Lake Barrine Teahouse

Setting off from Cairns our self-drive waterfall circuit takes you south, to the cane farming township of Gordonvale, at which point you turn right to the Gillies Highway. This range road is famous for its bends, in fact there’s 263 corners on the 19km road that takes you from the lowlands up into the Tablelands, with an 800m elevation change. There’s a look-out on the way, offering lovely views into the valley. Once you are at the top, the first stop is at Lake Barrine Teahouse for some refreshments. This historic little teahouse provides sweeping views over Lake Barrine, a picturesque pool of water surrounded by rainforest. The teahouse is open 7 days a week. Monday to Friday: 9am – 2.30pm. Saturday and Sunday: 8.30am – 3pm. They do breakfast and lunch as well as locally famous Devonshire tea, featuring housemade scones served with Davidson plum and blueberry jam and topped with freshly whipped cream. They also have cakes and golden damper, for those who are not partial to scones. If you want to stretch your legs, there’s 3 walking tracks around the lake. Our itinerary gives you time to do the Twin Kauris Walk, a 160m return circuit which will take around 10 minutes. It’s a short walk, big on beautiful trees and the highlight is 2 large bull kauri pines which are 50m tall and believed to be more than 1,000 years old.

Driving time from Cairns – 1 Hour – 58km

Curtain Fig National Park

Did you know that the rainforests of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area used to cover the entire Australian continent? Over hundreds and thousands of years they diminished to just exist in Australia’s tropical north, right here in the hills and valleys surrounding Cairns and the Tablelands. So, there’s lots of old and impressive trees awaiting your discovery and the next stop on our itinerary is the mighty Curtain Fig Tree. This one is half the age of the kauri pines but is around the same height (500 years old, 50m high) and is certainly much wider, with a circumference of 39m. Why so big? Its aerial roots which drop down from above have expanded over time to form this ‘curtain’ of tree, which in some places resembles lattice, a network of timber crisscrossing to the ground. There’s an elevated boardwalk around the tree, so you can take in all its angles. We always take our visiting friends and family here, it’s impressive and peaceful, providing another glimpse into the wonders of this diverse and beautiful ancient rainforest.

Driving time from Lake Barrine – 11 Minutes – 10km

Gallo Dairyland

BEST chocolate in town, hands down – Gallo Dairyland!! Seriously. So delicious. Hand crafted chocolate made using the finest Swiss couverture (side note – this is a photo of the chocolate we buy our son, the chocolate we buy for ourselves is always consumed not photographed – must get new photo next time!), available in a range of flavours – if you love chocolate, this is a must stop. They also have an award-winning range of cheese, including cheddar, gruyere, fetta, brie, camembert, haloumi and blue vein, which are made on site and you can visit their Cheese Factory. Gallo Dairyland is open 5 days a week. Wednesday to Sunday: 10am – 4pm. Their chocolate and cheese counters are always open during this time. Their café serves meals 10am – 2pm, with a focus on flavor and using fresh, local produce. This is a good place for lunch, if you are feeling hungry. Otherwise, you can also grab a bite to eat at the Mungalli farmhouse café, ‘Out of the Whey’. Side note: Gallo Dairyland is located on an active dairy property and is located near the milking sheds, so you can expect some ambient farm life smells. They also have a baby animals’ ‘shed’ which is popular with families. NB: Gallo Dairyland is an optional / suggested stop on our Cairns Waterfall Circuit Self Drive Itinerary, pending your preferences, appetite and schedule.

Driving time from Curtain Fig National Park – 4 Minutes – 5km

Gentle Annie Lookout

Want to see the bigger picture of the Tablelands? Gentle Annie Lookout – also known as Millaa Millaa Lookout – delivers this in spades. On a clear day you can see across the Tablelands all the way to Mount Bellenden Ker, Queensland’s second highest mountain. The panorama takes in a patchwork of farms, interspersed with rich rainforest and connected by winding roads. The lookout is only around 3km from the highway and is a popular spot for photos. Please note though, if the day is grey and cloudy when you are driving, then often the lookout becomes clouded in with no views. So play this one by ear and see what the weather is like.

