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Natural Attractions Itinerary |
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Day 1
Yungaburra
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Yungaburra
- Have a look at the famous Curtain Fig Tree before you arrive
at your accommodation early afternoon. Unpack, then pop into Yungaburra
Village for some supplies, and wander through the craft shops.
About 5.30pm is a good time to make your way down to the Platypus
Viewing Platform, to see if this elusive little animal is about,
and do the Petersen Creek walk. How about a coldie at the pub
before you decide which of the wonderful cafes and restaurants
you will dine at tonight. See
Yungaburra Village Map.
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Day 2
Lakes
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Lake Eacham
- An early start is in order for a full day in the Lakes District.
Visit Lake Eacham (10mins), and walk off your breakfast with the
3km circuit track around the lake. You may see turtles, water
dragons, muskyrat kangaroos, pademelons and many birds. Have a
swim in the cool waters, or just sun yourself on the grassy bank.
Lake Barrine - A further 5 minutes down the Gillies Highway
is Lake Eacham's big sister, Lake Barrine. The Rainforest Cruise
on the Lake starts at about 10.15am, and runs at regular intervals.
Pelicans, ducks, pythons and eels can be seen. If you are feeling
energetic, there is a 6 km walk around this lake, or just opt
for the short walk to the twin Kauri Pines. Have a leisurely morning
tea or lunch at the Teahouse on the lake.
Danbulla State Drive around Lake Tinaroo - Turn right out
of Lake Barrine and travel a further 5 mins down the highway to
the Danbulla State Forest Road turnoff. This road is unsealed,
but is readily accessible by conventional vehicles. 1st stop is
the Cathedral Fig Tree. There are numerous stops around Lake Tinaroo
with many walking tracks, including Lake Euramoo and Mobo Creek
Crater.
Tinaroo - Finish of the drive is at the Tinaroo Township,
where you can walk along the dam wall. There is a large picnic
area on the foreshore on the other side of the town with toilet
facilities, and a nice place to relax.
- if you have time, visit Kairi, Tolga and Atherton.
See
our Lakes Map.
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Day 3
Falls
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Malanda
Falls - Another early start. Head to Malanda (15mins), visit
Malanda Falls and the Visitors Centre. Millaa Millaa Falls
- Head down the Palmerston Highway, just past Millaa Millaa Township
is the start of the falls circuit (Beautiful Millaa Millaa, Elinjaa
and Zillie Falls). Stop for lunch at the Falls Teahouse on the
corner.
Millaa Millaa Lookout - Drive back to Millaa Millaa, and
3kms out of the town on the left is the turnoff to the Lookout.
This is a nice drive with panoramic views from the lookout.
The Crater and Dinner Falls - Turn left out of the lookout,
follow the bitumen to the Ravenshoe Road. Turn right (as if heading
back to Atherton). Travel along until you come to Mt Hypipamee
National Park. This is a lovely park and a short walk through
the rainforest will take you to the viewing platform for the impressive
diatreme crater called "The Crater". Follow the track
down to Dinner Falls. Look out for Platypus at the falls, and
many birds and possums make MT Hypipamee their home.
Yungaburra - From here, drive back into Atherton, then
Yungaburra. See
our Region Map.
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2.
Northern Tablelands Food Trail
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1
Day
Northern
Tablelands
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Mareeba
- Take a leisurely drive to Mareeba (1 hour) in the Northern part
of the Tablelands. Stop off at the Mareeba Heritage Museum and Information
Centre if you need more directions.
The Coffee Works - In Mareeba The Coffee Works offers coffee
tasting and tours of the factory where they process the beans. If
you get hooked on a special blend, they have mail order as well!
Golden Pride Mango Winery - On the other side of Mareeba,
turn right at Biboohra and follow the signs to the Mango Plantation
and large processing shed. Inside you will find wine tasting. A
small fee is charged, but refunded on purchase of the lovely packaged
wine. An unusual gift for friends.
NQ Gold Coffee
Plantation - Go back towards Mareeba, but turn right at the
Dimbulah Road. About 10mins on the right, look carefully for the
sign and turn in. Make your way to the processing shed. There you
will find Bruno and his family working, chatting and drinking coffee.
Friendly, genuine and informal. Tours conducted free of charge when
they can. Purchase fresh coffee or coffee beans.
Arriga Park Tropical Fruit Tasting Tour - just near
Bruno's on the Dimbulah Road, by appointment only, 4pm Monday to
Friday, ph. 4093 2114.
MT Uncle Distillery
- drive
back to Mareeba and head back towards Atherton. Turn right just
before the little township of Walkamin, and then right again into
Chewko Rd. The distillery is in a beautiful garden setting in a
Macadamia, Avocado and Banana Plantation. Exotic tropical liqueurs
to try and buy. Open 7 days 10am to 5pm.
