Top 9 Best Waterfalls Near Cairns
Cairns is a waterfall paradise! As our favorite hobby is to go waterfall chasing, we created a guide to make sure you get to visit the best waterfalls around Cairns! If you are not interested in waterfalls but want tips on what you can do aroud Cairns, we have written a guide about other things you can do in Cairns. Let’s jump into the waterfall chase!
VIEW POST: A Complete Guide To Cairns
The Waterfall Circuit
We start with the Waterfall Circuit which is an easy way to explore a few waterfalls near Cairns. You can take a tour to do this, but we would recommend taking your own car as that way you will get to see exactly what you want and in the order you want. It’s worth spending a full day exploring these waterfalls.
The first stop on this adventure is Maland Falls. This waterfall is located right by the parking area which makes the walk very short. There’s a café located right by the waterfall that is open daily. If you want to explore the area there are walking trails leading from the fall and if you keep your eyes open you might be one of the lucky ones that get to see Lumhotz’s tree kangaroos.
The second stop on the Waterfall Circuit is probably the most photographed (hair flip!) waterfall, Millaa Millaa Falls. Millaa Millaa is a gorgeous spot and you can have a refreshing swim in this pretty much perfect waterfall. Don´t expect to be here alone, because this is a very popular spot.
The next waterfall is Zillie Falls. You can view this gorgeous waterfall on the platform above or take a short walk down to the bottom. The walk isn´t very well marked and can be slippery so be careful.
Our last stop in the Circuit is Ellinjaa Falls. Like the previous two, this waterfall is also dazzling and worth a visit. It is also a very easy place to snap a photo with a clear view of the Falls. All the waterfalls are free to go to and have picnic areas.
Josephine Falls
If you feel like the trio of the Waterfall Circuit is not enough, head to nearby Josephine Falls. Josephine Falls is located in the foothills of Queensland’s highest mountain range. This waterfall is easily accessible and also has wheelchair access. After a short walk through the lush forest, you can see nature´s own waterpark! Josephine Falls is one of our favorite waterfalls around Cairns and you will understand why when you lay your eyes on this beauty! We hope you are going to enjoy your swim in the crystal clear water and have fun sliding down to the natural waterslides! As we mentioned earlier it’s also tour groups going here so if you’re not going with one of them we recommend you to be here early to beat the crowds or get here right before the sun starts to set.
Chrystal Cascades
Chrystal Cascades is a secluded freshwater swimming hole surrounded by lush rainforest. A series of small waterfalls flowing into large pools make an ideal place for a refreshing swim! This waterfall is 25 minutes away from the city and is only accessible by self-drive. It is popular among the locals.
Fairy falls
Close to the Chrystal cascades you can also find the Fairy falls. Wich is a bit more hidden and you might actually be lucky enough to get it all to yourself. Some rock hopping is required to reach this falls, which looks just as magical as its name. The track to reach the falls starts on the left side of the Chrystal cascade parking lot. Just follow the trail but don’t get mislead of the path created by past travelers that take you up a very steep incline away from the creek. From the parking lot to the falls, it should take you about 15 minutes to walk.
Old Weir Falls at Stoney Creek
One of the favorites among the locals is Stoney Creek. Stoney Creek is an easy drive away from Cairns CBD. When you arrive at the parking lot it is about 25 minutes walk to the Old Weir Falls. Along the walk, you will see several pools, perfect for a cool down in the hot and tropical weather that Cairns has.
Windin Falls
Windin Falls is one of the most memorable places we´ve been in the whole of Australia. This waterfall is a bit of a drive from Cairns but definitely worth it.
This waterfall isn´t too easy to find – we ended up driving 20 minutes in the wrong directions before finding the beginning of the walking track. Put Lamins Hills Lookout on the GPS and when you reach it continue driving until the road forks in two. Take a left (not right like we did first) and keep on driving Old Cairns Track until you see a sign ”Windin Falls”. Park on the side (make sure not to block the road!) and walk for five minutes until you see a metal gate on the right. Climb over and begin your walk! When we did our walk it had been raining a lot the last days and the path was extremely muddy and slippery. During dry weather, the walk is probably easier as it is fairly flat. The walk took us a little less than an hour.
When you reach the Falls, be ready to get amazed because the view is breathtaking! And it´s not only the view: on top of the Falls, you can dip into nature´s own infinity pool! We visited Windin Falls in April and because of the heavy rains, the flow in the waterfall was too strong for us to go for a swim. But even without a swim, this place is definitely worth the hike. Remember to take drinking water and protect your skin with sunscreen.
As you can see, Cairns offers several waterfalls in the surrounding area and gives you and your friends the perfect opportunity to go out chasing them. Bring a towel, sunscreen, water, and picnic and you are ready to go. If you wouldn’t get enough of chasing waterfalls after these ones, there are a few more of them around Cairns that we haven’t had the time to visit but you can find more information about them HERE.
