300 km away from Balgal Beach are the fertile Atherton Tablelands. The Tablelands are a true wonder, each bend in the road promises more beauty than the next. From rolling farm hills to tropical rainforest and hidden waterfalls, there is a little bit of adventure.
A necessary pit stop on any trip through the Atherton Tablelands is Mungalli Creek Bio-dynamic Dairy farm. Mungalli Creek Farm has some of the best quality milk and yogurt I have ever tasted. Their yogurt is creamy, delicious and so rich it is like eating desert for breakfast. I have used their milk in the past to make cheese and the quality is top notch! You can only buy it in Far North Queensland so indulge while up in this special part of the world.
A few minutes outside of Yugaburra is the Curtain Fig tree. At 50 meters high the Curtain Fig tree is a wonder of nature. 500 years ago a curtain fig seed dropped high in the forest canopy. Growing on the high branches of a tree, its roots reaching to the rain forest floor below. Over time the nurse tree below fell and decayed away, entrapped in the root system of the curtain fig. What remains is the space where it was once held in the roots of the Curtain Fig; like a sculpture made by nature at 39 meters around, dominating the forest.
Yungaburra
On the last Saturday of every month there are the Yugaburra markets. I love markets and this one boasts of 250 different vendors. Crafts, jewellery, local produce, food, art and so much more in the rows of vendors. It is a great place to shop for dinner or pick up a nice piece of local art as a souvenir.
Yungaburra is a small town with only a petite FoodWorks grocery store. There is a bit of a small town mark up so pick up staples in a city if you are looking to save a few dollars. There is an excellent local butcher across the street for local BBQ options.
We stayed at the Lakeside Inn and Caravan Park on Lake Tinaroo. The lake was muddy with a grassy beach area where many people out on played on boats, wake boarding or jet skis. The Caravan Park was clean, well maintained, with laundry, hot showers, BBQs, a camp kitchen and a great pool. Being a few kilometers away from town allowed for spectacular views of the night sky and milky way with a good glass of Piper!
The caravan park was full because of school holidays. It is important book paid sites in advance; Australians love camping!
A Google search will bring up most caravan sites. Booking.com is an great site for this. Most powered sites are an average of $40 AUD a night.
Waterfall Circuit and Swimming Holes
In the Atherton Tablelands is a scenic waterfall drive through the Misty Mountains. This drive is not suitable for caravans or unsure drivers, the road is narrow and in disrepair in places. It is possible to hit some of the waterfalls off the highway if you have a proper caravan rather than van.
Millaa Millaa Falls in the southern Atherton Tablelands is a picture perfect waterfall. The water at the bottom is clear and shallow, great for a swim on a hot day. It is the most accessible of the falls and can get quite crowded so arrive early. There are toilets, picnic facilities as well as a sealed parking lot. There are walking trails around the falls for those that find the water too cold.
Australia’s Widest Falls
Westward is Millstream Falls, which, holds the title of widest falls in Australia. It is a large sheet of water that plunges over dark rocks that were an ancient basalt lava flow. There are walking tracks, WWII history, picnic areas and public toilets at the end of the unsealed driveway. The area toward the falls is uneven with drop off and sometimes slippery rocks, sure footing and good shoes are necessary. We had lunch down on the edge of the falls, where a few other families had already spread out.
Lake Eacham is one lake in a series of fresh water lakes in the Atherton Tablelands called the Crater Lakes, formed by ancient volcanic activity. There are many BBQ, picnic and toilet facilities including a large sealed parking lot. It is a popular lake for locals and tourists. The water is clear, clean and refreshing on a hot day.
Money Saving Tip
The Atherton Tablelands are worth a few days to explore the expansive area. Plan on putting 100 plus kilometres on the van each day to visit some of these amazing sights. Keep an eye on fuel prices as they range from 10 to 20 cents a litre more between towns.