Atherton Tablelands Waterfalls and Wildlife

The Atherton Tablelands rise behind Cairns as a cooler, greener plateau of volcanic soil, dairy farms, crater lakes and waterfalls, and this day tour covers the highlights in a small group. The sample itinerary begins at the Reef Fleet Terminal and visits Babinda Boulders, Josephine Falls, Mungalli Falls, Millaa Millaa Lookout and Millaa Millaa Falls, the Atherton Tablelands themselves, the Lake Eacham crater lakes, the Cathedral Fig Tree and the Yungaburra platypus viewing platform before returning to Cairns. The day takes about ten hours, with a 7:15am meeting time and 7:30am start, and groups are limited to 20 travellers. Inclusions are an expert local guide, national park entrance fees and permits, a picnic lunch of sandwiches and a fruit platter, an air-conditioned vehicle and pickup and drop-off from the Cairns CBD. The tour is rated 4.9 out of 5 from 906 reviews, with 98 per cent of travellers recommending it, and it is described as carbon-neutral.

This is the best answer to the question of what to do on a day when you do not want to be on a boat. The itinerary mixes swimming spots and viewing points with wildlife, so it is not just a drive. Josephine Falls and Babinda Boulders are rainforest creek and rock-pool settings on the way up, Millaa Millaa Falls is the famously photogenic curtain of water in the Tablelands, and the Cathedral Fig Tree is a huge strangler fig that shows how rainforest trees grow.

The platypus platform at Yungaburra is a quiet place to watch for one of Australia's shyest animals, usually best at dawn or dusk, so manage expectations.

Because the stops are listed as a sample itinerary that may vary with road and weather conditions, ask your guide about the order on the day. Swimming depends on water levels and safety signage, so bring swimwear and a towel, but obey the guide's advice, since rock pools and falls can be dangerous after rain. Wear walking shoes, bring insect repellent and a light rain layer, and carry a refillable water bottle.

The tour fits well after a reef day or before a Kuranda day, and it is a strong choice for families, couples and groups who want variety. Compared with a Daintree day it is cooler, quicker to reach and more about waterfalls and lakes than coastal rainforest. Check the cancellation terms before you book, and because of the small group size means popular dates sell out, so reserve a day or two ahead in peak months.

The Tablelands also give you a break from the coastal heat. Elevation brings cooler air and mist in the mornings, so a light jacket is useful at the crater lakes, and the countryside around Yungaburra and Millaa Millaa is a patchwork of dairy farms and tea or coffee plantings. If you have a sweet tooth, ask the guide about local stops for ice cream, cheese or coffee, though the published itinerary is the guide, not a guarantee of every stop.

Photographers should keep a microfibre cloth handy for mist and spray, and everyone should wear shoes that cope with wet rock. Because the tour starts early and runs about ten hours, eat a proper breakfast, bring any medication you need and tell the guide about mobility limits so that the pace and the stops suit the whole group.