Kuranda and the Atherton Tablelands Loop

A loop up the range from Cairns by rail, crater lakes, giant figs and waterfalls on the cool, green Atherton Tableland, then back down the Gillies Highway.

Distance: 177 km (110 mi)
Driving: 1 h 56 min
Suggested days: 3
Stops: 11
States: Queensland
Updated: May 1, 2026

At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 177 km (110 mi) with 11 stops, from Cairns to Millaa Millaa Falls. About 1 h 56 min of driving in total.

More road trips in Queensland · More road trips from Cairns

Route description

Ride the 37 km Kuranda Scenic Railway from Cairns, opened in 1891 and climbing 328 m through 15 hand-dug tunnels, then see Barron Falls, thunderous after wet-season rain. Kuranda’s markets and rainforest walks fill the afternoon. Collect your car or continue by road up the Kuranda Range, a winding two-lane climb, to Mareeba and Atherton, about 60 km on from Kuranda. Many travellers leave the car in Cairns for this day.

Atherton makes a good base. Nearby Mount Hypipamee Crater is a short walk to a deep volcanic pipe with a viewing platform, so stay behind the rails. From there it is about 25 km east to Yungaburra and the Curtain Fig Tree boardwalk, a giant strangler fig with hanging roots. The area is cooler than the coast, often misty, and good for early morning birdwatching.

Lake Barrine and Lake Eacham, both volcanic crater lakes in Crater Lakes National Park, lie within a few kilometres of each other on the Gillies Highway side. Walk the shoreline track at Barrine, swim at Eacham and look for turtles and water dragons. The rainforest is humid and there are leeches after rain, so wear closed shoes and carry insect repellent. Allow half a day for both.

Head south to Malanda Falls, a natural swimming pool with a heritage-listed bathing facility and an Aboriginal-guided rainforest centre, then to Millaa Millaa Falls, an 18 m plunge on the Waterfall Circuit. Return to Cairns about 90 km on the Gillies Highway, a narrow road of tight bends not suited to long caravans; the alternative is the Palmerston Highway via Innisfail. Fuel up in Atherton or Malanda.

Stop-by-stop itinerary

In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.

1

Cairns
Queensland
Start
2

Kuranda Scenic Railway
HistoryKuranda, Queensland
A 37 km line from Cairns to Kuranda, opened in 1891, climbing 328 m through 15 hand-dug tunnels and over 37 bridges in the Barron Gorge. A chance to see the range without driving; many travellers combine it with Skyrail.
22 km
3

Barron Falls
NatureKuranda, Queensland
Waterfall in Barron Gorge National Park, thunderous after wet-season rain and a trickle in the dry months. Lookouts can be reached by the Kuranda Scenic Railway, the Skyrail cableway or a walking track from Kuranda.
4 km
4

Kuranda
Queensland
4 km
5

Atherton
Queensland
63 km
6

Mount Hypipamee Crater
NatureAtherton, Queensland
A narrow, steep-walled volcanic pipe with a viewing platform at the end of a short walk through upland rainforest, near Dinner Falls on the Atherton Tableland. Keep behind the railings; the cliffs drop sheer to the water.
20 km
7

Curtain Fig Tree
NatureAtherton, Queensland
A giant strangler fig whose aerial roots hang in a curtain-like wall, reached by a short boardwalk near Yungaburra on the Atherton Tableland. Visit early or late for fewer visitors and look for birds in the surrounding rainforest.
20 km
8

Lake Barrine
NatureAtherton, Queensland
A volcanic crater lake about 1 km across and up to 65 m deep, ringed by rainforest in Crater Lakes National Park on the Gillies Highway. A walking track circles the shore; look for water dragons, turtles and large old trees.
9 km
9

Lake Eacham
NatureAtherton, Queensland
Deep, clear crater lake near Yungaburra with a picnic area, a swimming spot and a rainforest circuit walk, part of Crater Lakes National Park. Early morning is quiet; look for turtles and water dragons along the shore.
5 km
10

Malanda Falls
NatureAtherton, Queensland
Natural swimming pool beneath Malanda Falls with an early heritage-listed bathing facility and a visitor centre running guided rainforest walks led by Aboriginal guides. A relaxed stop in dairy country on the Tableland.
10 km
11

Millaa Millaa Falls
NatureAtherton, Queensland
A single 18 m plunge into a round swimming pool surrounded by rainforest, the best known stop on the Waterfall Circuit near Millaa Millaa. Flow is strongest in the wet season; early mornings are quietest and best for photographs.
19 km

Suggested stages and overnight stops

3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.

Day 1: Cairns → Kuranda · 30 km · 0 h 20 minOn the way: Kuranda Scenic Railway, Barron Falls.
Day 2: Kuranda → Mount Hypipamee Crater · 83 km · 0 h 54 minOn the way: Atherton.
Day 3: Mount Hypipamee Crater → Millaa Millaa Falls · 64 km · 0 h 42 minOn the way: Curtain Fig Tree, Lake Barrine, Lake Eacham, Malanda Falls.

Best time to go

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in February–May and October–November. Hot in January. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.

Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons

FAQs

How long is Kuranda and the Atherton Tablelands Loop?

3-day road trip of about 177 km (110 mi) with 11 stops, from Cairns to Millaa Millaa Falls. About 1 h 56 min of driving in total.

How many days do you need for Kuranda and the Atherton Tablelands Loop?

We suggest 3 days: about 1 h 56 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

Where does Kuranda and the Atherton Tablelands Loop start and end?

It starts in Cairns and ends in Millaa Millaa Falls.

Which states does Kuranda and the Atherton Tablelands Loop pass through?

Queensland.

When is the best time for Kuranda and the Atherton Tablelands Loop?

The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in February–May and October–November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)