On The Wallaby

Location

Around Yungaburra

Yungaburra Hotel 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!

Lake Eacham 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.

Atherton Tablelands Fauna - Kingfisher
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.

Map of the Atherton Tablelands 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.

1. 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 Mill

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. Catch our tour bus. Departs Cairns daily at 8:00am. See our Tours And Packages page for more information.