Atherton Tablelands Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Photo provided by Tony Gwynn-Jones/Tourism and Events Queensland
Atherton Tablelands
Atherton Tablelands
Atherton Tablelands
Atherton Tablelands

Find gourmet trails and colourful markets in the “food bowl of the tropics” or see waterfalls plunging from rainforest escarpments on the plateau’s rugged edge.

The Atherton Tablelands is a lush plateau of fertile farmland and dense rainforest within Tropical North Queensland’s Great Dividing Range. Renowned for its excellent fresh produce and hidden natural wonders, the Atherton Tablelands offers plenty of ways to enjoy the landscape. Discover the heritage of pioneering farmsteads, explore breathtaking crater lakes and spot a diverse array of rainforest-dwelling birds.

Go on a tasting tour of the tropics and savour some of the region’s finest coffee, tea, tropical fruits and cheeses. You’ll find sprawling coffee estates, biodynamic dairies and fragrant tea plantations, as well as fruit farms growing tropical delights. Sample fortified fruit wines, spirits and liqueurs made from produce grown in this fertile region. With so much delicious produce, award-winning restaurants and busy local markets are never far away.

Learn about the region’s pioneering days at Historic Village Herberton, where you can see beautifully restored period houses and agricultural relics. Visit Tinaroo Dam to check out over 200 kilometres (120 miles) of shoreline and a wide expanse of protected water for swimming, watersports and fishing. The historic town of Yungaburra is situated on the dam’s southern shores and provides easy access to Lake Eacham within Crater Lakes National Park and the cascading aerial roots of the Curtain Fig Tree.

The tablelands have sheltered pockets of rich volcanic rainforest for millennia. Experience the sights, sounds and smells of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area at Wooroonooran National Park. Spot rare birds and unique marsupials or see breathtaking waterfalls surging through the forest. Find sparkling minerals and fascinating lava tubes in the Undara Volcanic National Park further west.

Atherton and Mareeba are the tablelands’ largest towns. Stay in country estates and treetop eco-lodges. The Atherton Tablelands is southwest of Cairns and many of the region’s attractions and towns can be reached within a 90-minute drive from the city’s international airport. Visit in winter to enjoy milder temperatures or in summer when the rains renew the tropical vegetation and cascading waterfalls.

Cairns Colonial Club Resort

Cairns Colonial Club Resort

4 out of 5
18-26 Cannon Street, Manunda, QLD
The price is AU$110 per night from 6 Nov to 7 Nov
AU$110
6 Nov - 7 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star family-friendly hotel in Cairns. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 3 outdoor pools. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,012 reviews)
"Great place to stay!"

Reviewed on 12 Oct 2025

Cairns Colonial Club Resort
Cairns Harbourside Hotel

Cairns Harbourside Hotel

4 out of 5
209-217 Esplanade, Cairns North, QLD
The price is AU$176 per night from 1 Nov to 2 Nov
AU$176
1 Nov - 2 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Cairns. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,028 reviews)
"Everything. Nice place for the money"

Reviewed on 13 Oct 2025

Cairns Harbourside Hotel
Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

5 out of 5
Pierpoint Road, Cairns, QLD
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is AU$287 per night from 31 Oct to 1 Nov
AU$287
31 Oct - 1 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this family-friendly hotel in Cairns. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 bars/lounges, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,007 reviews)
"I have stayed at this hotel a few times over the last ten years and every time has been wonderful. This visit was no exception. The hotel reception and other staff were so welcoming and helpful. Rowan the night duty manager was incredibly accommodating and we wanted to thank him personally for going ..."

Reviewed on 12 Oct 2025

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
The Canopy Rainforest Treehouses and Wildlife Sanctuary

The Canopy Rainforest Treehouses and Wildlife Sanctuary

4 out of 5
247 Hogan Road, Tarzali, QLD
Stay at this 4-star golf apartment in Tarzali. Enjoy free parking, onsite spa services, and a garden. Popular attractions Cassowary Corner Nature Refuge and ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (47 reviews)
"Beautiful cozy spot in the wilderness with lots of live and care taken with the cabin and surrounding area. The little things xo"

Reviewed on 9 July 2025

The Canopy Rainforest Treehouses and Wildlife Sanctuary
Blue Summit Hideaway

Blue Summit Hideaway

4.5 out of 5
22 Gillies Range Road, Yungaburra, QLD
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury aparthotel in Yungaburra. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Popular attractions Artistree Gallery and Curtain ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (120 reviews)
"Immaculate accommodation with daily housekeeping provided. Beautiful grounds, very friendly helpful staff."

Reviewed on 4 Oct 2025

Blue Summit Hideaway
Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat

Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat

4 out of 5
324 Land Road, via Lake Eacham, Malanda, Atherton Tablelands, Butchers Creek, QLD
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Butchers Creek. Enjoy free parking, a garden, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Rose Gums Nature Refuge and Gadgarra ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (48 reviews)
"Such a beautiful treehouse in the bush with walking tracks to swimming holes. Saw a platypus."

Reviewed on 17 Jan 2025

Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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