Heritage Markets, Rob Veivers Drive Ph: (07) 4093 9188 | www.birdworldkuranda.com
Arara Street, Kuranda Ph: (07) 4038 5555 | www.skyrail.com.au
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway is the world’s most beautiful rainforest experience.
EMU RIDGE GALLERY
AUSTRALIAN BUTTERFLY SANCTUARY
Fossil and Gemstone Museum. Two storey high unique Dinosaur Skeleton, fossil and gemstone museum, gift shop, gemstones, crystals and jewellery. Located at the Original Kuranda Rainforest Markets - look out for the big Dinosaur! Free Admission.
A spectacular live butterfly exhibit, with hundreds of colourful tropical butterflies flying through the allweather rainforest enclosure. You’ll be enchanted by these elusive wonders of nature as you wander through the aviary’s boardwalks and gardens. Tours run between 10am and 3.15pm. Open daily 9.45am to 4pm.
Original Kuranda Markets | 7-11 Therwine St Ph: 0408 728 711 | www.emuridgegallery.com.au
8 Rob Veivers Drive | Ph: (07) 4093 7575 www.australianbutterflies.com
KURANDA HOTEL
FOODWORKS
On the deck or air-conditioned dining, children’s room, great lunches, friendly service. Guinness on tap, opposite Skyrail and Railway. Motel rooms available at great rates.
Wide variety of specialty foods Groceries LOCAL Produce Deli and Butcher 5% Seniors Discount! ATM Hot and Cold Takeaway Lunches
Corner Arara & Coondoo Sts Ph: (07) 4093 7206 | www.kurandahotel.com.au
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National Parks of the Atherton Tablelands Serene waterfalls, towering trees and crater lakes dot the landscape of rolling green hills, along self-drive trails to charming country villages and magnificent national parks. Whether it is a scenic road journey, or a thrilling adventure, the national parks of the Atherton Tablelands offer magical experiences and memories to treasure.
CRATER LAKES NATIONAL PARK Let the crystal-clear rainforest fringed waters of Lake Barrine and Lake Eacham – extinct craters up to 65m deep – refresh you. Laze around the water’s edge with your picnic, then stroll around the lake, marvelling at the 1000-year old, 50m tall twin kauri trees at Lake Barrine, or spotting wildlife at Lake Eacham and engaging the kids in the interactive children’s walk.
MALANDA FALLS REGIONAL PARK Immerse yourself in the culture of the Ngadjon Traditional Owners as you soak up the natural harmony in this remnant rainforest, where the North Johnstone River tumbles over the basalt rock of ancient lava. If you are lucky you may glimpse a shy Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo hiding among the branches.
CURTAIN FIG NATIONAL PARK Gaze in awe at this 500-year old, 50m tall wonder, a strangler fig with a ‘curtain’ of vertical roots that once embraced its long-gone host tree. Walk around the boardwalk to view the tree from every angle and get some fabulous artistic photographs of the root curtain.
DANBULLA FOREST DRIVE Drive around the shores of Lake Tinaroo and explore the many short walks on offer at Danbulla National Park and State Forest. Wander through rainforest and pine plantations, take photos of the impressive Cathedral Fig Tree and stroll along the circuit walk to Mobo Creek crater, a geological feature that perplexes geologists. 50 www.athertontablelands.com.au
MOUNTAIN BIKE ADVENTURES Test your mountain bike skills at Atherton Forest Mountain Bike Park in the Herberton Range State Forest and Baldy Mountain Forest Reserve. Enjoy a fun-filled day of adventure on the Davies Creek Trail through Dinden Forest Reserve then relax in the creek at the popular Davies Creek National Park.
OTHER PARKS NOT TO BE MISSED Forget about everyday life as you explore one of the world’s most ancient rainforests in the intriguing Daintree National Park. At Mossman Gorge watch crystal clear waters cascading over granite boulders, then head up to the fabled Cape Tribulation, where rainforested mountains sweep down to meet long sandy beaches and fringing reef. In Barron Gorge National Park, stroll the elevated walkway through lush rainforest to Din Din Barron Falls Lookout—one of tropical North Queensland’s star attractions, especially during the summer months from January to March when the falls are often thundering. To the south, the rugged rainforested coastal range plunges down to the coastal lowlands, where, in Wooroonooran National Park, you will discover beautiful rainforest, wild rivers and waterfalls, high rainforest-clad peaks and steep gorges.
Visit nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks for detailed park information.
Find your way with the Drive North Queensland smart phone app Available for both iPhone and Android, the app is geo-positional and designed to give the drive market traveller a very clear picture of what features they want to stop and see or tours they would like to take. Users are guaranteed up to the minute information regarding more than 700 products in the region covering four unique North Queensland drives.
Visitor Information Centres
On-line or On-the-road
can help you!
Call
Click
Come in
ATHERTON TABLELANDS INFORMATION CENTRE
HERBERTON MINING MUSEUM & INFORMATION CENTRE
KURANDA VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE
MALANDA FALLS VISITOR CENTRE
Centrally located in the heart of the Tablelands region. OPEN DAILY: 9am to 5pm Cnr Main St & Silo Rd, Atherton Ph: 1300 366 361 athinfocentre@trc.qld.gov.au www.iTablelands.com.au
Immerse yourself in the history of the oldest town on the Tablelands. Try panning for tin! OPEN DAILY: 9am to 4pm 1 Jack’s Road, Herberton Ph: 07 4096 3474 info@herbertonvisitorcentre.com.au www.herbertonvisitorcentre.com.au
Located in the heart of the unique rainforest village. OPEN DAILY: 10am to 4pm Therwine St, Kuranda Ph: 07 4093 9311 info@kuranda.org www.kuranda.org
Learn about the unusual wildlife of the Tablelands OPEN DAILY: 9am to 4.30pm 132 Atherton–Malanda Rd, Malanda Ph: 07 4096 6957 info@malandafalls.com www.malandafalls.com
Lat 17° 05’ • Long 145° 28’
Lat 17° 23’ • Long 145° 23’
Lat 16° 49’ • Long 145° 38’
Lat 17° 35’ • Long 145° 58’
MAREEBA HERITAGE MUSEUM & VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE
RAVENSHOE VISITOR CENTRE
YUNGABURRA VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE
FREE ENTRY: Interactive heritage displays for all the family. OPEN DAILY: 9am to 5pm 345 Byrnes St, Mareeba Ph: 07 4092 5674 info@mareebaheritagecentre.com.au www.mareebaheritagecentre.com.au
Discover pioneering history & the rich heritage of the Jirrbal people. OPEN: Oct-April: 9am to 4pm, May-Sept: 9am to 5pm 24 Moore Street, Ravenshoe Ph: 07 4097 7700 ravenshoevc@trc.qld.gov.au www.ravenshoevisitorcentre.com.au
Explore the village walks and the Afghanistan Avenue of Honour. OPEN DAILY: 9am - 5pm, Sun 10am - 4pm Maud Kehoe Place, Yungaburra Ph: 07 4095 2416 yungaburravic@gmail.com www.yungaburra.com
VISITOR INFORMATION ALSO AVAILABLE AT CHILLAGOE MT GARNET & MILLAA MILLAA
Lat 17° 03’ • Long 145° 25’
Lat 17° 61’ • Long 145° 48’
Lat 17° 16’ • Long 145° 36’
would love to see you!
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