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Offered languages
- English
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 with hotel pickup included, 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.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Meeting point: Reef Fleet Terminal, Bus Bay #7, 1 Spence St, Cairns Marlin Marina, Cairns CBD
Meeting time: 7:30 AM
Or, arrange pick up at your accommodation in Cairns city.
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.
Itinerary
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1Reef Fleet Terminal
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.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2Babinda Boulders
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.
45 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3Josephine Falls
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.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included -
4Mungalli Falls
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.
45 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5Millaa Millaa Lookout
A panoramic vantage point over the rolling hills and lush farmland of the Atherton Tablelands. One of the best photo stops of the day.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
6Millaa Millaa Falls
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.
1 hour • Admission ticket free -
7Atherton Tablelands
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.
3 hours • Admission ticket free -
8Lake Eacham Crater Lakes National Park
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.
45 minutes • Admission ticket included -
9Cathedral Fig Tree
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.
15 minutes • Admission ticket included -
10Yungaburra Platypus Viewing Platform
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.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
Wet Tropics World Heritage Area (Pass by)
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)
Admission ticket free -
11Reef Fleet Terminal
Drop off back in Cairns CBD.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- 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
Additional info
- 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
- Itinerary is flexible and may vary based on weather and road conditions on the day
- Minimum age 8 years
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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