Last Updated on April 29, 2024 by Sam
The Cairns waterfall circuit in the Atherton Tablelands is home to three stunning waterfalls, tucked away amongst the rainforest of Tropical North Queensland. Most people are aware of the famous Millaa Millaa Falls, but many people don’t realise that just a few minutes drive away you can find the beauty of Zillie Falls and Ellinjaa Falls. It’s an easy day trip to the waterfall circuit from Cairns, and it’s definitely one that nature lovers won’t want to miss! In fact, it’s so impressive that we included the circuit on our Australian East Coast road trip itinerary. This guide covers everything you need to know about the Cairns waterfall circuit in the Atherton Tablelands!
Getting to the Cairns Waterfall Circuit
The Cairns waterfall circuit is an adventure best undertaken by car. Located in the Atherton Tablelands, it’s around a 90-minute drive from Cairns to the waterfall circuit and there is no public transport between the two.
Renting a car can be surprisingly affordable, and allows you to discover the waterfall circuit at your own pace. Having a car is also great for exploring the stunning beauty of Tropical North Queensland, which is why we recommend renting one on our three day Cairns itinerary!
When it comes to renting a car, we recommend visiting the Discover Cars website to find the best deal. They compare prices between a number of operators, helping you to find the cheapest option for your trip!
Click here to find the best deals for your trip on the Discover Cars website!
Alternatively, if you want to plan a bit of a road trip then you can also rent a campervan on the Motorhome Republic website. They compare prices between a number of operators to ensure you get the best deal!
Click here to visit the Motorhome Republic website to find the best deals for your trip!
If renting a car or campervan isn’t an option then the next best option is to take a tour. Tours tend to only visit Millaa Millaa Falls on the waterfall circuit, but this is the most famous and arguably most impressive of the three waterfalls.
Get Your Guide offer a wonderful tour of the Atherton Tablelands, visiting Millaa Millaa Falls, Josephine Falls, Lake Eacham, and more! This tour costs just $149 AUD per person and includes return transport from Cairns, as well as morning tea and lunch!
Click here to book an amazing tour of the Atherton Tablelands on the Get Your Guide website!
Cairns Waterfall Circuit
Millaa Milaa Falls
The first stop on the Cairns waterfall circuit is Millaa Millaa Falls. Hidden away in the heart of the lush rainforest of the Atherton Tablelands, this 18 metre high waterfall is a stunning sight.
Pristine water cascades down a rock face and crashes into the pool below. Surrounded by lush green foilage, the pool is a safe and serene place to swim – making it ideal for cooling off from the tropical heat!
Millaa Millaa Falls is the most famous waterfall on the Cairns waterfall circuit, and is said to be the most photographed waterfall in Australia. This picturesque waterfall is so impressive that it’s featured in a number of commercials. It was even rumoured to be where Peter Andre shot the famous ‘Mysterious Girl’ video – although this has since been confirmed as untrue.
Located just outside the town of Millaa Millaa, the falls are approximately a 90-minute drive from Cairns. Free parking is available at the falls, and it’s only a short walk from the car park to the waterfall itself. It’s the most easily accessible waterfall on the list, but is also the busiest waterfall on the circuit.
The natural beauty of Millaa Millaa Falls alone is worth the drive from Cairns, but thankfully there are two more incredible waterfalls to visit on the circuit. Millaa Millaa is the only waterfall on the circuit with toilet facilities nearby, and there are also several boards with information on the area.
Zillie Falls
Next stop on the Cairns waterfall circuit is Zillie Falls. It’s not quite as easily accessible as Millaa Millaa Falls, but the viewing platform still provides a lovely view.
With a drop of 30 metres, Zillie Falls is the tallest waterfall on the circuit. The powerful waterfall, set against a backdrop of lush rainforest, makes for a beautiful sight and photo opportunity.
A path does lead down towards the base of the falls, but towards the end it gets very steep and muddy. If it’s recently rained this can make it hard to reach the base of the falls, but it is possible if it hasn’t been raining or if the path doesn’t put you off!
It’s possible to go swimming at Zillie Falls if you do manage to navigate the steep path. If the path is a bit too challenging for you then just make sure you take the opportunity to swim at the other two waterfalls on the circuit.
It’s around a 10-minute drive from Millaa Millaa Falls to Zillie Falls, and there are plenty of spaces to park in a roadside car park. The Zillie Falls viewing platform is a short walk from the car park, and you can follow the path through the rainforest if you want to reach the base of the falls.
Click here to find out the best apps to download for your travels in Australia!
Ellinjaa Falls
The final stop on the Cairns waterfall circuit is Ellinjaa Falls. Hidden away amongst lush tropical rainforest, this secluded multi-tiered cascade is a picturesque spot.
It’s the smallest of the three waterfalls on the circuit, with a height of just 15 metres, but it’s still a beautiful waterfall in its own right. The way the streams of water cascade over the rock face is mesmerising, so it’s a spot not to be missed.
There is a shallow pool at the base of the falls, so you can swim here too – just make sure to be wearing your swimming gear. In our experience it was the least busy waterfall on the circuit, and we actually had it entirely to ourselves on our visit!
It’s a short walk to the falls along a paved path and down some stairs. As you approach the falls, keep an eye on the water as turtles can sometimes be seen swimming here.
It only takes a couple of minutes to drive from Zillie Falls to Ellinjaa Falls, and there is a reasonable sized car park near the falls. Of course if you follow the loop in the other direction you can make Ellinjaa Falls the first stop on the Cairns waterfall circuit, and finish up at the beautiful Millaa Millaa Falls.
Platypus spotting in Yungaburra
If you have time after driving the Cairns waterfall circuit in the Atherton Tablelands, then make sure to visit the small town of Yungaburra. This town is a wonderful spot for wildlife and nature lovers, providing a rare chance to see the elusive platypus in the wild!
Yungaburra is around a half an hour drive from the waterfall circuit, and there are two spots in the town where you have a good chance to see a platypus. It’s possible to see platypuses at Peterson’s Creek near the suspension bridge, and there are a number of other interesting and rare species found by the creek including tree kangaroos and pademelons.
The other spot to see platypuses in Yungaburra is at the Platypus Viewing Platform, which is just a 2-minute drive from Peterson’s Creek. Platypuses can be seen from the platform, but if you don’t have luck make sure to head under the nearby bridge as sightings seem to be more common there.
We managed to get a great sighting of a platypus for around an hour under the bridge, and it was one of the highlights of our time in Tropical North Queensland.
Looking for other amazing places to visit in Australia? Check out our day trip itinerary guide to Rottnest Island and our 2 day Great Ocean Road itinerary!
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