Best Atherton Tablelands Waterfalls (Waterfall Circuit Guide)

If you’re visiting Far North Queensland, experiencing the Atherton Tablelands waterfalls should be at the very top of your list!

The waterfalls here are among the most photogenic cascades in Australia, and the area is rich in lush rainforests and dramatic volcanic landscapes. Located approximately 1.5 hours by car inland from Cairns, this elevated plateau is packed with easy-to-access waterfalls, many of which are suitable for swimming, and is connected by a simple driving loop. 

The Atherton Tablelands are easily one of my top day trips from Cairns, and whether you self-drive or join a tour, this region offers some of the best waterfall hopping in the country. But trying to work out which waterfalls to visit and how to find them can be tricky. That’s why I’ve put together this guide. I’ll tell you which Atherton Tablelands waterfalls are truly worth stopping for, how the circuit works, and how to plan either a half-day or full-day trip from Cairns without feeling rushed. 

Atherton Tablelands Waterfall Circuit Overview

The Atherton Tablelands waterfall circuit is a well-signposted driving loop in the southern part of the Tablelands. The popular loop links three of the best waterfalls - Millaa Millaa, Zillie, and Ellinjaa - along with several worthwhile side stops.

How the Loop Works

• Distance: Around 17 km (for the core circuit)
• Driving time: around 30 minutes (straight driving with no stops) 
• Typical visit time: Most travelers will take around 3 - 4 hours for a half day, or 6 - 8 hours for a full day 

The loop is well paved and suitable for standard cars. Roads are pretty winding in parts, but very well maintained, so it’s very suitable for a self-drive adventure. Without a doubt, driving the Atherton Tablelands circuit is one of the easiest ways to see multiple waterfalls near Cairns in a day trip. 

Best Waterfalls in the Atherton Tablelands

Below are the waterfalls I recommend visiting most on your Atherton Tablelands trip. There are over 20 falls on the circuit, so it’s hard to narrow them down! 

Millaa Millaa Falls

• Swimming: Yes
• Access: 1-minute walk 
• Time needed: 20 - 30 minutes

Millaa Millaa is the most famous Atherton Tablelands waterfall, and when you do any research into the Tablelands, you’ll likely come across plenty of pictures of it. You might feel like you’ve seen it before… and you probably have! Remember Herbal Essences' iconic ‘hair-flick’ shampoo ad from the early 2000s? Well, it was filmed at Millaa Millaa!  

It’s easy to see why this waterfall was chosen -  it’s pretty spectacular. Make the stop at Millaa Millaa, and you’ll see a wide curtain of water cascade 60 feet into the deep swimming hole below, surrounded by tropical rainforest views.  It’s extremely photogenic and is popular with tourists trying to recreate the iconic hair-flick photo. 

Its popularity, combined with its accessibility, means it’s the busiest Tablelands waterfall - especially mid-morning, as a lot of tours stop here. Visit early or late in the day for fewer crowds. Despite its popularity, it’s still worth a stop. 

Zillie Falls

• Swimming: There’s no swimming hole here, just slippery rocks and water rapids 
• Access: 5-minute walk
• Time needed: 15 - 20 minutes

Zillie Falls is raw, powerful, and dramatic. Unlike Millaa Millaa, this waterfall plunges through a narrow gorge with heavy spray and fast-moving water. This contrast is what makes the Atherton Tablelands waterfall circuit so appealing - you find completely different waterfall styles within minutes of each other. This is one of the most powerful waterfalls I came across in the Atherton Tablelands - the noise it makes is pretty fierce! 

There’s a viewing platform at the top where you can admire the ferocity of the falls, and if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can hike down to the bottom as well. 

Ellinjaa Falls

• Swimming: Yes
• Access: 10-minute downhill walk, with stairs 
• Time needed: 30 - 45 minutes

Of the three main waterfalls in the Atherton Tablelands, Ellinjaa Falls is probably my favorite -  it’s the least developed of them all, and I had it completely to myself when I visited. It’s super wide, with water plummeting down 12 metres of rough, rocky cliff face, creating multiple different streams and lots of spray.  

If you only had time for one swim stop during your day trip, Ellinjaa would probably be the one I recommend most - the natural pool at the bottom of the falls is beautiful, and very refreshing in the Queensland heat.  

Mungalli Falls

• Swimming: No - access to the natural pool is blocked off
• Access: 15-minute downhill walk 
• Time needed: 15 - 20 minutes

Located within a Wilderness Retreat Complex around a 15-minute drive from Millaa Millaa, Mungalli Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls in the region. It’s split over multiple levels and is said to have a cumulative drop of 75 metres. There’s a short bushwalk path to reach the falls, and along the way, you can stop at a designated platypus viewing platform. I didn’t see any during my trip, but you might get lucky! 

