Immerse yourself in Northern Queensland’s waterfalls, rainforests, and other natural wonders on this full-day tour from Cairns. Admire the untouched scenery and stop to swim in the famous Millaa Millaa, and Josephine Falls. In between, visit Babinda Boulders and Mount Hypipamee, watch for wildlife such as tree-kangaroos and platypus, and admire a tropical sunset at Lake Eacham. National Park admission, lunch, refreshments, and hotel pickup and drop-off included.

Full-day Atherton Tablelands and waterfalls trip from Cairns
Experience North Queensland's tropical rainforests, falls, and beauty spots
Swim in the crystal cascades of the Josephine and Millaa Millaa Falls
See the Babinda Boulders, Hypipamee Crater, and watch the sunset at Lake Eacham
Look for wildlife like cassowary, platypus, and tree-kangaroos
Includes pub lunch, morning and afternoon tea, and refreshments
National Park entrance fees, air-conditioned bus transport, and hotel pickup and drop-off included

What's Included

Lunch
Local guide
Hotel pickup and drop-off
All Fees and Taxes
Tea and coffee

Drinks

Meeting And Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

07:30 am

Pickup details

Please contact us for an accurate pickup time. Approximate pickup times - Palm Cove 06.45 Trinity Beach 07.00 Cairns City 07.20 - 07.50 South Cairns 08.15 Please be at your pickup location 5 minutes prior to pickup time and allow upto 10 minutes after pickup time - we will be with you as promptly as possible. If you cannot find a suitable pickup location please contact us.

What To Expect

Depart your central Cairns or Northern Beaches hotel by air-conditioned bus and venture into rural North Queensland. Composed of highlands, tropical rainforests, and waterfalls, this pristine region is renowned for its beauty and ancient culture.

Visit the Babinda Boulders, a tropical creek lined with huge boulders, and hear about the aboriginal legends that surround this magical-looking place. Then head to your first swim spot, Josephine Falls, and slide down the natural rock slide.

Continue to the Atherton Tablelands and swim in the Millaa Millaa Falls. Bordered by protected rainforest, this 59-foot (18-meter) single-drop waterfall has featured in several TV ads.

After a country-style lunch at Australia’s largest timber pub, continue to Mt. Hypipamee Crater, a pipe-shaped, 278-foot (85-meter) deep crater. Take a bushland walk to admire the crater lake, watch for wildlife like possum and emu-like cassowarys, and stop to bathe in the idyllic Dinner Falls.

After visiting a creek to search for platypus, enjoy another swim and a sunset stop at Lake Eacham, famous for its turtles.

Finally, return to Cairns, perhaps playing the provided games on your bus before your trip ends at the original starting point.

Waterfall Wanderers

11 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Babinda Boulders

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Minimum age 2. Child rates apply between ages 2 - 11. Infants under 2 must sit on parents lap, lunch is not provided for infants.

Infants must sit on laps
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travellers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 27 travellers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveller Photos

Traveller Tips

I definitely recommend this tour for those interested in swimming, as it was very fun.

Sam and Jim also take pictures so that you have memories of the day.

Reviews

5.0

485 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travellers.

Showing 1-10 of 485 reviews

A Great Day!!

Derrick_S, Mar 2023

The guide, Josh was great. We saw everything on the tour. We even got to stop for ice cream and pet the farm animals as well. I would select this tour again.

Atherton Tablelands

Brian_K, Mar 2023

My wife and I enjoyed this tour immensely! What an opportunity to see the natural beauty around Cairns! There were several stops at places to swim, including at picturesque waterfalls and national parks. It was a long day on a bus, but our guide did what he was able to maximize our time exploring each site. The one downside was the lunch. It could be vastly improved. There were limited options. Even though we went to what looked like a restaurant, the lasagna tasted like heated frozen food. It took 20 mins for our food to be served. Also, a bottled water/soft drink was not included, but should be.

Fantastic Day

Susan_B, Mar 2023

Spending a day visiting and submerging in some of the most beautiful and invigorating waterfalls I've ever seen. The guide Damien was superb and the group size was perfect.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Hi Susan, Sounds like a fabulous day out 😊 Thank you for leaving us a review and we will definitely share this with Damien!

A tropical playground

Judy_D, Mar 2023

Everything was fabulous because the scenery was breathtakingly beautiful! From volcanic looking mountain ranges to dense rainforests, butterflies flitting, astonishing foliage and a giant 500 year old curtain fig. And THEN there were the waterfalls! It was all close to Heaven!

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Hi Judy, Thank you for your review 😊 We agree “Heaven” is a great word to use to describe the sights on this tour!

Great day

Ann_P, Mar 2023

We visited some stunning locations and had a swim in most. Friendly driver and guide, Marco. Beautiful scenery along the way too.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Hi, Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review 😊 Sounds like you had a great trip with Marco!

