Complete waterfall guide to visiting Davies Creek Falls in Davies Creek National Park near Mareeba. Includes how to get here, what to expect and photos of the famous Davies Creek Falls infinity pool!
Davies Creek Falls is one of the largest waterfalls near Cairns in terms of height. Located on the other side of the Lamb Range near the Tablelands town of Mareeba, Davies Creek Falls is a bit of a stretch from Cairns but easily worth the visit!
What’s great about this waterfall is that it only takes a very short hike to reach the infinity pool with views of the water flowing down huge granite boulders into the Davies Creek National Park gorge.
In this quick guide, I aim to share with you everything you need to know to make a trip out to Davies Creek Falls.
Where is Davies Creek Falls?
Davies Creek Falls is located in Davies Creek and Dinden National Parks. The waterfall is a 1-hour drive from Cairns on the Kennedy Highway.
- Google Maps Pin: "Davies Creek Falls" - Mareeba, QLD
How to Get to Davies Creek From Cairns
To get here from Cairns, I suggest heading north to Smithfield and taking the winding Kennedy Highway up past Kuranda and the famous Barron Falls. It's quite a scenic drive along the way and there are plenty of things to do in The Tablelands, so make a day trip out of it!
Continuing past Kuranda, once you're approaching Davies Creek on the Kennedy Highway, you'll need to keep an eye out for a sign on the left side of the road. Take this left turn and from here, it's only a short 10-minute stretch of dirt road which winds up the gorge and up the mountain towards the waterfall.
The road is unsealed, but you can easily make it in a 2WD as it's quite well-graded, although a bit bumpy.
Car Rentals in Far North Queensland
Cairns is one of the most popular travel destinations in Australia and car rentals quickly book out! I recommend booking well in advance. I always use RentalCars.com as they compare the widest range of rentals across dealerships in the Far North.
Related: 14 Awesome Things to do in Kuranda, Australia
Alternative: Choosing the Best Organised Waterfall Trip From Cairns
Unfortunately, there aren't any tour companies that offer trips out to this waterfall. This might be due to it being a little bit further off the beaten track than the rest.
However, if you find yourself in Cairns without a car but still keen on checking out hte epic waterfalls and swimming holes, I recommend jumping on one of the many quality waterfall tours to the Tablelands.
Below I've linked to what I consider to be the best and most cost-effective waterfall tour from Cairns. It includes a stop at the famous Josephine Falls and the world-renowned Millaa Millaa Falls, to name a few.
What to Expect at Davies Creek Falls
Arriving at the waterfall, you'll immediately see the signposted walking track adjacent to the carpark.
As soon as you begin your short descent toward the waterfall, you'll see a small detour that leads to a viewing platform. From here, you can get some epic views of the larger section of the waterfall and the flowing rivers at the bottom of the gorge.
Also, a little further up the track towards the waterfall are some good spots to sit and watch the falls from above.
In the dry season, it's also possible to swim in the many swimming holes a little further up the creek. There are signs to keep a lookout for changes in water flow. I'm sure it'd be very dangerous in tropical downpours. It's best to keep an eye out on the weather and don't swim if the stream is too strong.
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The Davies Creek Falls Infinity Pool
On calmer days, the best spot to swim is a deep hole just on the edge of the top waterfall level. It has a large overhanging tree and plenty of space to lay out a towel and enjoy the tropical North Queensland weather.
This is known as the Davies Creek Falls infinity pool. It's one of the most unique waterfall pools in Far North Queensland as this time, the pool is above the falls!
It can be a bit sketchy on the edge, so make sure to use proper judgement and don't blindly follow what you read online!
Another infinity pool waterfall nearby: Windin Falls
Best Time to Visit Cairns and Davies Creek Falls
Davies Creek Falls flows year-round. However, it'll be a different beast in the wet season when compared to the dry.
Due to Cairn's tropical climate, it sees most of its rainfall between December and March. In these hotter months, waterfalls and natural rivers become a haven to escape the tropical humidity.
However, this waterfall can get pretty powerful and is considered dangerous in the wet season. When I visited this waterfall in the dry season, it had a good combination of flow and safe swimming spots.
Cairns Accommodation Guide – Where to Stay
Visiting Cairns? The best places to stay are near the Cairns Esplanade or on the sunny Northern Beaches. Below are the top 4 options for varying budgets.
- Crystalbrook Riley - If luxury and location are what you're after, you can't beat the Crystalbrook Riley. This is the best 5-star resort in Cairns and features absolutely everything you'd expect from a Crystalbrook resort.
- Fitzroy Island Resort - Sleep out on one of the picturesque Great Barrier Reef Islands at Fitzroy Island Resort. Spending the night on the island can work out cheaper than staying in town and means you get more time to explore the reef, coral beaches and rainforest walking trails.
- Gilligan's Backpackers - The best backpacker option for a great vibe in Cairns. Great place to meet like-minded travelers and has facilities including a pool. air-con, a huge shared kitchen, and a great common area!
- Pepper's Beach Club - stay at the best beach resort in the heart of Palm Cove on the Cairns Northern Beaches!
For a bigger list, don't miss my Cairns accommodation guide or as an alternative stay in FNQ, read my Port Douglas Accommodation guide too.
More Cairns Travel Guides and Adventure Inspiration
I really hope that you found this quick guide to visiting Davies Creek Falls useful. If you enjoyed a swim and liked the epic infinity pool at Davies Creek Falls, make sure to check out some of my other articles. I've got tons of information on some of the best spots including some hidden gems I'm sure you'll love.
After checking out Davies Creek, why not explore more epic Cairns waterfalls or hiking trails, or this useful packing list.
Also, if you're in the area, check out these two epic hikes near Davies Creek Falls (the waterfall is a perfect place to cool off afterwards!)
