Cairns Waterfalls

Yes – Cairns waterfalls are definitely worth visiting – they are the perfect place to refresh and relax in nature. They are readily accessible to most ages and people with reasonable mobility. If you plan on swimming, just be aware you are visiting a natural destination. There are no steps or paths into the water itself and when you are in the water, there can be rocks around and underneath you. Similarly, there will be water movement and current, which can fluctuate pending weather and rain. If you do not have reasonable mobility, then you can still visit and see the Barron Falls on the Cairns Skyrail.

There is no definite answer to this, it all depends what you are hoping to do at your waterfall destination. In regard to ‘what is the ‘prettiest’ of the Cairns waterfalls’ – looking for your classic single drop waterfall surrounded by beautiful rainforest, it is a split decision between Millaa Millaa Falls on the Atherton Tablelands and Cassowary Falls in the Daintree. If we are talking the biggest Cairns waterfall, in terms of height, it’s probably Barron Falls. If you’re looking for a waterfall you can swim and relax at, then Josephine Falls, Davies Creek and Emerald Creek Falls are all strong contenders. None of these are ‘better’ than another, they are all just different.

Yes – there are lots of Cairns waterfalls you can swim at. The closest is Stoney Creek Falls. You can also swim at the following waterfalls: Josephine, Nandroya, Cassowary, Davies Creek, Emerald Creek, Halls, Dinner, Windin, Malanda and Millaa Milla Falls.

Anytime is a good time to visit Cairns’ waterfalls, and most of them are flowing all year round (except Barron Falls). Please note that in summer – December to March – Cairns and its surrounding areas receives the majority of its annual rainfall. Heavy rains, either locally or further up the river systems on the Tablelands, can lead to strong currents and flash flooding. You should always exercise caution at these times and pay attention to the safety signage at each site.

Is the water cold at Cairns waterfalls – that all depends on where you are from and what you are used to. As Cairns locals, we would say that in summer (December to February) the waterfall water is refreshing. In winter (June to August) the waterfall water can be cold, especially on the Tablelands. That being said – when we think the water is cold there’s plenty of intrastate and international visitors jumping right in and enjoying themselves, so it really is all relative.

All of the Cairns waterfalls we’ve written about on this page are safe to swim at, at most times of the year* – except where noted. People should make their own risk assessments before entering the water, to determine the situation and how it relates to your own swimming and water abilities.

*Obviously waterfalls are created by flowing water, sometimes when there has been heavy rainfall, this water becomes a torrent and then a place that is usually safe to swim at, can become dangerous. It is always best to read the signage at each site to determine the conditions at your time of visit.

Yes – there are waterfall tours in Cairns – including the Waterfall Wanderers tours by the Cairns Adventure Group. There is also the Cassowary Falls tour and rainforest adventure. Both of these are family owned and operated, with daily departures.

No – you cannot go fishing at the Cairns waterfalls we have written about on this page, because they are either in a National Park or on private property. There’s plenty of other locations you can go fishing, including some local rivers and creeks, beaches and the reef.

Yes – you can camp at a few Cairns waterfalls, but not all of them. There are campgrounds and facilities at Malanda Falls and National Park campgrounds at or near to Davies Creek Falls, Emerald Creek Falls and Nandroya Falls.

Yes – we think the Waterfall Circuit on the Tablelands is worth it. Millaa Millaa Falls on its own is worth the drive from Cairns, so it’s a bonus you can check out the nearby Zillie Falls and Ellinjaa Falls while you are in the area. This is a very pretty part of the Atherton Tablelands, with rolling dairy farms and pastures, towering rainforest mountains and of course, the waterfalls. We also recommend visiting the Mungalli Dairy café ‘Out of the Whey’ for amazing Devonshire tea, milkshakes, cheese platters, ploughman lunch, cheesecakes and more. It’s only an 11 minute drive from Millaa Millaa Falls and has very pretty views.

