Atherton Tablelands

Atherton Tablelands

Atherton Tablelands
4.5
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles684 reviews
Excellent
448
Very good
206
Average
22
Poor
4
Terrible
4

Jef L
5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022
We hired a little zot car for the day out of Cairns and just self drove after a bit of research. Weren't allowed to drive on dirt roads. Bummer. Be aware of this condition prior to car hire depending on what you hire I suppose. Will limit your access to most waterfalls.
Curtain fig and Cathedral fig both sensational. Cathedral fig we got to well after dark. Walked with torches. Saw fireflys, insectivorous bats, a Splendid Ghost moth, big carpet snake, white tailed water rat. Tinaroo dam and town. Interesting military history. Dam outlet is spectacular up close. You can walk the dam wall during daylight hours. Yungaburra Peterson's Creek conservation park was a little hidden gem.
We didn't even know it was there.
Platypus viewing platform right on the main road into town.
But drive a bit further to the suspension bridge.
We saw a platypus and FIVE Lumholtz Tree Kangaroos including a family with baby. Unreal. Surprisingly more agile in the tree tops than I had expected after previously only seeing them in zoo/wildlife park situations. This made the whole trip really. A few hundred metres of creek. There was also quite a large colony of flying foxes, saw and heard a Catbird and lots of Magpie Geese flying in V formation over head.
You can donate to the volunteer group who maintain Peterson's Creek.
Money well spent.
Lovely little town. Nice pub.
Drive down the Gillies Range is very windy. Take care.
Written November 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JosieandSean
Adelaide, Australia8 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2021
We hired a Mustang for the day which was spectacular, highly recommend this for anyone wanting to drive yourself around the Atherton Tablelands. Went to Mt Uncle Distrillery, Yungaburra, Coffee Works, Millaa Millaa Falls and more.
We absolutely loved this day driving through the Atherton Tablelands - highly recommend it!
Written December 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

CarloHelmond
Helmond, The Netherlands725 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2024 • Family
We stayed in Millaa Millaa and had an early start to the day. Driving the waterfall circuit makes for a nice drive and includes 3 water falls (Millaa Millaa falls, Zillie falls and Ellinjaa falls). All are within easy walking distance and provide you with some great views. Early in the morning you have to place to yourself and it is very serene. There are many activities in the area, but have a look first if they are open. We called on some place that were closed during the winter season or had limited opening hours. The area is well worth your visit, unless you are just here for the highlights.
Written August 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

duncrich
Brisbane, Australia31 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2022
Bushwalks, wildlife, old style villages, tea plantations, coffee museum, river trips, crater lakes and lots more, plus cooler weather than down on the coast. Don't believe the scary stories about the Gillies Highway to get there. It's a windy road if if you're careful, you won't have any problems.
Written September 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Brian E
Melbourne, Australia159 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2021 • Family
The tablelands are a wonderful place to visit and provide a welcome escape from the hot coastal area of Cairns and Palm Cove. Hire a car and head up the mountain enjoy Mareeba but head further west in the tablelands to Atherton and various places doing a loop from Mareeba and Atherton and then Ravenshoe. Head back to Cairns via the southern route as there are many things to see including Great coffee places, tea and lakes and water sink holes. Try and do a pub lunch perhaps at Atherton there’s a great pub there. The drives are very scenic on the tablelands and the roads are easy. If you are keen pack and overnight bag and head out to Chillagoe where you’ll find some extremely old limestone caves were tours are available with hardhat and torch well worth a visit
Written January 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Catherine C
Cairns, Australia79 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023
I enjoyed the view, as we drove though the gillies range and to Atherton. It was a peaceful if a little stressful due to the rain. It was worth the drive, even with the 3-year-old, who loved looking at the cows and horses and the ducks. It was a shame almost everything closed at 3 or 4 pm. So, we couldn't go into anything really. But the beauty made up for that.
Written July 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lonny
Secaucus, NJ15 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
My friends and I had the most amazing time and would definitely go back. We spent a few days driving around and did Lake Barrine, Tarzili Lakes, Millaa Millaa falls, Paronella park tour, Skywalk and Josephine falls. I hope I spelt those names correctly. All were incredible. I would highly recommend!
Written April 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Annette A
Campbelltown, Australia1,893 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022 • Couples
Terrific scenery & good roads as you drive through a changing environment of temperate to rain forest to the plateau. Lake at the top provide fresh water & good farming land especially for mango trees is evident.
A great place to go for a look at & enjoy nature.
Written August 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kirsten H
Melbourne, Australia91 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
We decided to drive ourselves and do a tour of the Atherton Tablelands and we had a great time.
We stopped for Devonshire tea at the Lake Barrine Teahouse - a quaint cafe with glorious scones!
We stopped at Yungaburra for a quick walk around and to try and spot platypus (no luck) before heading off on the waterfall tour. This was amazing - we did all 3 waterfalls and they were spectacular. The best one was definitely Millaa Millaa Falls - it was chilly but hubby (and many others) couldn't pass up the chance to dive in.
Definitely a well spent day but would recommend staying a night up there if you can!
Written October 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

CodyMav
Gold Coast, Australia27,254 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020
Most peoples first experience is driving the fabulously twisty Gillies Range Rd from Cairns to Atherton, but there is so much more to it, its huge, stretching from around Mt Molloy to Herberton & a bit more. So there are a few coast to mountain road climbs on and off the tableland.

Mareeba comes from Kuranda with its scenic rail, markets, Barron Gorge and Birdworld

Atherton comes from Cairns with the massive Fig Trees & Lake Barrine

Herberton comes from Innisfail with lots of Waterfalls including the famous Millaa Millaa.

Its worth staying on the tableland a few days as there is lots to explore.
Written August 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Atherton Tablelands - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

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