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Tour Highlight

Paronella Park

In the cool of the afternoon we visit amazing Paronella Park's Spanish style castles in the rainforest.  This includes a 45 minute tour expertly conducted by Paronella Park's own knowledgeable English, Chinese & Japanese speaking guides.

Paronella Park is a multi award winning tourist attraction with National Trust listed Heritage gardens and castle ruins, also boasting North Queensland's first hydro-electric power plant all built by Jose Paronella at Mena Creek Falls. Originally created in the 1930's by Jose Paronella, a man with a dream.

Have fun feeding the fish and turtles with free time to browse through the museum. The minature bats in the 'Tunnel of Love' will make you smile.

Enjoy the combination of the 7,500 plants, trees & ferns Jose and his wife Margarita planted plus the growth that has occured over the past 70 years. The Park has become an amazing habitat for hundreds of varieties of birds, butterflies, fish & many other animals.

Millaa Millaa Falls

After departing the Curtain Fig Tree, the tour travel through picturesque farming areas and country villages to visit world famous Millaa Millaa Falls, one of the most renowned and photographed waterfalls in Australia surrounded by Mabi rainforest. This waterfall has been used as a feature in both television advertisements and movies.

The waterfall flows over solid volcanic basalt rock formed over many thousands of years ago giving the perfect drop for Millaa Millaa creek to fall for approx 20 metres into a pool surrounded by rainforest.

A quick swim is also encouraged as the excitement of being underneath the cool flowing waters of the water fall is invigorating to say the least.

This rainforest is also home to the shy Lumholtz Tree Kangaroo. A stunning photo opportunity!

Lake Barrine

Enjoy a relaxing quiet stop in the cool of the morning at beautiful Lake Barrine filled with pristine rain water and surrounded by World Heritage listed rainforest teeming with abundant wildlife. (This is a large Maar Volcano crater – a low subcircular volcanic crater lake derived from the latin "mare" for sea.)

A short walk reveals the majestic 1100 year old giant twin Kauri Pine trees towering over 45 metres above the surrounding rainforest easily accessible by walking tracks.

Browse through beautiful colourful gardens with many native ferns, orchids and flowering plants. If desired a quick swim in the cool waters is also offered. Lake Barrine also offers a gift shop arrayed with beautifully designed local arts & crafts.

You will have the opportunity to explore the walks through the beautiful surrounds of the rainforest in the early morning. An opportunity also exists (if you are quiet) to spot the shy, tiny Musky Rat Kangaroo – Australia's smallest marsupial. (They are really fast so we haven't been able to get a good photo to add to our gallery as yet.)

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Sample Itinerary

Reference only, subject to change without notice. Itineraries may operate in reverse order, in a different sequence or be swapped around to suit times & conditions.

To start off the tour picks up from your accommodation and return you back at the end of the day.

• The pickup is usually between 07:15 - 07:45 depending on where you are staying.
• Departure from Cairns, the tour heads south travelling past Walsh's Pyramid, one of the largest naturally formed pyramids in the world. Here your guide will stop so you can grab a photo of this unique North Queensland landmark.
• Travel up the World Heritage listed Gillies Highway climbing 730 metres above sea level whilst enjoying the breathtaking views over the Goldbourgh Valley.
• Just before the top of the amazing Gillies Range is a short photo oportunity at the Heales Lookout before heading into the gorgeous Atherton Tableands.
• The first stop is beautiful World Heritage Listed Lake Barrine Crater Lake National Park. On arrival, the tour guide will take you on a short walk to visit the 1000-year-old Twin Kauri Pines, true giants of the rainforest. After the guided walk, enjoy a delicious freshly baked scones with jam & cream accompanied by locally grown & freshly brewed tea and coffee (unlimited cup refills).
• Then you will relax in the Tea House overlooking the Crater Lake or take a leisurely walk through the National Park rainforest walking tracks viewing two 1000-year-old Kauri Pines.
• Once the cruise is complete, you will all meet back at the bus for departure to the historical town of Yungaburra. Yungaburra is recognised as having the most Nationally Listed Heritage buildings in Queensland. The guide will take you on a driving tour around this quaint town showcasing the many Nationally Heritage buildings, even stop for a photo or two!
• Next stop is The Curtain Fig Tree located in the Curtain Fig Tree National Park. This amazing feat of nature reaching 45+ metres up into the tropical rainforest canopy. Here you will be guided around on the boardwalk interpreting the amazing formation of this 600-800-year old epiphyte while also looking out for endemic wildlife species in the rainforest canopy, like the rare Lumhotz Tree Kangaroo.
• From here, you will head through the historical dairy town of Malanda, home to Australia's oldest continuously running commercial picture theatre. The guide will drive you around this charming town showcasing the beautiful old pub & theatre.
• After a 30 minute drive travelling through extensive beef, dairy, sugar cane & other diverse types of farming areas, the tour arrives at Millaa Millaa Falls – one of Australia's most photographed waterfalls. Here you will have an option of swimming under the cool waters falling 20 metres over an ancient volcanic lava flow formed over 1 million years ago or you can sit back, relax & enjoy the tranquility of nature.
• Now it's time to descend from the mountains down the Palmerstone Highway through sugar cane & banana fields to the coastal town of Innisfail.
• On arrival you begin the delicious Lunch at Roscoe's all you can eat Hot buffet.
• Paronella Park is the next destination with a 45-minute guided tour in English, Chinese or Japanese. The tour will guide you through the extensive National Trust Gardens while learning the rich history of Hosea Paronella's wonderful achievements & his colourful history of how he built his Spanish Castle in the rainforest;you will have amazing photo opportunties of the breathtaking Mena Creek & Theresa falls & much more. You will spend approximately 2.5 hours here allowing plenty of free time to enjoy the rest of the park at a leisurely pace after the guided tour.
• Now, it's time to head north towards Cairns where will stop at a local banana farm where you can purchase cheap bananas, papaya & seasonal home grown fruit.
• The tour continues northbound passing the wettest town in Queensland, Babinda with an annual rainfall total over 4 metres per year. This 'umbrella' town sits between Queenslands two highest mountains; Mt Bartle Frere (1,611 metres) & Mt Bellender Ker (1,593 metres). These majestic mountains are all covered in World Heritage Rainforest and form part of the Great Dividing Range; Australia's most substantial mountain range and the third longest land-based range in the world. The range spans 3,500 kilometres from the northeastern tip of Queensland, running the entire length of the eastern coastline through New South Wales, then into Victoria and turning west, before fading into the central plain at the Grampains in western Victoria. WOW!!
• From there it is approximately a 50 to 60 minutes drive back to the city of Cairns & return to your accommodation. Arrives back to Cairns City between 18:00 and 18:30.