Atherton Tablelands

Plateau Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Visit website

What to expect

The Atherton Tableland is a fertile plateau located in Queensland, Australia, approximately 50 km southwest of Cairns. It is part of the Great Dividing Range and has rich basaltic soils, with the main industry being agriculture. The principal river flowing across the plateau is the Barron River, which was dammed to form the irrigation reservoir named Lake Tinaroo. The area has a long history of Indigenous occupation and is home to several Aboriginal languages, including Yidinji and Dyirbal. The region is also known for its unique geological history, with a series of volcanic eruptions occurring between 4 million to less than 10,000 years ago, resulting in the formation of numerous small scoria cones and maar volcanoes. The Atherton Tableland is a distinct physiographic section of the larger North Queensland Highlands province and is experiencing significant growth in population

Plan your family visit to the Atherton Tablelands with these blog insights 👇

family travel blog favicon

Incredible Things to Do With Kids On A Cairns Family Holiday

Incredible Things to Do With Kids On A Cairns Family Holiday
This family's experience:

Activities: We drove to the Atherton Tablelands and saw the Millaa Millaa Falls and the Curtain Fig Tree. We also visited the towns of Mareeba and Atherton

Highlights: The kids loved the beautiful scenery of the tablelands and the waterfalls. We all appreciated the cooler climate and the chance to explore a different part of Queensland ✨