Overall we had a good day

john_f, Mar 2023

Weather limited what we could do and see. Rain did enhance all the water views. Guide was knowledgeable but spoke selectively and with quite a bit of sarcasm which was humerus but also sometimes confusing.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Hi John, Thank you for taking the time to review you Waterfall Wanders tour with us 😊 We certainly have been living up to the name “the wet tropics” with all this rain! Couldn’t agree more with it enhancing the views!

Great waterfalls, poor communication

Joanne_R, Mar 2023

First, the trip itself was excellent. Saw beautiful waterfalls and had a great time on the slide rock. Chris and Andy were great guides and very informative. The only bad part was the poor communication by the tour operator regarding the departure plans. The ticket specifically said “hotel pickup “. We waited at our hotel. As the bus was not there, I started looking at how to contact the tour operator and then found another area listing pickup at a different location. Had I not gone searching through different areas of the tour operators contact information, I would not have found this and would have been left waiting at my hotel. I’m sure that they would have blamed me for missing the tour and probably would not have refunded my money. VERY poor communication by the tour company.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Hi Joanne, thank you for your feedback and glad the trip itself met your expectations and you enjoyed the day with Chris and Andy 😊 We have recently consolidated our pickup locations and have tried to notify advanced bookings at least 7 days prior. We do still have the hotel origin on file so on the occasion this information has not been received we would have contacted you via the phone number provided at time of booking and advised our driver where best to meet you. We would exhaust every avenue before departing for the tour.

A must, brilliant tour with lovely guide.

Amelia_H, Feb 2023

Had a lovely day with a brilliant tour guide Ester! She was so lovely and informative while light hearted and chatty making the day a very comfortable and enjoyable experience. Our safety was her top priority and went out of her way to make the day as good as it could be for our group.

Response from Host, Feb 2023

Thanks for the 5 stars and your lovely feedback regarding our amazing guide Esther! We are so pleased to hear you had a brilliant day! We will pass on your excellent feedback to Esther! Thanks for traveling with us!

Fantastic trip, excellent...

Gillian_I, Feb 2023

Fantastic trip, excellent guide who really made every effort to make sure there was a great atmosphere. The group seemed to really gel and it was a wonderful day. Whole range of people from a family, couples, single people etc. Great Recruitment also as the driver/guide had First Aid qualifications, was a lifeguard and had a PhD related to flora and fauna of the area! So many very relevant skills and definitely quality information. The lunch stop couldn't have been nicer, true Aussie hospitality, great atmosphere food and service. Thank you for a great day and I shall definitely book more with the same company.

Response from Host, Feb 2023

It's wonderful to hear you had a fantastic trip and our informative guide was able to create a great atmosphere and share their knowledge of the beautiful Atherton Tablelands! Thanks for taking the time to share your experience! We look forward to you joining us on another fun filled day of exploring and adventure!

Wonderful waterfall tour

Doreen_P, Feb 2023

If you like waterfalls, this is the tour for you. Marco is a great guide. He gave us plenty of time to swim at many of the waterfalls. He provided tea and cookies at one stop. The lunch stop was great, homemade lasagne. It was a full day with spectacular waterfalls. Don't forget your bathing suit.

Response from Host, Feb 2023

Thanks for leaving us such a lovely review! It's wonderful to hear you enjoyed yourself! We will pass on your awesome feedback to Marco!

This was such a great...

Abby_S, Feb 2023

This was such a great tour, Jess was an awesome guide and gave us lots of interesting info! Loved getting to visit all the waterfalls and just driving through the tablelands was beautiful. Definitely recommend doing this tour!

Response from Host, Feb 2023

Hi Abby_S thanks for choosing to travel with us! We are delighted to hear you had a fabulous time on our Waterfalls tour with Jess! Thanks for the recommendation and we hope you enjoy the rest of your trip!

Great tour with lots of swimming

Glen_H, Jan 2023

Atherton Tablelands Waterfalls tour is a lot of fun, our guide was Estha she is very bubbly and happy, she always made you feel part of tour, she had good information on all spots visited. Lots of swimming and great for all ages. Would recommend this tour.

Response from Host, Jan 2023

Thanks for taking the time to share your review. It's wonderful to hear you had a lot of fun and enjoyed the day with our amazing guide Esther! Thanks for traveling with us!

Was awesome seeing all the waterfalls

Taralee_S, Jan 2023

We absolutely loved the waterfalls, little bummed we was unable swim at the rock slide due to too much water from the rain. But was still awesome to see. The food was ok no options so if you don’t eat lasagna you don’t eat. Our tour guide Steph was super cool & funny we really enjoyed having her. It was a very big day but the kids loved it.

