So you’re in Australia, visiting Cairns (or Port Douglas!) and you want to see some waterfalls. Well you came to the right place. There are so many beautiful waterfalls to see in this part of Tropical North Queensland, its nuts. This also makes it hard to decide which to pick if you only have a day or two to explore. Fear not, I have picked my favorite waterfalls near Cairns and outlined what to expect so you can decide for yourself.
The waterfalls in this region stretch from as far North as Cape Tribulation to south of Mission Beach, most centering about an hour any direction from Cairns. Most of the falls in this post are south of Cairns, no further than a 45 minute drive away.
You will have to rent a car for this excursion, if you’re looking for something cheap, check out Rent-a-Bomb, if you’d like something a little more comfortable go for Mini Car Rentals or Jucy. There are also a couple tours that will take you down the “waterfall circuit” (which doesn’t include most of these) but I have to stress how amazing it is exploring these on your own. You never know what else you might find 😉
The Best Waterfalls Near Cairns
Windin Falls
Of all the waterfalls near Cairns, this one is my FAVE. I think because its such an adventure. Plus you get to drive through my FAVORITE region! The Tablelands. This area is not talked about enough, you drive through beautiful farmland that is so lush and green, its like no place I’ve ever seen.
Now, unlike most waterfalls on this list, there are no signs or directions to get here. It’s a sneaky one, another reason why I love it. When we went there were only six other people who showed up the whole time. I love it so much I wrote an entire post about how to get there, follow my directions here.
I would plan to do this one early. Its about an hour hike up and and an hour down, plus you will want some time to hang at the top. (And most likely take some photos). Bring some sunscreen and lots of water, you WILL be thirsty!
Windin Falls is also unique in that you are at the top of the falls with an insane view over the Wet Tropics World Heritage rainforest. Not to mention, there is a natural pool that forms right before the drop off where it is safe to swim. The combination of the hike, the view and the freezing cold water makes for quite the exhilarating experience. Trust me, you want to see this one.
Click here for instructions on how to get to Windin Falls.
Behana Gorge
This one is my second favorite! This place is so majestic, it takes your breath away. You walk down a paved path for almost 2 miles, about 45 minutes. Beware, this path has some SERIOUS hills, you want to be in moderate physical shape for this one.
The great thing about the long walk? Most tourists don’t make it out here. This is another low-key spot to hang out.
How to get to Behana Gorge
This one doesn’t come up when you put it in Google Maps, however, Behana Gorge Road does. Follow the directions to Behana Gorge Rd and keep going until the end. You will see a sign for Wooroonooran Park and a big paved road past a gate. That’s your path. Just start walking and after about 40 minutes you will start to see the bottom of the falls to your left!
Milla Milla Falls
Alright so if you’ve heard of any falls up here it’s probably this one. Milla Milla seems to be the most famous of the waterfalls near Cairns, partly due to an Herbal Essences commercial filmed here? You will definitely see people taking hair flip photos.
As much as that really isn’t my thing, this waterfall is truly beautiful. The only downside is it is right next to the parking lot so not much mystery there. That being said, its perfect for family and people who are unable to hike.
This one is easy to find in Google maps and is part of the famous waterfall circuit through the region. It can be a little crowded so we just went by to check it out which I highly recommend, it is completely worth seeing but I recommend spending most of your time at one of the previously mentioned falls 😉
Josephine Falls
Josephine Falls is another stunning waterfall, a tropical oasis even. Tucked away under the trees, these falls make for a lovely place to spend some time. Depending on when you visit, there is a natural waterslide down the rock and it is safe to swim. (It is not ALWAYS safe to swim- aka after a big rainstorm- so use your judgement.)
This is another one that is easy to get to and is along the tour route. Put Josephine Falls into your GPS and it will take you right to the parking lot. From there, follow the paved path up to one of the 3 access points. The walk is an easy 5-10 minutes.
Babinda Boulders
Also known as the Devil’s Pool, this place is SO unique and one of the coolest waterfalls bear Cairns. Another organized tourist spot- paved parking lot, signs with information, etc- I was skeptical when I first arrived. However, this spot is very cool. Just follow the signs and walk down the paved path for about 15 minutes and you will start to see the Boulders on your right.
I was blown away. The rocks are so huge and beautifully smoothed over, I’ve never seen anything quite like it. Water flows down through the boulders, leaving still pools where people climb down to swim. There are a lot of warning signs here and it can be dangerous to swim so use your best judgement and always be careful!
The boulders are not just a beautiful place for swimming and visiting, but also a place of spiritual significance for the Aboriginal people. Read about the legend here.
Nandroya Falls
Alright so this one is a bonus. I didn’t actually make it here because, well, I didn’t hear about it until my last day in Cairns! A friend of mine HIGHLY recommends this spot and it looks like a really cool place to check out. It’s definitely off the beaten path, with an hour long hike and the pics look pretty magical. Plus most people don’t know about it so you can get it all to yourself.
Click here for photos and info on how to get there! I don’t want you guys to miss out on it just because I did 😉
So those are my must see waterfalls near Cairns! I know it can be hard to choose where to go, so now at least you have somewhere to start 🙂 If you are staying in Cairns, don’t miss out on the best coffee shops in town- check out my list here – or this list of awesome things to do around Cairns City.
Let me know how the DIY waterfall tour goes. Drop a comment below or hit me up at hannah@badtourist.co, I love to hear from ya!
Love ya,
Hannah
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