As the hot sultry conditions of a Far North summer begin to bite, it’s time to head to the mountains and an altitude with less attitude. An Atherton Tablelands summer looks a little like this:
✓ Beautiful lakes
✓ Waterfalls to swim in
✓ Glorious shad under ancient trees
✓ Rainforest
✓ Cooler nights
✓ Awesome wildlife
✓ Tropical Icecream
The Atherton Tablelands are to Cairns what the hill stations are to India’s cities – and yes, they do grow a nice cup of char up there! Iced tea anyone?
The Atherton Tablelands are the best bet in summer for enjoying outdoor pursuits whether it’s a gentle bike ride around the lush countryside or pounding the pavement to work off some holiday excess.
A round of golf is a pleasure among the rolling hills and patchwork plains of the plateau, and why not top off your outing with something that screams summer – ice cream! It’s made right on the Atherton Tablelands from its world-famous dairies and locally grown fruits such as mangoes and lychees.
All can be done without worrying quite so much about torrential downpours to spoil your fun. It will rain – and the driest continent on earth is never dismissive of rain – but it will be gentle, keeping this rich fruit bowl and vege basket topped up.
Enjoy a summer picnic beside a mountain stream or a walk through a grove of tropical trees.
There are countless easy trails, leading you to some great shaded picnic areas for you to slow down, rest and soak up the beauty of the Atherton Tablelands. Some great places to stop for a bite to eat include:
✿ The Avenue of Honour at Yungaburra
✿ Herberton Lions Park Wild River Reserve
✿ Millaa Millaa Lookout
✿ Jumrum National Park, Kuranda
✿ Davies Creek
A night on the Atherton Tablelands offers some unique wildlife experiences. Many of the lodges, cabins and small B&B’s dotted around the Atherton Tablelands are built within the rainforest or along mountain streams, offering the best chance to see the area’s wonderful nocturnal wildlife up close including tree kangaroos, sugar gliders and possums.
