| TAKE A BREAK IN BABINDA ‘Australia’s Wettest town‘ with an average annual rainfall of around 4,500 mm (that’s 177 inches). In 1999 it recorded a record breaking 6967.7 mm (that’s 274 inches). |
| HALF DAY options! Grab something from the local shops and follow the signed historical Museum Walk through town. In Munro Street, you will see our quaint Post Office and the Munro Picture Theatre, complete with canvas seats! In Knowles Street are the old Nurses’ Quarters, a wonderful example of 1950’s architecture and excellent accommodation. For over 100 years, our beloved Babinda Mill was the most important building in the town. Professional photos of the mill can be found at the Museum in the town centre and at the Visitor Information Centre. Dotted around the cane fields surrounding Babinda, you will see many “cane barracks”. These small and very basic buildings were home to the “gangs” of men who cut the cane by hand during the crushing period that went approximately from May to November. Drive to the beautiful Babinda Boulders where you can picnic in comfort and swim in emerald rainforest pools, then follow the magical walk to the Devil’s Pool Lookout. This 2.4km out-and-back trail is an easy 20 min walk, a popular trail for hiking and walking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Make sure you read about the Legend of The Boulders. Continue south to Josephine Falls. Located in the Wooroonooran National Park, the area was proclaimed a Wet Tropics World Heritage Area in 1988. This 700m walk is at the base of Mt Bartle Frere, at 1622m, the highest mountain in Queensland. Swim in the bottom pool which has its own natural waterslide! The eastern trailhead for Mount Bartle Frere departs just by the Josephine Falls carpark. |
| FULL DAY options – as above and include…. Locally, you can enjoy some river kayaking, swimming, a Pump Track for the children, golf and bowls. Head out to Bramston Beach and Eubenangee Swamp. On your way to Bramston Beach or Josephine Falls drop in to the Mirriwinni P.O. and General Store – a treasure chest of goodies! One of the most important wetlands between Ingham and Cairns, Eubenangee Swamp is a birdwatchers’ paradise. A walk to the swamp offers the opportunity to see over 190 bird species. Bramston Beach has a population of around 200 people and 11 kilometres of secluded beach. Stay overnight in the camping and caravan site, throw a line straight off the beach, take advantage of the sheltered barbeque and picnic areas. There is also the option to enjoy an exclusive half day Frankland Islands Reef Cruise. It starts with a rainforest river cruise, followed by the shortest open water crossing of any of the Cairns day tour boats, to put you right on the Great Barrier Reef at Normanby Island which is home to many species of marine life, including turtles, octopus and the ever-popular anemone clownfish, Nemo. You have up to 4 hours to explore and enjoy this natural paradise, above and below the water. They are the only commercial operator with a permit to visit these pristine, uninhabited islands. |
| Are you here for A FEW DAYS? Explore further afield by driving the Tablelands Circuit, Chase waterfalls on the Waterfall Circuit – Millaa Millaa Falls, a dreamy 18m plunge waterfall that is one of the most photographed in Australia; Zillie Falls and Ellinjaa Falls. Keep your eyes peeled for the electric blue Ulysses Butterfly and the elusive platypus. There are many walks to explore – Behana Gorge, Goldfield Trail. Get your art deco fix by visiting the rural town of Innisfail, an hour and a half south of Cairns. Test your croc-o-dial with Snapping Tours and search for the mighty saltwater crocodile and other wildlife on a Johnstone River cruise. Head further south to Etty Bay, Paronella Park and Mission Beach. |