Driving time from Gallo Dairyland – 29 Minutes – 34km

Millaa Millaa Falls

Millaa Millaa Falls is jaw-droppingly beautiful. Surrounded by rainforest, this waterfall tumbles over a granite outcrop into a cool pool below. The air is cooler here. The environment that surrounds you is lush and tropical, tree ferns, gingers and cordylines. This is undoubtedly the prettiest waterfall on the Tablelands and the hero shot for a lot of waterfall tours. As such, it can be busy at the waterfall, but there’s plenty of space to relax and enjoy the view. If you feel keen, you can also swim here, but heads up, the water is cold – very cold. Side note – Millaa Millaa Falls is a part of the local ‘Waterfalls Circuit’, which includes Zillie and Elinjaa Falls. In our opinion these other waterfalls are not as pretty or accessible, which is why we are leaving them off our list. However, if you felt inclined, you can include these in your day too.

Driving time from Gentle Annie Lookout – 11 Minutes – 10km

Mungalli Farmhouse

The Mungalli Farmhouse Café ‘Out of the Whey’ has been a favourite of ours for years. The Mungalli Biodynamic Dairy was originally famous for its creamy selection of biodynamic milk, yoghurt and cheese, they have more recently added ice-cream and flavoured milks to their range. The café is located in the farm’s original farmhouse and has indoor and outdoor seating, offering views over the surrounding paddocks, hills and valleys. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Mount Bellenden Ker. The ‘Out of the Whey’ café is open 7 days a week, 10am – 4pm (excluding Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day). If you didn’t eat at Gallo Dairyland, then this is a good option for lunch, otherwise it’s a lovely spot to stop for some afternoon tea and cake. The menu is focused on flavour and fresh, local ingredients, in particular showcasing the Mungalli range of produce. There’s Devonshire tea and cheese boards, ploughman’s lunch, pies and frittatas, not to mention an outstanding range of house made desserts and cheesecakes  – see their menu for more.

Driving time from Gentle Annie Lookout – 11 Minutes – 10km

Josephine Falls

Leaving Mungalli behind, you’ll head down the picturesque Palmerston Highway, which brings you back to the coastal plains, with its tea plantations, banana farms and sugar cane fields. Turning towards Cairns, the next stop on our itinerary is Josephine Falls, which is located in the Wooroonooran National Park, a part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. This waterfall is fed from the rains that fall on Queensland’s highest mountain peak, Bartle Frere. In addition to the falls itself, there’s a natural rockslide that empties into a cool pool of freshwater, scattered with giant boulders. To get to the falls, there’s a 1.2km return walking track which takes around 30 minutes return. There is a lookout over the falls, which is pretty as a picture, and side paths to the swimming location which is well-shaded. It’s a good idea to bring insect repellent and a towel – the water here is usually a bit ‘warmer’ than the Millaa Millaa Falls swimming spot (which is pretty cold). Please note: It is usually safe to swim here however conditions can change rapidly and flash flooding can occur. Please pay attention to the National Park signage on-site regarding safety, access and swimming.

Driving time from Mungalli Farmhouse – 57 Minutes – 73km

Babinda Boulders

The Babinda Boulders is another beautiful place to stop. Well known for its giant granite boulders and clear, cool waters, the Babinda Boulders offers shaded grassy areas and relaxed swimming. This is not a national park area, but its adjacent to the Wooroonooran National Park. The facilities at the Babinda Boulders are managed and maintained by Cairns Regional Council, and include a small children’s playground, BBQ facilities and toilets. There’s also walking tracks, providing views over Babinda Creek. The swimming areas are clearly designated and are safe to swim at. Please note there are dangerous areas here where swimming is prohibited, this includes the Devil’s Pool which has strong underwater currents. Please pay attention to the signage on-site regarding safety, access and swimming.

Driving time from Josephine Falls – 23 Minutes – 23km

Cairns

It’s an easy 1 hour drive back to Cairns on the Bruce Highway. For most of the journey you’re surrounded by cane fields, with the rainforest mountains looming high in the background. The mountains are a sea of green, with taller trees emerging from the canopy, all draped in vines and vegetation. You wonder what it’s like in there – but in fact, you already know – because your adventures today have taken you on tracks and trails to explore the forest floor and go deeper into this lush and vibrant living landscape. You’ll pass by the tiny townships of Deeral and Fishery Falls and when the mighty Gordonvale Pyramid comes into view, you’ve almost come full circle and are on the home run to Cairns.

Driving time from Babinda Boulders – 56 Minutes – 65km