Cairns
Connect Overview
The Atherton Tableland is the region incorporating the townships
of Yungaburra, Malanda, Millaa Millaa, Ravenshoe, Herberton, Atherton
and Mareeba. It is a very beautiful part of North Queensland with
long drives in rich farming areas, stunning waterfalls and large
volcanic lakes with lush tropical rainforest.
There
is also a strong colonial history dating back to the mid 19th Century.
The towns mentioned above were established for a particular reason.
Some were remnant gold mining centres, some camps for loggers and
timber cutters and others as railway towns. The history of the Tablelands
is everywhere and the locals are happy to share their past with
interested travellers.There are a number of options available for
people wishing to visit the Tablelands.

For
some a day tour through this rural region will highlight the more
accessible sites and attractions. For others with more time the
Atherton Tablelands represents the perfect opportunity to spend
two or three days exploring winding back roads and sleepy little
B&B's and guest houses. There are great bushwalks and picnic areas
scattered throughout the entire region. The are a number of National
Parks and Recreational areas that offer good camping and day visitor
facilities. The weather on the Atherton Tablelands is generally
a few degrees cooler than on the coast, providing a break from the
sometimes stifling heat of the coast.
Some
of the popular areas to visit on the Atherton Tableland include:
Yungaburra - This picturesque
and very quaint town is located in the middle of the Lakes district
of the Tablelands. Close by are scenic attractions like Lake Barrine,
Lake Eacham and the Curtain Fig Tree. Every fourth Saturday the
Yungaburra Markets are a major attraction. The Markets have become
very popular in the past few years and they are well worth the drive.
Malanda
- The milk capital of North Queensland, "Malanda Milk" is an
icon to residents throughout Queensland and Papua New Guinea.
Malanda is a progressive township offering a solid commercial
centre for surrounding farms and agricultural industries. |
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Millaa
Millaa
- This small country town is often considered the gateway to
the Atherton Tablelands. Home to a number of stunning year round
waterfalls including Millaa Millaa Falls, Mungalli Falls and
Ellinjaa Falls to mention just a few. |
Ravenshoe
- Formerly a timber milling, tin mining and dairy centre, Ravenshoe
is now both a popular residential area and a popular weekend get
away for people from Cairns. The Millstream Falls are found here
and they are the widest waterfalls in Australia.
Herberton
- This old mining town is really one of the historical centres on
the Atherton Tablelands. There is a museum and the "Axe Man Hall
of Fame" reflecting the strong ties with the colonial past that
the region experiences.
Atherton
- The rich soils around Atherton produce a diverse range of crops
including peanuts, maize, potatoes, avocados, macadamia nuts, flowers,
coffee, mangoes and many other fruit and vegetables. A very popular
and very unique attraction in Atherton are the Crystal Caves. A
man made cave labyrinth found at Fascinating Facets on the main
road in Atherton.
Mareeba
- The centre of a large agricultural area growing tobacco, sugar
cane, mangoes and coffee. An extensive irrigation scheme has produced
the means to make farmable land out of what was previously a dry
unproductive territory. The main attractions in Mareeba are the
Granite Gorge and the Heritage Museum.
Things
to See and Do
With regards to things to see and do on the Atherton Tablelands
a visit to each of the towns mentioned is an excellent starting
point. The Atherton Tablelands are very easy to navigate and there
are literally hundreds of attractions including museums, cafes,
recreation areas and sights to be seen. Most attractions are clearly
sign posted and there are excellent touring maps of the Atherton
Tablelands available throughout the region.
A
few of the most popular attractions include:
Giant
Fig Trees
- there are two enormous fig trees which have become very popular
attractions, the Curtain Fig Tree and the Cathedral Fig Tree (both
can be found close to Yungaburra).
Lake
Eacham and Lake Barrine
- both are large freshwater lakes, they are deep and surrounded
by thick bush and rainforest. There are picnic and BBQ facilities
at both lakes and swimming is perfectly safe and very enjoyable.
There are a number of easy walking tracks in the area and Lake
Barrine has cruises available and a cafe come restaurant. Cassowaries
and other rainforest wildlife can be seen in this area. |
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Millaa
Millaa Falls
- are close to being the perfect waterfall. They flow all year
round and there is an attractive lake at the base of the falls.
The surrounding vegetation is lush and tropical with some very
large ferns. There are a number of other excellent waterfalls
in the area, some require a short bush walk to reach. |
Crystal
Caves and Fascinating Facets
- this attraction has grown to become one of the most well known
tourist attractions on the Atherton Tablelands. A mix of natural
beauty and fantasy have been used to create the Crystal Caves (located
in Main Street Atherton).
Art
Galleries
- there are a number of excellent Galleries on the Tablelands. Most
stock a broad range of locally made products featuring materials
from the Tablelands. The atmosphere on the Atherton Tablelands appears
to be conducive to creating artists and crafts people in abundance.
Some of the most popular Galleries are The Gem Gallery, Glass by
Diane and the Chalet Rainforest Gallery all found in Yungaburra,
Wait a While Art and Craft in Malanda and Tolga Woodworks in Tolga.
The
Homestead Bar, Restaurant and Lodge
- just outside of Tolga is a popular place to stop for lunch or
to spend the weekend. It is a beautiful homestead with large gardens
and displays of old farming equipment.
Lake
Tinaroo
has become a major recreation area for both tourists and Cairns
locals seeking some respite from the hot coastal water. All
types of water sports are available on Lake Tinaroo and it is
one of the few places where you can fish for Barramundi all
year round. There are recreation areas around the lake and there
is a good range of accommodation in the area including motels,
B&B's, camping and caravan parks. House boat's can also be hired
on the lake providing the prefect way to spend a few relaxing
days. |
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» Visit Tours To Go’s extensive range of Atherton Tableland tours
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Places
to Stay and Eat
The Atherton Tablelands has an extensive range of small lodges,
motels and B&B's. Most are very inexpensive and they tend to
be set in the most scenic areas. There are caravan parks in
most of the towns and also well equipped camping grounds throughout
the entire region. There are literally hundreds of cafes, restaurants
and takeaway food shops throughout the Atherton Tablelands,
most are good value offering simple but hearty meals. |
» Visit Cairns Dining’s Atherton Tableland restaurants section
Services
Available
Most of the towns on the Atherton Tablelands have all of the services
that the traveller requires. The larger towns of Atherton, Malanda
and Mareeba have a large range of shops and service related industries.
Petrol is readily available throughout the Atherton Tablelands.
The Atherton Tableland Promotional Bureau - Telephone (07) 4091
4222
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