Atherton Tablelands

Travel 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.

The Canopy Rainforest Treehouses and Wildlife Sanctuary
The Canopy Rainforest Treehouses and Wildlife Sanctuary
4 out of 5
247 Hogan Road, Tarzali, QLD
The price is S$264 per night from 15 Jul to 16 Jul
S$264
15 Jul - 16 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star golf apartment in Tarzali. Enjoy free parking, onsite spa services, and a garden. Popular attractions Cassowary Corner Nature Refuge and ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (42 reviews)
"Beautiful cozy spot in the wilderness with lots of live and care taken with the cabin and surrounding area. The little things xo"

Reviewed on 9 Jul, 2025

The Canopy Rainforest Treehouses and Wildlife Sanctuary
Hilton Cairns
Hilton Cairns
5 out of 5
34 Esplanade, Cairns, QLD
The price is S$265 per night from 2 Aug to 3 Aug
S$265
2 Aug - 3 Aug
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! (1,009 reviews)
"A nice location to explore Cairns. Good hotel, nice view."

Reviewed on 12 Jul, 2025

Hilton Cairns
Cairns Harbourside Hotel
Cairns Harbourside Hotel
4 out of 5
209-217 The Esplanade, Cairns North, QLD
The price is S$177 per night from 31 Jul to 1 Aug
S$177
31 Jul - 1 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Cairns. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,009 reviews)
"I received what we needed at a reasonable price."

Reviewed on 12 Jul, 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.
The Canopy Rainforest Treehouses and Wildlife Sanctuary
The Canopy Rainforest Treehouses and Wildlife Sanctuary
4 out of 5
247 Hogan Road, Tarzali, QLD
Stay at this 4-star golf apartment in Tarzali. Enjoy free parking, onsite spa services, and a garden. Popular attractions Cassowary Corner Nature Refuge and ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (42 reviews)
"Beautiful cozy spot in the wilderness with lots of live and care taken with the cabin and surrounding area. The little things xo"

Reviewed on 9 Jul, 2025

The Canopy Rainforest Treehouses and Wildlife Sanctuary
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 our reviews. ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (102 reviews)
"A very nice place to stay while on the Atherton Tableland. While the Atherton Tableland is a vast area, Tinaroo Lake Resort is very central to all places to visit."

Reviewed on 5 Jul, 2025

Tinaroo Lake Resort
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 WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Popular attractions Artistree Gallery and Curtain ...
Lovely setting
"A lovely setting and we really enjoyed our stay."

Reviewed on 23 Apr, 2025

Blue Summit Hideaway
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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