Shaylee Strawberry Farm - At the turn off to Lake Tinaroo,
on the road between Atherton and Yungaburra. Gelato and sorbet made
on site from strawberries and tropical fruits and nuts. Homemade
jams. Pick your own fresh strawberries during the season (September).
Open 7days 8am to 5pm.
See
our Region Map.
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3.
History Buffs Must Do's
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A
list of some extra things for history lovers to see and do while
out sightseeing.
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| Yungaburra |
- Do the "Old
Town Loop" historical walk. Walking map available at most
Yungaburra Businesses.
- Go shopping at Yungaburra Antiques, a few minutes outside of Yungaburra,
heading to Atherton.
- Stroll through the Historical Lake Eacham Hotel (Yungaburra Pub),
with it's gracious 'olde world' atmosphere.
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| Malanda |
- Have a drink
in the Historic Malanda Hotel and the browse through the Antique
Shop across the road.
- The Malanda Dairy Centre has a small historical museum.
- The Majestic Theatre is a traditional country picture theatre
that has thankfully survived, original oak framed canvas chairs
and all. Latest release double features are shown Friday and Saturday
night, with special non-mainstream films on the 3rd Sunday night.
See www.majestictheatre.com.au
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| Peeramon |
- The Peeramon
Hotel (historic pub) has nice views from the verandah, and interesting
bits and pieces inside. |
| Atherton |
- Atherton Chinatown
Museum, visit the Hou Wang Temple built from rainforest timber and
corrugated iron (the only surviving temple of its type), and new interpretive
museum.
- Atherton has two antique shops, one on either end of the main street
of the town. |
| Tolga |
- 5 minutes out
of Tolga is the Rocky Creek Memorial. (Plaques dedicated to Army Units
of WW11 that were training in the area). |
| Mareeba |
- on the highway
5 mins before Mareeba is Beck's War Museum. Tanks, Planes, trucks,
cars, jeeps, relics of wartime.
- Mareeba Heritage Museum and Information Centre
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| Irvinebank |
- Loudon Museum
detailing the history of this tin mining town. |
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4.
Wildlife
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At
all the natural attractions of the Atherton Tablelands, you will
see a myriad of birds and animals.
See our Wildlife Page for more details.
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| Mareeba |
Mareeba Wetlands
is a must do for bird watchers. 6,000 acres of open savanna woodland,
including 350 acres of wetlands. Boat tours and canoe hire available,
visitor centre, walking tracks. Levy payable for entrance to the
park. Open times variable, usually during the dry season only.
See www.mareebawetlands.com
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5.
Honeymooners - some romantic things to add to your itinerary
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| Yungaburra |
- Book a relaxing
massage through your accommodation.
- Leisurely cruise on Lake Barrine, and a Devonshire Tea at the
Teahouse on the lake's edge.
- Dinner at an award winning Yungaburra Restaurant (see Restaurant
Page).
- Pick up a dozen roses from Roseburra Rose Farm near Yungaburra
(see Service Page)
- Buy some salads and cold meat or chicken from the Deli at the
foodmart, and pack a picnic to have at one of the lovely natural
attractions, like Lake Eacham, Millaa Millaa Falls or MT Hypipamee.
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| Mareeba |
- SAVE 48%, as hot air ballooning here on the Atherton Tablelands is the cheapest in Australia. Stop saying One Day - Do it on your Yungaburra holiday! Meet at Mareeba Heritage Museum. (see www.champagneballoons.com)
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| Malanda |
- take in a movie
at the historical Majestic Theatre, a traditional country picture
theatre that has thankfully survived, original oak framed canvas chairs
and all. Latest release double features are shown Friday and Saturday
night, with special non-mainstream films on the 3rd Sunday night.
See www.majestictheatre.com.au
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6.
Family - there are lots of great things for the kids, big and small
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The
tablelands has such a wide variety of wildlife to see, why not get
the kids to keep a list of everything they see,
and the winner is the one with the most animals and birds on their
lists. Fun and educational.
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| Yungaburra |
- Platypus viewing
platform, Allumbah Pocket, and Petersen Creek walk.
- nice little playground in the centre of the town.
- Upstairs at the Chalet Rainforest Gallery is a display of "Rainforest
Folk" the kids will love. (if you can get them past all the great
stuff to buy.) Steve Parish has some wonderful activity books you
can purchase here, that will keep the little ones busy for hours in
the car, while you enjoy the sights.
- All the restaurants in Yungaburra are family friendly. Nick's Swiss
Italian has puzzles to keep everyone amused and musical entertainment
on the weekends. |
| Lake Eacham |
- View bottom
breathing turtles, and fish in the clear lake waters.
