Atherton Tablelands

A vibrant green land of dramatic mountains, untouched rainforest, delicious produce and jaw-dropping waterfalls.

Starting just south-west of Cairns and rising more than 700m above sea level, the Atherton Tablelands is a lush, fertile region of rainforest, wetland and savannah. An ancient coral reef has eroded over centuries to form rugged limestone caves in Chillagoe and nearby volcanic crater lakes sit amongst a series of tumbling waterfalls.

You’ll find an incredible array of wildlife here, including brightly coloured frogs and elusive platypus. It’s one of the few places in the country where you might spot the rare Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroo. Birds are a real highlight in the Tablelands, too: 327 of the 430 bird species of the World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics region can be found here. Look up and you might see golden bowerbirds, king parrots, honeyeaters, crimson rosellas and masked owls.

Basalt soil, good rainfall and plenty of sunshine make the Atherton Tablelands something of a food bowl. There are almost 2000 farms, producing delicious tropical fruit such as mangoes, limes and bananas. Experience that goodness first-hand at the Yungaburra Markets or Shaylee Strawberry Farm, where you can pick your own berries. (Or you can grab fresh produce from one of the many roadside stalls – just drop the money into the honesty box).

The Atherton Tablelands is one of Australia’s two major coffee-growing regions and you’ll be able to find an espresso here that would rival anything you’ll get in a Melbourne cafe. Visit Skybury Coffee to walk through the plantation, see the beans being processed and sample one of their award-winning Arabica blends. For something with a little more punch, drop into the Mt Uncle Distillery, which uses Australian botanicals to make award-winning gin.

It’s not all about food here. Bushwalking and hiking trails wind through lush rainforest: take a short track through the Crater Lakes National Park or tackle the challenging Misty Mountains of Wooroonooran National Park.

The Atherton Forest Mountain Bike Park has almost 60km of purpose-built trails running from the township of Atherton, through picturesque open forest. Nearby Davies Creek Mountain Bike Park is a network of flowing trails, winding their way through the Lamb Range near Mareeba. Kayak across the rainforest-fringed Lake Barrine, take a dip in the crystal-clear waters of Lake Eacham or fish for barramundi in Lake Tinaroo.