Things to do in

Yungaburra

Embark on a full-day trip to Atherton Tableland from Cairns and admire the lush beauty of tropical North Queensland. Visit Wooroonooran National Park, swim in Lake Eacham, and enjoy lunch in Malanda. Your 11-hour excursion begins with a drive to the Wooroonooran National Park. Stop for a swim at Josephine Falls, which features a huge natural rock slide. Travel across the volcanic landscape of the Atherton Tablelands. Marvel at the 18-meter-high Millaa Millaa Falls, framed by lush rainforest and tree ferns. Enjoy lunch at The Top Rail in Malanda before heading to see a giant curtain fig tree. Try your luck at platypus spotting in Yungaburra and enjoy a last swim at Lake Eacham before the trip back to Cairns.

The departure is from Cairns, we head south travelling past Walsh’s Pyramid, one of the largest naturally formed pyramids in the world. Here your guide will stop so you can grab a photo of this unique North Queensland landmark. Now it’s time to travel up the World Heritage-listed Gillies Highway climbing 730 metres above sea level whilst enjoying the breathtaking views over the Goldsborough Valley. Just before the top of the amazing Gillies Range is a short photo opportunity at the Heales Lookout before heading into the gorgeous Atherton Tablelands. The first stop is the beautiful World Heritage Listed Lake Barrine Crater Lake National Park. On arrival, your tour guide will take you on a short walk to visit the 1000-year-old Twin Kauri Pines, true giants of the rainforest. Enjoy a Devonshire morning tea with freshly-baked scones before departing for the historical town of Yungaburra, which has the most Nationally Listed Heritage buildings in Queensland. Go on a driving tour around this quaint town, showcasing the many Nationally Heritage buildings. Next stop is The Curtain Fig Tree located in the Curtain Fig Tree National Park. This amazing feat of nature reaching 45+ metres up into the tropical rainforest canopy. Follow your guide on the boardwalk to learn about the amazing formation of this 600-800-year old epiphyte. Spy endemic wildlife species in the rainforest canopy, like the rare Lumholtz Tree Kangaroo. From here, head through the historical dairy town of Malanda, home to Australia’s oldest continuously running commercial picture theatre. Your guide will drive you around this charming town showcasing the beautiful old pub and theatre. Travelling through extensive beef, dairy, sugar cane, and other diverse types of farming areas, arrive at Millaa Millaa Falls, one of Australia’s most photographed waterfalls. Have an option of swimming under the cool waters or you sit back, relax, enjoy the tranquility of nature. Now it’s time to descend from the mountains down the Palmerstone Highway through sugar cane & banana fields to the coastal town of Innisfail, after leaving Innisfail you will enjoy a delicious lunch. Paronella Park is the next destination with a 45-minute guided tour in English, Chinese or Japanese. Be guided through the extensive National Trust Gardens while learning the rich history of Hose Paronella’s wonderful achievements and the colorful history of how he built his Spanish Castle in the rainforest; you will have amazing photo opportunities of the breathtaking Mena Creek and Theresa falls. Spend approx 2.5 hours here allowing plenty of free time to enjoy the rest of the park at a leisurely pace. Then, return to Cairns.

Departing from your Cairns or Northern Beaches accommodation, head south to view the agile wallabies that live within the city limits. Make a second stop at the Cathedral Fig Tree, an 8,000-year-old Strangler fig with a giant root system. Enjoy an afternoon tea at the world-renowned Lake Barrine before walking through the rainforest. Keep your eyes out for musky rat-kangaroo, Boyd's forest dragon, rainforest birds, butterflies and flying foxes. After a quick stop at Lake Eacham, visit a platypus viewing area in Yungaburra for a 90% chance of seeing the unique mammal. Enjoy a delicious dinner at a restaurant in the township of Yungburra. Then, your nighttime spotlighting adventure begins! Walk under the night stars and into the rainforest. Look out for Lumholtz's tree-kangaroo, northern leaf-tailed gecko, ringtail possums, gliders, frogs, owls and more. Return to Cairns at around 10:00 PM and Northern Beaches at around 10:30 PM.

Begin your tour early in the morning by hopping on board a comfortable coach. Take in the the verdant landscapes of the Goldsborough Valley, before ascending to the cool tropical rainforest climes of the Atherton Tablelands. Ride next to towering rainforest trees which stand sentinel over the winding path. Stop at the Heales lookout for a spectacular vista over the valley and out to the Coral Sea. Head to the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area's Lake Barrine which is in the Crater Lakes National Park. Learn about the area’s ancient natural history on a guided walk to the 1000-year-old twin kauri pines. Admire these true giants of the rainforest, before being whisked off to Devonshire Tea. Have some locally-grown tea and coffee served accompanied by scones with jam and freshly whipped cream. Continue to the historical town of Yungaburra where the coach stops for a photo or two before moving on to the Curtain Fig Tree, which towers more than 45 meters over the rare Mabi forest of Curtain Fig Tree National Park. Listen as your guide shares the unlikely story behind the formation of this 600-800 year-old epiphyte. Walk along the boardwalk while looking for local wildlife in the rainforest canopy, like green ring-tailed possums, eastern whip birds, Victoria’s rifle birds, and the rare Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroo. Drive through the historical dairy town of Malanda. After Malanda, arrive at one of Australia’s most-photographed waterfalls, Millaa Millaa Falls. Jump into the cool rainforest waters as they tumble over 20 meters from volcanic lava flow formed over 1 million years ago. Refuel with a delicious la carte lunch before descending from the Atherton Tablelands via the Palmerston Highway. Pass through the traditional lands of the Mamu people. Take in views of expansive sugar cane and banana fields until you reach the coastal town of Innisfail. Reach the extensive National Trust-listed gardens at Paronella Park and go on a 30-minute guided tour that tells the story of the park’s memorable architecture, set amongst sprawling tropical gardens and inspired by founder José Paronella’s dream of a Spanish castle. Capture pictures of the Kauri Avenue to Teresa Falls, the Grand Staircase, and the suspension bridge over Mena Creek Falls. Go for another dip at Babinda Boulders (time permitting) where tranquil waters are nestled between striking granite boulders. Travel back to your pickup point in the city of Cairns in the evening with unforgettable memories of the stunning Atherton Tablelands and Paronella Park.