- swim in the volcanic crater filled with rainwater, safe all year
round (no crocodiles, marine stingers etc)
- let the kids take you on the guided rainforest walk from the top
car park area to the rangers station (500m). In the box at the beginning
of the walk you should find a pamphlet that explains the plant life
along the walk. Keep a lookout for water dragons, muskyrat kangaroos,
pademelons and tree kangaroos.
- Picnic and BBQ facilities. |
| Lake Barrine
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- The rainforest
cruise is fun for the kids, with cute tame ducks on the boat and following
behind, ugly eels to be seen in the water and maybe a python sunning
itself on the bank. Don't forget to get an icecream or a snack at
the teahouse. |
| Malanda |
- The Environmental
Interpretive Centre at the Visitors Centre at Malanda Falls is free
for the kids. It has lots of interesting displays aimed at the children,
and you can spend a bit of time doing the activities and learning
about the rainforest and wildlife.
- Stun the kids
by taking them to a picture theatre just like the one you use to
go to when you were young, (or when their grandparents were young).
See www.majestictheatre.com.au
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| Tinaroo |
- Tinaroo has
a really good playground on the foreshore, and a large picnic and
BBQ area and toilets. |
| Atherton |
- Crystal Caves
on the Main Street, man made grotto filled with natural crystals
and fossils. Don a flattering helmet with light and explore the
caves. Fascinating for all ages, with a fun quiz at the end.
- for those who enjoy fast food, McDonalds and KFC can be found
here.
- Hallorans Hill Lookout is a terrific spot to have a picnic lunch,
with tables and BBQs, toilets, and lots of grassed areas. You will
enjoy the great views from here, while the kids will enjoy the unusual
play areas and intriguing artworks. In one section of the play area,
the seven sisters (which you can see from here), are represented
as seven cute grassy mounds of varying sizes that the kids can run
up and down. I had lots of fun here myself.
- Railco's restored steam loco at Platypus Park, Atherton to Herberton
trip. (this is volunteer run, so check first if the train is operational)
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| Walkamin |
- just past Walkamin
is the turn off to Granite Gorge. Here you can view rock wallabies
very close up in their natural environment. There is a small entrance
fee. The huge granite boulders and walking tracks give the kids plenty
of opportunity to stretch their legs and scurry about amongst the
rocks. |
| Mareeba |
- just outside
of Mareeba on the Dimbulah Road is the Maco Go Kart Trak, a world
class go-karting facility, especially fun for the big kids. |
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7.
Sports - fish, golf etc, you can do these things as well
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| Golf |
Atherton - pH
4091 1283
Mareeba - the only 18 hole course on the Tablelands - pH 4092 1528
Millaa Millaa - pH 4097 2117 |
| Fish |
Lake Tinaroo
is popular for its year round barramundi fishing.
- hire a dinghy from Lake Tinaroo Boat Hire -
Phone 4095 8555
- have an experienced fishing guide look after you, Jack Leighton
is highly recommended
phone 4095 8425 or www.tinaroowaters.com.au
Go fishing at
a fish farm where you are guaranteed a fish.
- Just outside the town of Tarzali, halfway between Malanda and
Millaa Millaa, is Tarzali Lakes Fishing Park. You can catch a Nth
Qld Jade Perch for approx $25 per half day for an adult, and $5
to take a fish home. Everything is supplied, Bookings essential.
pH 4097 2713 or www.ledanet.com.au/~tarzalilakes |
| Horseriding |
- Mungalli Falls
Student Village offers horseriding, plus other activites such as
abseiling.Horseriding is approximately $65 for 2.5 hrs. A days notice
is required. Ph. 4097 2358
- Tait's Wongabel
Stables offer full day trail rides beginning at 9am and including
lunch for approx $70. They are situated about 20 minutes from Yungaburra.
Ph. 4091 2070
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Microlight
Flights
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- Experience breathtaking views
over the magnificent Tablelands in a Microlight. Departs from Jaques Coffee Plantation, Mareeba. 20 minute flight approx. $80 per person. Ph. 4093 3368 |
Warbird
Flights
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- Take an adventure flight in a real Warbird over the incredible beauty of the Tropical Tablelands. Half an hour flights from approx $150 per person. (see www.warbirdadventures.com.au) Ph. 4092 7391 |
| Ballooning |
- SAVE 48%, as hot air ballooning here on the Atherton Tablelands is the cheapest in Australia. Stop saying One Day - Do it on your Yungaburra holiday! Meet at Mareeba Heritage Museum. (see www.champagneballoons.com) |
| Tennis |
Yungaburra Tennis
Club, Barrine Road, for bookings phone Michael on 4095 3606
$10 per hour for non-members ($14 night time rate)
Key available from Yungaburra Foodmart |
| Lawn Bowls |
Yungaburra
Bowls Club
All Welcome - whites not needed
Open Wed, Sat, Sun from 1.30pm & onwards, Green fees $5
Cedar Street, Yungaburra pH 4095 3596 |
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