From Cairns: Atherton Tablelands Wildlife & Waterfalls
- 10 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
The Atherton Tablelands holds ancient rainforests, volcanic crater lakes, and wildlife found nowhere else on Earth. This is the best way to spend a full day in it. Departing Cairns, your small group heads into World Heritage-listed rainforest for a day of swimming, exploring, and wildlife watching. Slide down natural rock chutes at Josephine Falls, swim beneath Millaa Millaa Falls, cool off in volcanic Lake Eacham, and stand beneath the 500-year-old Cathedral Fig. Watch for platypus, cassowary, tree kangaroos, and turtles. Sightings are a regular part of the day. Your guide is local and genuinely passionate. They will point out wildlife you would walk straight past and adapt the pace to your group. Maximum 20 guests, so every stop gets proper time. Picnic lunch, entrance fees, national park permits, and return Cairns transfers included. Certified carbon-neutral. Fully accredited Queensland operator.
Inclusions
What's included
- Carbon-neutral tour - every adventure is carbon offset
- Expert local guide
- Small group experience - maximum 20 people
- Water can be provided and there are water stations available along the route
- Pickup and drop-off from Cairns CBD (Reef Fleet Terminal, Bus Bay #7)
- All national park entrance fees and permits
- Picnic lunch - sandwiches and fruit platter
What's not
- Breakfast and dinner
Itinerary
Meet the Barefoot Tours bus at Reef Fleet Terminal, Bus Bay #7, 1 Spence St, Cairns Marlin Marina. Look for the vibrant green or orange Barefoot Tours bus - arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled departure time.
Your first stop is Babinda Boulders, known as nature's playground - a fast-flowing tropical creek set among huge granite boulders and lush Bellenden Ker rainforest. Take a refreshing swim in the natural rock pools or walk through the forest and hear the Aboriginal legends that surround this magical place.
One of the Tablelands' most loved swimming spots. The clear waters of Josephine Falls glide over smooth boulders into a natural pool with a rock slide that guests come back for again and again.
A scenic lunch stop in the heart of the Tablelands. Enjoy your included picnic lunch of sandwiches and fruit platter in a beautiful rainforest setting.
A panoramic vantage point over the rolling hills and lush farmland of the Atherton Tablelands. One of the best photo stops of the day.
One of the most photographed waterfalls in Australia, a single-drop curtain of water into a clear pool surrounded by protected rainforest. Time to swim, relax, and take photos at Cairns' most iconic waterfall.
Your guide takes you through the heart of the Tablelands, rolling hills, ancient rainforest, and local towns. Commentary throughout covers the region's natural history, geology, and wildlife. Watch for tree kangaroos along the way.
A swim in one of Australia's most beautiful volcanic crater lakes. Lake Eacham's crystal-clear waters are surrounded by ancient rainforest and are home to turtles and freshwater fish you can see clearly from the surface.
Marvel at one of Australia's most remarkable living structures, a 500-year-old strangler fig with roots that have grown to form a cathedral-like chamber in the forest.
The highlight wildlife stop of the day. Wander along the rainforest creek at dusk and watch for wild platypus in their natural habitat, one of the most elusive and iconic animals in Australia. Sightings are not guaranteed but are a regular feature of this tour.
Wet Tropics Wonder: Immerse yourself in the heart of one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth. The Wet Tropics World Heritage Area is a living museum of natural history, home to ancient flora and rare wildlife. (The Region we visit throughout the day, not an actual location)
Drop off back in Cairns CBD.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.9
- 5839
- 449
- 35
- 25
- 18
Ratings come from 906 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Showing reviews written in English.
5An unforgettable experience — 10/10!
Our tour guide was absolutely superlative. From the very start, it felt like traveling with a close friend rather than just a guide. She made us feel completely comfortable, welcome, and cared for at every single stop throughout the day. Lunch was served at an exceptional, breathtaking location that made the whole day feel extra special. The entire itinerary was pure magic. I cannot recommend this tour enough to anyone looking to fully immerse themselves in pristine nature, stunning waterfalls, and crystal-clear lakes. An absolute must-do!
5Renee was amazing and so...
Renee was amazing and so much fun. She had so much knowledge about the area and was a great guide. Swimming in the different waterfalls and the crater lake was so refreshing. We had a fantastic day. Highly recommend.
5A great day of waterfalls and platypuses
A great experience with Renee as the driver and guide. Initially told that we may not go to see the platypus viewing point because they had not seen any in the past 3 months. I told her this was the main reason I booked this trip, so she worked the schedule so make sure we were able to go. We saw multiple platypuses and got some great video of them! Thanks, Renee.
5An excellent all day trip.
A long but very busy day, we stopped at about 6 different beautiful places. Our guide was top shelf!
5A fantastic day!
When we reviewed the iternerary the night before we wondered what made us pick this tour. It turned out to be an excellent tour. Our guide Renae, was delightful, friendly, fun and a enhanced out day. She also had a great Playlist. Our group of 7 plus Renae really hit it off. The chatter and engagement continued until the end and we were sad to say good bye. The sights and tour was amazing. We even saw a couple of tree kangaroos and platypus!!
5Awesome trip and extremely enjoyable day. Worth it!
Looking at the iternerary we wondered why we picked this long ago... We had the best day!!! Our tour guide, Rene was the best. Friendly, energetic, enthusiastic, calm. And had a great Playlist! We had a great mix of people on the tour who matched Rene's spirit. The sights were amazing and well spaced. We saw a tree kangaroo and a couple of platypus. It turned out to be her first trip as a guide and you would not have known that.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Our vibrant green or Orange bus with the Barefoot Tours logo awaits you 15 minutes before your scheduled time at the Reef Fleet Terminal, Bus Bay #7, 1 Spence St., Cairns Marlin Marina, Cairns CBD. Or your please arrange pick up at your accomodation in Cairns city.
- Pickup
- Pickup is offered, or you can meet at the starting point.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 20 travellers
- Operated by
- Barefoot Tours
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Meeting point: Reef Fleet Terminal, Bus Bay #7, 1 Spence St, Cairns Marlin Marina, Cairns CBD
- Look for the vibrant green or orange Barefoot Tours bus - arrive 15 minutes before departure
- What to bring: towel, swimwear, comfortable shoes or sandals, sunglasses, hat, camera
- Water can be provided and there are water stations available along the route
- Pack a jumper or light jacket in winter months - temperatures in the Tablelands are cooler than Cairns
- Wildlife sightings including platypus, cassowary, and tree kangaroos are common but not guaranteed
How it compares in Cairns & the Tropical North
- Its from-price is 12% below the median of the 89 day trips we list in Cairns & the Tropical North.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 10 of 89.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Cairns & the Tropical North
Cairns is the gateway to Far North Queensland, with the Great Barrier Reef offshore, Daintree rainforest to the north and the Atherton Tablelands inland.
Cairns sits on Trinity Bay between the sea and a wall of forested ranges. The Esplanade has a public saltwater swimming lagoon and a long boardwalk beside mudflats where wading birds feed, and the Botanic Gardens hold tropical plants and a rainforest boardwalk. The city is the departure point for boats to the Great Barrier Reef, including the coral cay of Green Island and the rocky Fitzroy Island, and for flights over the reef.
Top-ranked sights in Cairns & the Tropical North: Great Barrier Reef, Barron Gorge National Park, Green Island.
Special offers in Cairns & the Tropical North
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