STOP 1 Journey to the Atherton Tablelands which is located 1 hour’s drive from the city via the scenic Gillies Highway. Discover a cool highlands where you will sample a delicious breakfast of local produce and enjoy a special coffee or local tea at an 80-year old lakeside tea house over looking Lake Barrine crater lake surrounded by lush rainforest. STOP 2 Private property of Rainforest Bounty, taste their unique products all made with local tropical Indigenous fruits over looking the Johnstone River. Keep your eyes peeled as you might just spot one of the resident Tree Kangaroos, too! STOP 3Enjoy Gourmet lunch. The Australian Platypus Park is home to a thriving platypus population. Take a wander down to see them in their magnificent setting then sit down to enjoy flavored handcrafted smoked products, combined with a unique blend of local Australian native herbs and spices. These tasty treats are all produced in-house using only the freshest quality ingredients and include Crocodile, Red Claw (Yabby), and Kangaroo with fresh local salads topped off with a boutique beer, Dragon Fruit cider, Lemon Myrtle tea, and finish with a wine tasting of the Murdering Point tropical fruit wine range. STOP 4Arrive at Mungalli Creek Dairy, a working biodynamic dairy farm where we sample a selection of their cheeses and creamy ice cream with beautiful views. STOP 5The Humpy is the best place to go for freshly harvested produce straight from the growers. Marvel at the array of vegetables, tropical fruits, and hundreds of varieties of nuts, dried fruits, and locally produced jams and sauces. Enjoy some seasonal fruits and different hot peanuts and macadamia nuts, and get some time to browse to make any purchases. STOP 6 Continue to the Mount Uncle distillery to taste some of their award-winning liqueurs and spirits. Wander around the stunning property nestled in coffee and banana plantations and meet the friendly animals. STOP 7 Move on to the Jacques Family coffee plantation and get an insight into the finer details of coffee, from the tree to the cup, Stroll through the coffee bushes and gardens, and end with a coffee tasting platter with coffee liqueurs served with homemade scones with jam and cream.

Itinerary Highlights From the Range Lookout with a Welcome to Country over looking the regions dramatic landscape, our carefully curated itinerary offers a glimpse into the fascinating wildlife of Queensland. Guests can anticipate encounters with 100's of Eastern Grey Kangaroos, Agile Wallabies, ancient volcanos, and more. The schedule also includes birdwatching opportunities and a platypus walk at Yungaburra. This all inclusive tour we've careful designed to sit back relax and truly enjoy your trip. Education and Conservation Blue Adventures Wildlife Tours prioritises environmental education, enriching the tour with insights into the behaviours, habitats, and conservation efforts for each species. Our commitment to sustainability is reflected in responsible tourism practices, encouraging guests to appreciate nature responsibly. Experience a guided walk through the Mabi Rainforest where we work with Reforest Australia planting trees to restore an area of land previously cleared for forestry and agriculture. It is estimated that up to 70% of the plants and animals like the tree kangaroo in the Mabi rainforest are unique to this region. Privately Guided Your private guide/driver/photographer for the day will pick you up at your Port Douglas accommodation and whisk you away up, up, up to the diverse Atherton Tablelands regions, known for its tropical rainforests, wetlands, rolling green hills, and even ancient volcanic crater lakes. Our first stop of the day is at a private property set along a magnificent riverfront. For the birdwatchers the area is home to more than 220 bird species, including several Bower birds and iconic Australian species such as the kookaburra and cockatoo. Next, we will we head off to explore grasslands where we can see hundreds of Eastern Grey kangaroos. During the day these animals are found lazing in the shade of large trees and will let us get close enough for great photos. By late morning it is time to leave the dry outback behind and explore north Queensland's famous World Heritage rainforest, the oldest continually surviving rainforest in the world! Before lunch we take a walk along Petersen creek which has a very healthy platypus population and a small population of tree kangaroos. We have a great success rate at seeing the platypus, regularly getting to watch them swimming and feeding in the creek. The tree kangaroos are harder to find and a real treat when we do see them. You will enjoy a delicious restaurant lunch beside a breathtaking volcanic crater-lake. Whilst at the lake we take a boat cruise to explore the lake and fringing rainforest. On the cruise we see plenty of turtles, fish, eels, waterbirds and possibly an Eastern water dragons. As the day draws to a close we have one lost stop before returning to Port Douglas. We visit a rocky river gorge and have the opportunity to get up close with Mareeba Rock wallabies, a species that is endemic to this area and found nowhere else in Australia.