Response from Host, Jan 2023

Hi Taralee thanks for letting us know how much you loved the waterfalls! We are thrilled to hear you and your family had a great time! We will pass on your wonderful feedback to Steph! Thanks for traveling with us.

Spiritual journey

Joanna_T, Jan 2023

The stories Tom told in the forest. The commentary on the forest. The beauty of what I saw. Magnificent greenery.

Response from Host, Jan 2023

Thanks for traveling with us Joanna_T it's lovely to hear how much you enjoyed the tour and the magnificent Tablelands!

Awesome!

Lindsey_M, Jan 2023

I had a great time on this tour! Our guide, Max, was very knowledgeable about the area and had really cool stories to share. The new pub we stopped at for lunch was very tasty! I didn't do much swimming but I still enjoyed seeing the beautiful places and exploring. This tour is very accommodating for anyone! Highly recommend!

Response from Host, Jan 2023

Hi Lindsey and thanks for taking the time to write a review! We are over the moon to hear you had an awesome day exploring the waterfalls and the beauty that the Tablelands has to offer. We will pass on your excellent feedback to Max. Thanks for traveling with us!

Great tour... Fantastic guide

Ahsan_T, Dec 2022

Fantastic tour! Chris was great... funny and very supportive. I highly recommend going with them. The lunch was great too.

Response from Host, Dec 2022

Thanks for traveling with us Ahsan_T we will pass on your awesome feedback to Chris :-)

Great trip chasing waterfalls!

Adva_D, Dec 2022

Loved that a trip! Steph was great, her funny comments and sense of humour certainly added to this trip.. The waterfalls were absolutely beautiful and whilst in some places we couldn’t really swim Steph took us to other lovely places. Highly recommended 🙂

Response from Host, Dec 2022

Thank you for traveling with us and for taking the time to write a review! It's great to hear that Steph was able to show you how beautiful this part of our region is, and we are so pleased to hear you enjoyed it! We hope you enjoy the rest of your trip.

Amazing

Janelle_M, Dec 2022

This is the second time I have done this tour and it was just as good as the first time. My kids (17) & (15) loved it too. Would recommend to anyone thinking of doing it.

Response from Host, Dec 2022

It was lovely having you join us again Janelle_M! Thanks for taking the time to write a review :-)

Exhilarating water slide experience - unforgettable, pretty Milaa waterfall, delicious lunch, very experience guide.

Pieng_L, Dec 2022

The natural water slide was one of the most exhilarating things I’ve ever done in my life. The water was at yellow level so the guide asked for strong swimmers only. Because I wear contacts, I closed my eyes right before I hit the water with my feet up in the air and landed in the whirlpool. I thought I was under the water the whole time, but apparently I came up for air several times. My aunt recorded the whole 3 minutes in slow motion. The very experienced guide flew down the slide as soon as he saw I landed in the whirlpool and came to my rescue. He quickly guided me back in the right direction. The day was filled with interesting things to see like the 650-800 year old fig tree, the gorgeous Milaa waterfall, swimming at the very blue green Lake Eacham. We had a delicious lunch also. The tour guide taught us about dangerous plants and to avoid them. The only complaint was I confirmed the day before on pickup location and time and the driver didn’t pick us on time and they wanted us to walk down the street and we were unfamiliar with the area, but by the time we called, the driver finally showed up. Also, the tour advertised sunset at Lake Eacham, but in December sunset isn’t until after 6 so we didn’t get to see the sunset over Lake Eacham and my mom love sunsets. Overall, I would recommend this tour to anyone who wants the see the Atherton Tableland area and if you’re lucky, you’ll get to experience an unforgettable natural water slide.

Response from Host, Dec 2022

Hi Pieng_L thanks for joining us on a trip up to the beautiful Atherton Tablelands! It's wonderful to hear how much you enjoyed the trip and exploring the stunning rainforest and waterfalls! Thanks for sharing your experience and we hope the rest of your trip is amazing!

A bad guide can spoil it!

Iuliana_S, Dec 2022

The trip could have been great but our guide did not put any effort to guide us on the trip….The bus was small and overly booked. So that everyone was rushing after each activity to get a spot which was not too cramped (like in the last raw we were practically sitting on each other’s lap). Plus, he was speaking too fast and too low voice and so, we could not understand much. The bus was full of internationals and this was a problem for the majority but he did not quite care…even after we told him.We started to make guessing jokes about what was he saying. Also, the time he dedicated to some activities was wrong….too much time for places where we could not see too much and too little for the greatest waterfall of all….A pity.

Response from Host, Dec 2022

Hi luliana_S thanks for taking the time to share your experience! it's disappointing to hear you were dissatisfied with your experience. I am surprised to read your comments regarding your guide on the day as this certainly does not meet our customer service expectations! We strive every day to offer our guests a premium experience and we achieve that more often than not. Thanks for traveling with us and we hope you enjoy the rest of your time in the region!

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