I recommend pairing this stop with a visit to the nearby Mungalli Creek Dairy Café for lunch. Their menu champions biodynamic dairy products and locally sourced produce, and is a great way to break up a full-day Atherton Tablelands waterfall circuit.

Tchupala Falls

• Swimming: Yes 
• Access: 1.1 km return hike, rated easy. It’s not paved and is stony in parts; wear sensible footwear and walk carefully if it’s been raining, as it can get slippery.  
• Time needed: 45 mins - 1 hour

Tchupala Falls is a bit of a hidden gem in my opinion. It’s less popular than many of the other waterfalls, and it’s not very well signposted from the road… so a lot of people miss it. The waterfall is super wide, with multiple different cascades streaming down from above. One of the reasons I like this one so much is that there’s a bit of a hike to get there; it’s not very challenging, but traversing through the rainforest to reach it makes the waterfall feel so secluded.  

If you aren’t short on time, Tchupala shares a trailhead with another waterfall, Wallicher. You can continue on the hike to reach the viewpoint for Wallicher, and it’s well worth the extra effort in my opinion - Wallicher isn’t as tall as Tchupala, but is even wider, and the water flow is insanely turbulent.  

Curtain Fig Tree

• Access: Short, flat walk from the car park along a boardwalk 
• Time needed: 15 - 20 minutes

While not a waterfall, the Curtain Fig Tree is often included on Tablelands routes, and it’s definitely a pit stop worth making. This heritage-listed tree is thought to be over 500 years old, and seeing it feels like stepping into Jurassic Park. 

The gigantic strangler fig tree has grown hundreds of aerial roots, the tallest of which hang from as high as a whopping 15 metres. The boardwalk goes right up to the tree, and standing under this huge curtain of roots towering from above feels pretty mystical. 

Suggested Tablelands Waterfalls Itineraries 

If you’re planning on exploring the waterfalls of the Atherton Tablelands by car, here are my two suggested itineraries, depending on how much time you have:   

Half-Day Waterfall Loop

This itinerary is best if you’re short on time - you can complete it in under five hours. It hits the core Millaa Millaa waterfalls and gives you a great snapshot of the region.

• Cairns → Millaa Millaa
• Millaa Millaa Falls
• Zillie Falls
• Ellinjaa Falls
• Return to Cairns

Full-Day Waterfall + Rainforest Loop

This itinerary is ideal if you want to see a decent amount of waterfalls, but at a relaxed pace with time for swimming and food stops. It covers a decent variety of waterfalls and attractions, without feeling rushed. 

• Cairns → Millaa Millaa (I suggest leaving Cairns at around 7:00 am if you want to beat the worst of the crowd at Millaa Millaa)
• Zillie Falls 
• Ellinjaa Falls
• Mungalli Falls
• Stop for lunch at Mungalli Creek Dairy Café
• Curtain Fig Tree
• Malanda Falls
• Return to Cairns 

Practical Tips

What to bring: Swimwear, a towel, water shoes, insect repellent, and water. If you’re going for a full-day trip, it’s worth bringing a change of clothes and a plastic bag for your swimwear, so you don’t have to sit in wet clothes while driving. 

Safety: Always check signage - some pathways to waterfalls are old and have been closed, and some pools are unsafe for swimming. 

Facilities: There are toilets at Millaa Millaa and Malanda Falls, but they are limited elsewhere.

Mobile reception: This can be patchy, so it’s well worth downloading offline maps before starting your Atherton Tablelands waterfall circuit.

Tours vs Self-Driving

Self-driving is the best option for most travelers - it gives complete flexibility, the option of an early start to beat the crowds, and freedom to plan your own itinerary. However, not everyone has access to a car or feels comfortable driving abroad - which is where guided tours come in! These are still a great way to see the waterfalls and offer the benefit of being able to kick back and relax, without worrying about logistics. 

Two great value tour options from Cairns include:

• Atherton Tablelands: Lakes, Waterfalls and Rainforest Day Tour. This full-day tour looks great; it includes stops at Josephine Falls and Millaa Millaa Falls, as well as a handful of other iconic Atherton Tablelands landmarks. 
• From Cairns: Waterfall Tour with Lunch. I also love the look of this full-day tour from Cairns - it’s led by local guides with heaps of knowledge about the area, which (in my experience) always adds so much value to tours.  

Where to Stay

Most travelers opt to visit the waterfalls as a day trip while staying in Cairns, but if you want to stay overnight, good bases include:

• Yungaburra
• Malanda
• Atherton

My top three accommodation picks are: