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 Rp1.282.452 per night from 6 Sept to 7 Sept
Rp1.282.452
Rp1.410.698 total
6 Sept - 7 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star family-friendly hotel in Cairns. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and 3 outdoor pools. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,002 reviews)
"Great location and facilities"

Reviewed on 17 Aug 2025

Cairns Colonial Club Resort
Hilton Cairns

Hilton Cairns

5 out of 5
34 Esplanade, Cairns, QLD
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is Rp2.773.594 per night from 31 Aug to 1 Sept
Rp2.773.594
Rp3.050.953 total
31 Aug - 1 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Cairns. Enjoy breakfast (surcharge), room service and a 24-hour health club. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,004 reviews)
"Nice"

Reviewed on 13 Aug 2025

Hilton Cairns
Cairns Harbourside Hotel

Cairns Harbourside Hotel

4 out of 5
209-217 Esplanade, Cairns North, QLD
The price is Rp1.874.759 per night from 8 Sept to 9 Sept
Rp1.874.759
Rp2.062.235 total
8 Sept - 9 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Cairns. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in their ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,008 reviews)
"Clean, comfortable bed and great location for exploring Cairns. Rooms could do with double glazing as the airport is close and the helipad for the hospital even closer! All in all a great option for a night or two."

Reviewed on 16 Aug 2025

Cairns Harbourside Hotel
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.
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 Wi-Fi, free parking and breakfast (surcharge). Popular attractions Artistree Gallery and Curtain ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (119 reviews)
"Great little spot"

Reviewed on 11 Aug 2025

Blue Summit Hideaway
Tinaroo Lake Resort

Tinaroo Lake Resort

4.5 out of 5
29 Palm Street, Tinaroo, QLD
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury apartment in Tinaroo. Enjoy free parking, daily housekeeping and a garden. Our guests praise the property condition in their reviews. ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (106 reviews)
"Very friendly and helpful staff, happy with apartment facilities"

Reviewed on 11 Aug 2025

Tinaroo Lake Resort
Lake Tinaroo Holiday Park

Lake Tinaroo Holiday Park

2 out of 5
4-28 Tinaroo Falls Dam Road, Tinaroo, QLD
Stay at this family-friendly campsite in Tinaroo. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a garden. Popular attractions Tinaroo Dam and Danbulla National Park are ...
9/10 Wonderful! (103 reviews)
Lovely
"Nice little gem we found along the way our daughter loved the beautiful pool & play area. Quiet place and great parking for our van.1 day turned into 4"

Reviewed on 8 Aug 2025

Lake Tinaroo Holiday Park
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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