It takes around 7 minutes to walk from the main car park to Millaa Millaa Falls. There are steps. Most of the walk is on concrete pathways.

You sure can – the water here is fresh and refreshing. You can walk into the cool pool at the base of the falls and swim over to enjoy the cascading water. You can even get ‘behind’ the waterfall for a different perspective, peering through the waterfall to the rainforest beyond.

Windin Falls is on the Atherton Tablelands, in the Wooroonooran National Park. To get there from Cairns, drive up the Gilles Highway and turn onto Lake Barrine Road, drive for around 6km and take a left turn on to Topaz Road, then in another 9km veer left near the Lamins Hill lookout on to the Old Cairns Track. From there follow the signs to the Windin Falls walking track.

The Windin Falls walking track is an 11.5km return hike. How long it takes depends on your fitness. The track itself is not sealed and may be rough and overgrown in places. It is mostly shaded and there can be slippery rocks. Please note the descent to Windin Falls itself is dangerous. It’s very steep and can be slippery if wet. We have done this walk once – when our son was around 8 years old – and have not been back. The Parks website does caution people to take extreme care here and notes that death and serious injury has occurred here.

Yes you can – but as above – the Parks website does caution people to take extreme care and notes that death and serious injury has occurred here. Fast flowing water and strong current can occur. Windin Falls has amazing views, which makes it popular with Instagrammers, but we personally would not get in the water here. You can admire the view, without getting in the water.

Halls Falls is in the Herberton Range National Park, which is around a 100 minute drive from Cairns. It’s located on East Hill Road, Upper Barron, just outside of Wondecla, south of Herberton. Do not trust / follow Google maps for this one, it is incorrect. We have directions on how to get to Halls Falls in our blog post.

From the car park, it only takes around 15 minutes to walk to the Halls Falls swimming area. Here you will find a cool pool on the side of the mountain, with a series of cascading waterfalls above and below it. The walking track is not sealed, but it is mostly shaded. There are no facilities on site.

Yes – you can swim at Halls Falls and we did. It was beautiful and because it is one of the lessor known Cairns waterfalls, we had it all to ourselves. Check out our Halls Falls review here.

Dinner Falls is in the Mount Hypipamee National Park on the Atherton Tablelands, around a 90 minute drive from Cairns in the Upper Barron. At this location, Dinner Falls is arguably the lessor of the two attractions – as this place is best known for its crater – it’s also home to the humble beginnings of the Barron River. The crater is actually a volcanic pipe and is very impressive to gaze down into, from the safety of the viewing platform. From here, take the walking track to Dinner Falls and keep your eyes peeled for Boyd’s Forest Dragons, which can sometimes be seen clinging to tree trunks. For pictures and more information, see our Dinner Falls blog post.

The Dinner Falls walking track is a 1.2km return circuit from the car park, which should take around 45 minutes to complete. The track is mostly shaded and relatively well maintained, it does have some steep sections and can be slippery when wet.

Yes – you can swim at Dinner Falls and we have. The water was relatively shallow and quite refreshing. There are picnic tables and toilets adjacent to the car park. Read our Dinner Falls review here.

Davies Creek Falls is in the Davies Creek National Park, between Kuranda and Mareeba on the Atherton Tablelands. It is clearly signposted and around a 1 hour drive from Cairns, taking the Kuranda Range Road. Please note access is on a dirt road which can be quite corrugated.

Davies Creek Falls is a 1.1km return walk from the car park. The track is not sealed and not particularly well maintained – we recommend wearing closed in shoes. Also, there is not a lot of shade, so make sure you have a hat, are wearing sun protection and have drinking water with you.

Yes – you can swim at Davies Creek Falls and River. The water is cool and refreshing and you can find a spot to suit most ages and levels of swimming abilities.

Emerald Creek Falls is in the Dinden West Forest Reserve, between Kuranda and Mareeba on the Atherton Tablelands. It is clearly signposted and around a 75 minute drive from Cairns, taking the Kuranda Range Road. Please note access is on a dirt road which can be quite corrugated.

