Atherton Tablelands

Among the World Heritage listed rainforests, national parks, mountains, rivers, lakes and waterfalls are some of Australia’s richest agricultural lands, cattle country and charming small townships. Biologists have described the spectacular rainforests of the Wet Tropics as the “greatest celebration of life on earth”. The rural landscape of the Atherton Tablelands Cairns Highlands is green throughout most of the year, with a temperature which rarely exceeds 30 degrees C. Everything, including the people, thrives on this cool tropical plateau some 600-1100 metres above sea level where temperatures and humidity are lower than on the coastal plain. The Outback is the opposite with its parched appearance changing to verdant green in the Wet Season and the temperature sometimes hits 40 degrees with low humidity. For visitors, the Tablelands and Outback present opportunities for bush walking, bird watching, limestone cave tours, a wildlife cruise, wildlife spotting, hot air ballooning and water sports as diverse as fishing, water skiing and white water rafting. Here settlers from all over the world share their arts, crafts, music and festivals. Winding roads lead to spectacular lookouts and waterfalls, and highlights include Australia’s widest waterfall – Millstream Falls – and many others flowing all year round, the deep blue waters of extinct volcano crater lakes, Lake Barrine and Lake Eacham, the ancient Bromfield Swamp near Malanda and the Mt. Hypipamee Crater National Park near Herberton. A little further West, the lush farming lands change to Wooded Savannah with dry creek beds, wandering cattle and the beautiful ochre colours of the Outback.