Around Yungaburra
One hour - yet a million miles - from Cairns, on the Atherton
Tablelands is the village of Yungaburra. It's a pretty heritage
township established in 1890, filled with charming original
buildings and genuinely welcoming locals.
It's both small enough to walk all around, and large enough to cater for the needs of all its visitors; as well as international class art and craft galleries, the beautifully grand Lake Eacham Hotel and delightful eateries, there's even an internet café beside the mini-supermarket!
Aside from it's captivating charm, Yungaburra presents the
ideal location to base yourself during a stay on the AthertonTablelands
- the evergreen, naturally air-conditioned plateau containing
the most picturesque waterfalls, lakes, rivers and streams
you'll encounter in Australia.
Not only is the landscape here spectacular, but the animals who inhabit it are simply enchanting.
Yungaburra is known for platypus viewing and the best times
to see these curious and rare animals are at sunrise and sunset,
watching quietly from viewing platforms constructed at Peterson
Creek and Allumbah Pocket. The surrounding rainforest is home
to birds including the incredible earth-bound cassowary, all
kinds of rare possums and the most adorable of Aussie creatures;
the tree kangaroo.
This wealth of natural assets on the Atherton Tablelands
provides superb inspiration to the local inhabitants, who
showcase their creative talents in crafts, cuisine, art and
all manner of home-making at the monthly Yungaburra markets.
Held in the village green on the 4th Saturday of each month
from 7am - 12 noon, the festive atmosphere and quality of
goods at the markets draw crowds like a magnet. Each year,
the region celebrates its colourful local culture with the
Folk Festival held in Yungaburra each October.
From Yungaburra, the Tablelands' best attractions are within
an hour's drive. On The Wallaby conducts daily Atherton Tablelands
tours that take in all the highlights of this wonderful region.
Please see our Things
To Do page for more information.
How To Get There
Getting around the Atherton Tablelands is easy - but first
you have to get here! There are four major highways leading
to the Tablelands from the coastal lowlands.
- Travelling north from Innisfail on the Bruce Highway, turn off to the Palmerston Highway. This southern gateway takes you through rainforests and dairy farms to arrive at the picturesque town of Millaa Millaa.
- The next option from Cairns is the Gillies Highway, accessed from the town of Gordonvale just 25kms south. The road follows the Mulgrave Valley and its river, ascending swiftly to the cooler rainforests of the Lake Barrine and Yungaburra areas.
- The third route is to take the Kuranda Range road from the turn off at Smithfield, north of Cairns. Panoramic views out to the Coral Sea are a bonus for travellers, as is the village of Kuranda at journey's end.
- From Port Douglas, turn off the Bruce Highway to the Rex Range road, the northern access route to the towns of Julatten, Mt Molloy and Mareeba.
- Catch our tour bus. Departs Cairns daily at 8:00am. See
our Tours And
Packages page for more information.
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