Regional Attractions

THINGS TO DO ON THE ATHERTON TABLELANDS.

• A beautiful, scenic and unspoilt, undulating tableland between 500 and 1000 metres above the "The Great Barrier Reef" perfect for self driving tours.
  
• See our Self Drive Itineraries for the Northern, Central & Southern Sections of The Atherton Tablelands, allow a full day in each section.
  
• Ancient Rainforest, Volcanic lakes , Waterfall Circuit (including Millaa Millaa Falls), Mareeba Wetlands, National Parks, "World Heritage Listed - Wet Tropics" and Mabi Rainforest areas and an abundance and diversity of flora and fauna. (including Lumholtz tree kangaroos, possums, platypus, echidna, brolga, cassowaries, rock wallabies, wallabies, pademelon, kangaroo, bandicoot, quolls, bird life, etc- guided night spotting tours can be arranged.)
  
• Adventure Activities include: Hot Air Ballooning, Free Flying, Horse Riding, Barramundi fishing, Bungy Jumping, Pioneer walking trails with Donkeys and Go-Kart Racing.
  
• Jose Paronella's dream continues at Paronella Park, "...The surprise of your Travels".
  
• Be assured of a "catch" at the Tablelands best fishing park, "Tarzali Lakes", or just feed and watch.
  
• Visit working Coffee & Tea Plantations, Wineries, Gourmet Dairy food tasting and other agricultural pursuits. 
  
• Self Drive the Tropical Food Trails or let Atherton Blue Gum do the driving for you.
  
• The Mareeba Wetlands, a bird watchers haven & conservation success story. Circum-navigate the lake with the Rangers expert commentary and view the beautiful Gouldian Finches - brought back from extinction.
  
• "Rainforestation Nature Park" - Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience, Koala's and amphibious army ducks, restaurants and gift shops.
  
• Historical towns of Yungaburra, Atherton, Herberton & Irvinebank - the regions heart from 1880 - 1920.
  
• Gemstone fossicking and Gold panning, off the normal tourist track.
  
• The Hou Wang Miau Chinese Temple, the last surviving structure of what was Cedar Camp, the Atherton Chinatown, established in the mid 1880's.
  
• Historic Steam Train journeys, up the steepest grades in Queensland.
  
• Granite Gorge - feed the Rock Wallabies in their natural habitat and get a feel for the very Australian landscape.
  
• Aviation and Military Museum as well as camp sites, recording the Atherton Tablelands role in WWII.
  
• Lake Tinaroo and Tinaroo Dam, - Tours, Cruises and Water sports with boat and canoe hire, as well as the peaceful Danbulla State Forest Drive around its foreshores.
  
• A Variety of bushwalking tracks, ranging from easy to strenuous, rainforest to savannah, mountains to wetlands, and circum-navigating volcanic lakes to volcanic craters.
  
• The Curtain and Cathedral Fig Trees, both over 500 year old Strangler Fig Trees. The Giant Red Cedar Tree, once known as "Red Gold" and the Twin Kauri Pines at Lake Barrine are all testament to the Atherton Tableland origins.
  
• Master a selection of Golf Courses, in beautiful fresh mountain air, individually or as part of an organised Golf Tour.
  
• Cairns, Kuranda, Mission Beach and Port Douglas are all accessible to and from Atherton, within an hours drive.
  
• Short drives to Outback, (see our Swagman's Trail) and/or Savannah areas, makes our establishment central to the attractions of the entire region.
  
• Atherton Blue Gum can be used to break the trip from the Coast to Undara Lava tubes and Cobbold Gorge, or Charter our 4WD vehicle to explore the Outback town of Chillagoe and other remote areas.
  
• Use our Tour Desk to book these day trips, or any other.
  

  WHY VISIT.....

  The "Tablelands" has a beautiful temperate climate, which makes it a January to December Destination. Avoid the rush, and come in the "Low Season" (Dec-April), the climate is comfortable, free of coastal humidity but still accessible to those coastal areas. Alternatively, come in the "High Season" (July-Nov), and feel the warmth of our "Tropical" sun. A three minute drive, brings you to Hastie Swamp, a Two level bird hide that views thousands of birds in their natural habitat, or visit Crystal Caves in the Main Street of Atherton. Mt Mulligan Escarpment (see picture), is a must see. The region also hosts a number of antique and arts & craft shops, as well as art studio's & galleries.   

  Information on trips, places to see etc. is provided by your hosts who are also locals. 

  The Atherton Tablelands can be divided into three parts, "The Southern, Central and Northern sections", a day of exploring is needed in each section. If you wish to do some of those other things then allow more than 3 days.
  

  Southern Section (approx 1000m alt)

  Central Section (approx 750m alt)

  Northern Section (approx 500m alt)

  From the Northern to Southern tips of the Atherton Tablelands, you are looking at approximately a 1.5 hours drive directly, so distances are not large, however the diversity and numerous attractions and activities make this a travellers paradise !

  

  How to Get To the Atherton Tablelands:

  • Atherton Blue Gum Transfers
  • Car Rental Cairns - Brisbane Sydney Australia
  • Car Rental Port Douglas - Brisbane Gold Coast
  • Gem Rent-A-Car
  • A one Day bus tour from Cairns
  • Taxi
  • Public Bus service
  • Atherton Car Rentals
    
    Don't be like many others and say, "We should have allowed more time", or, "we will have to come back to see it all". The Atherton Tablelands is a destination in itself. Allow 3 days and see it all, be enthralled by its beauty."

  "See how unique, our Tours can be ."

  BOOKING DESK - We Book & Advise on the Following:

  
  • Atherton Tablelands Accommodation & Packages
  • Self Drive Itineraries
  • Great Barrier Reef & Island Day Trips
  • Mike Ball Dive Expeditions
  • Daintree & Cape Tribulation Day Trips
  • Cairns & Port Douglas Helicopter Trips
  • Cairns Sea Plane Experiences
  • Day and night guided jungle walks in the Daintree and Cape Tribulation Rainforest
  • Tours (4WD) over the famous Bloomfield Track and to the Bloomfield River, Bloomfield Falls and historic Cooktown
  • 4WD Charters and Tours of the Atherton Tablelands
  • Undara Lava Tubes & Cobbold Gorge & Bedrock Village Mt Surprise
  • White water Rafting
  • Hot Air Ballooning
  • Tjapakai Aboriginal Culture Park
  • Kuranda Skyrail and Train
  • Outback Experiences - Undara Lava Tubes
  • Outback Station Horse Trail Rides
  • Free Flying & Sky Diving
  • Special Interests eg Birdwatching, Fishing, Fossicking, Historical
  • Car & 4WD Rentals
  • All other Activities and Accommodation in the Region
  • Contact Here

   

© Atherton Blue Gum - 2007