Must-see waterfalls near Cairns

Seen the reef? Did the Daintree? Then the tropical waterfalls near Cairns should be next on any traveller’s bucket list when in the area.

A magical day trip from Cairns, there’s dozens of them to choose from in the area. A few are even accessible for swimmers looking to cool off on a sticky Northern Queensland day.

Here’s a few of our favourites.

Ellinjaa
Babinda
Barron Gorge

Josephine Falls

We’re starting off with our favourite waterfall near Cairns: Josephine Falls.

Tucked into a valley at the base of Mount Bartle Frere, Queensland’s tallest peak, even the drive to Josephine Falls is beautiful. You’ll pass banana farm after banana farm as you make your way toward the lush mountains.

There is about a 700 metre walk from the car park to the falls. Once you arrive, you’ll be treated to a fast-flowing cascade and few impossibly blue pools to choose from for a dip.

Can you swim here? Yes! But the currents can be strong and the area is susceptible to flash flooding during heavy rains.

Facilities: Toilets, picnic tables, car park

Millaa Millaa

Looking too perfect to be real, Millaa Millaa showers down into a turquoise pool. It’s surrounded by grass that’s perfect for picnics or lounging around between swims.

Can you swim at Millaa Millaa? Yes!

Facilities: Toilets, car park.

Tchupala Falls, a waterfall near Cairns.

Tchupala and Wallicher

We’re throwing these two together as they can be seen on the same short bushwalk. From the beginning of the path, it’s about 560 metres to Tchupala or 700 metres to get to Wallicher (pictured above).

Tip: This one can be easy to miss, so definitely keep an eye on your GPS. The car park (if you even want to call it that) is just the shoulder of a wider part of the road. There is a small green sign at the beginning of the path.

Can you swim at either of them? No, but you can swim along the river at the top of Wallicher Falls.

Facilities: None. Parking is just at the side of the highway.

Which Cairns waterfalls can you swim at?

As idyllic as swimming at a tropical waterfall may seem, there’s only a few in the area that you can swim at.

Millaa Millaa
Josephine Falls
Babinda (in a pool nearby)
Wallicher (upstream)

Not to scare you off, but make sure to check the weather and seasons before you visit During the wet season, some of these waterfalls can be prone to flash flooding. Some areas can be prone to crocodiles, too. Watch out for signage before going swimming anywhere in the area.

Can I book a tour of the waterfalls near Cairns?

You sure can! Whether you’re wanting to swim under the falls or take them in from afar, there’s a pretty wide range of tours available. Most depart from Cairns city centre and will pick you up from your accommodation, too.

Prices vary quite a bit depending on the tour, but there are budget-friendly options available.

Self-guided tours

While you can book a day tour, if you’re not alone and are comfortable driving, then consider hiring a car to do the journey yourself. That way, you can not only go at your own pace, but see and skip whichever waterfalls you’d like.

There are too many to pack into one day, but mapping out a few that are close to each other and splitting it into two days is a great way to get to them all.

Cairns waterfalls self-drive map

What is the closest waterfall to Cairns?

If you’re short on time or are keen to get to your first waterfall as quickly as possible, head straight for ___

How accessible are these waterfalls?

Millaa Millaa: No hike required to get to the falls, and they can even be seen from the car park.
Josephine Falls: The pathway to the see the falls and pool is accessible, but getting into the pools isn’t.

Keen for more waterfalls in Cairns?

There’s plenty of waterfalls near Cairns, and while we’ve certainly tried, we haven’t yet made it to them all. Here’s some other options that are on our to-do list, which you may want to add ton yours.