Emerald Creek Falls is a 1.6km return walk from the car park. The track is not sealed. We recommend wearing closed in shoes, a hat and having sun protection. Also, bring drinking water with you.

Yes – you can swim at Emerald Creek Falls. Please note the rocks can be very slippery, so please take care around the water’s edge, so as not to slip and fall.

Josephine Falls is in the Wooroonooran National Park, which is approximately a 1 hour drive south of Cairns. It is past Babinda and Mirriwinni but before Innisfail.

Josephine Falls is a 1.2km return walk from the car park to the swimming area. This is mostly shaded and on formed pathways. There are some stairs and it can become slippery when wet. You should allow around 30 minutes each way. Make sure you bring insect repellent and drinking water.

Yes – you can swim at Josephine Falls and there is even a naturally formed rock waterslide for you to enjoy. While Josephine Falls and its cool pool are generally safe throughout the year, conditions can change rapidly in summer (December to February) due to monsoon rains.

Please note: Josephine Falls is one of those places where conditions can rapidly change during the summer months, with monsoon rains. This is well noted with signage all around the site. There is also an alarm – which will sound if the water conditions are becoming or soon will be, dangerous. You need to pay attention to this. Lives have been lost here and unfortunately reckless swimmers often need the services of swift water rescue crews, due to their failure to listen to the alarm.

Nandroya Falls is in the Wooroonooran National Park and is approximately a 110 minute drive south of Cairns. To access the falls you will need to walk. The walk starts from the Henrietta Creek camping area, which is clearly signposted on the Palmerston Highway.

It’s a 6km return walk to Nandroya Falls from the car park. The track is mostly shaded and you should definitely bring insect repellent (there were lots of horse flies when we visited) and drinking water.

Yes – you can swim at Nandroya Falls and it’s beautiful. The water is cool and the spray emanating from the Falls on to the basalt walls that sit behind and beside it, has allowed the growth of ferns and mosses. It’s a really lovely waterfall to visit and swim at.

Cassowary Falls is on a private property, in the Daintree. Access to the falls is by tour only. That is because the property is also a working cattle station, so there are biohazard and safety concerns regarding unrestricted access, and people just wandering on and around the property.

You don’t have to walk to Cassowary Falls, the journey there and back is all action and adventure, on ATVs and an Army Truck. These vehicles park just metres from the Falls and water access is easy. The Cassowary Falls Rainforest Adventure tour takes 2 hours.

Yes – you can swim at Cassowary Falls and we have many times. For more information, images and video, check out our Cassowary Falls tour review.

Wujal Wujal Falls is on the Bloomfield Track, accessible from Cape Tribulation National Park or Cooktown.

It’s an easy 5-10 minute walk to and from Wujal Wujal Falls and the car park. The track is relatively maintained but has uneven ground, so you should have relative mobility to access this waterfall.

No – you can not swim at Wujal Wujal Falls due to the presence of saltwater crocodiles.

Crocodiles are a part of the natural environment in and around Cairns. There are freshwater crocodiles and saltwater crocodiles. That being said, there are not crocodiles at all Cairns waterfalls and there are plenty of places you can safely swim, this includes but is not limited to: Millaa Millaa, Malanda, Dinner, Halls, Nandroya, Josephine, Davies Creek, Emerald Creek and Stoney Creek falls. Please note: Always pay attention to local signage regarding crocodiles and your safety.

Yes – people have died at Cairns waterfalls. This is a natural environment. There can be slippery rocks, underwater currents and fast flowing water. However, all of the places mentioned on this page are safe to visit and we have swum at them all, many times over many years.

Your safety is always in your hands. Whether that is driving your car, crossing the street or visiting waterfalls. Take the time to read the interpretive and safety signage and make decisions around your own physical and swimming capabilities.