The area around Cairns is one of the two wettest regions in Australia (the other being the west coast of Tasmania around Strahan), receiving about two metres of rain a year. Although most of the rainfall is in the Wet Season (December to February) when the waterfalls are most spectacular, the creeks and rivers run all year. Most of the waterfalls and swimming holes are easily reached, sometimes via a short walk, although a small number require a more challenging bushwalk to reach.
Reached by an 8km (return) bushwalk, the picturesque Big Mowbray Falls is quite secluded. Above the waterfall is a shallow swimming hole and some small cascades.
- Mowbray National Park
- Type of waterfall: Cascade
- Total drop: 25
- Rating: 3.5
- Ease of access: Moderate
- Bump Track trailhead on Black Mountain Road (Mowbray). Alternate and longer route from Conolly Road.
The Mossman Gorge Swimming Hole is a popular spot along the Mossman River. It's reached by a 400m walk along a paved track from the shuttle bus stop.
- Daintree National Park
- Rating: 3.5
- Ease of access: Easy
- Walk or shuttle bus from Mossman Gorge Centre carpark, at end of Mossman Gorge Road
A hidden waterfall reached by an unmarked track from the Crystal Cascades carpark, Fairy Falls is a picturesque cascade and a secluded swimming hole.
- Type of waterfall: Plunge
- Total drop: 10
- Rating: 3.5
- Ease of access: Easy/Moderate
- Parking at end of Redlynch Intake Road (Redlynch)
About an hour from Cairns, the Emerald Creek Falls offers both an impressive lookout over the Upper Falls, and some spectacular swimming holes at the Lower Falls.
- Dinden West Forest Reserve
- Type of waterfall: Cascade, Plunge, Tiered or multi-step
- Total drop: 30
- Rating: 4
- Ease of access: Easy
- Large carpark at end of Emerald Falls Road
The Henrietta Creek waterhole is a small swimming hole along the creek, below the campground.
- Wooroonooran National Park
- Ease of access: Easy
- Just below Henrietta Creek camping area off Palmerston Highway
A popular destination from Cairns, Babinda Boulders offers a number of spectacular swimming holes. A short walk to Devils Pool gives you good view of the cascades and rock formations along Babinda Creek.
- Boulders Scenic Reserve
- Ease of access: Easy
- Large carpark at the end of The Boulders Road
A series of picturesque cascades and beautiful swimming holes, the popular Josephine Falls is reached by a paved walking track (1.4km return)
- Wooroonooran National Park
- Type of waterfall: Cascade, Tiered or multi-step
- Total drop: 10
- Rating: 4
- Ease of access: Easy
- Walking trail and large carpark at end of Josephine Falls Road
Wallicher Falls is a wide waterfall along Henrietta Creek in the Wooroonooran National Park, reached via a short bushwalking track.
- Wooroonooran National Park
- Type of waterfall: Segmented
- Total drop: 10
- Rating: 2.5
- Ease of access: Easy/Moderate
- Trail starts from Henrietta Creek camping area off Palmerston Highway
Reached via a short bushwalking track, Tchupala Falls is a segmented waterfall along Henrietta Creek in the Wooroonooran National Park.
- Wooroonooran National Park
- Type of waterfall: Segmented
- Total drop: 15
- Rating: 2.5
- Ease of access: Easy/Moderate
- Trail starts from Henrietta Creek camping area off Palmerston Highway
A powerful and impressive waterfall in Wooroonooran National Park, Nandroya Falls plunges 50m into a rainforest-fringed swimming hole.
- Wooroonooran National Park
- Type of waterfall: Plunge
- Total drop: 50
- Rating: 4
- Ease of access: Moderate
- Trail starts from Henrietta Creek camping area off Palmerston Highway
A small waterfall along the Nandroya Falls walking track, the photogenic Silver Creek Falls drops about 10m into a shallow pool.
- Wooroonooran National Park
- Type of waterfall: Horsetail
- Total drop: 10
- Rating: 1.5
- Ease of access: Easy/Moderate
- Trail starts from Henrietta Creek camping area off Palmerston Highway
Reached by a short but steep paved trail, Ellinjaa Falls is a picturesque waterfall that drops 15m into a shallow pool.
- Type of waterfall: Tiered or multi-step
- Total drop: 15
- Rating: 3
- Ease of access: Easy
- Carpark just off Theresa Creek Road
One of three waterfalls along Theresa Creek Road, Zillie Falls plunges 30m into a narrow valley. A viewing platform is at the top of the falls.
- Wooroonooran National Park
- Type of waterfall: Plunge
- Total drop: 30
- Rating: 4
- Ease of access: Easy
- Carpark next to falls on Theresa Creek Road
One of the most spectacular and most-visited waterfalls around Cairns, Millaa Millaa Falls is surrounded by rainforest and has a beautiful swimming hole at the the base.
- Wooroonooran National Park
- Type of waterfall: Plunge
- Total drop: 18.3
- Rating: 4.5
- Ease of access: Easy
- Upper and lower carparks just of Theresa Creek Road
Malanda Falls (Tutamonlin) is a wide waterfall with a popular man-made swimming pool beneath the falls. Located just over an hour south of Cairns, it's very easy to get to.
- Dinden National Park, Malanda Falls Conservation Park
- Type of waterfall: Block or Ledge
- Total drop: 4
- Rating: 2
- Ease of access: Easy
- Large carpark next to falls on Malanda Atherton Road (SH25)
Davies Creek Falls is a picturesque waterfall in the Dinden National Park, about an hour from Cairns, Above the falls is a spectacular infinity pool or waterhole, perched above a sheer cliff.
- Dinden National Park
- Type of waterfall: Tiered or multi-step
- Total drop: 60
- Rating: 3.5
- Ease of access: Easy
- Signposted trail from Davies Creek Road
Along Freshwater Creek near Cairns is a series of swimming holes and cascades. The furthest waterhole along the 1.5km track has a pair of picturesque waterfalls.
- Type of waterfall: Segmented
- Total drop: 10
- Rating: 3
- Ease of access: Easy
- Parking at end of Redlynch Intake Road (Redlynch)
One of the largest waterfalls in Far North Queensland. Barron Falls is most spectacular during the wet season (Dec-Mar). Multiple vantage points provide a view over the rugged Barron Gorge and falls.
- Barron Gorge National Park
- Type of waterfall: Cascade
- Total drop: 160
- Rating: 3
- Ease of access: Easy
- Barron Falls Lookout near Kuranda can be accessed via train or car (about 35min drive from Cairns)
Mulligan Falls is a picturesque waterfall with a deep swimming hole on Hinchinbrook Island. It's accessed by the multi-day Thorsborne Trail, or by boat with a 2.5km walk from the beach.
- Hinchinbrook Island National Park
- Type of waterfall: Cascade
- Total drop: 20
- Rating: 2.5
- Ease of access: Easy/Moderate
- Multi-day hiking trail or boat transfer from Lucinda
Accessed by the multi-day Thorsborne Trail or by boat, Zoe Falls is a picturesque cascade and swimming hole on Hinchinbrook Island.
- Hinchinbrook Island National Park
- Type of waterfall: Cascade
- Total drop: 10
- Rating: 2
- Ease of access: Easy
- Multi-day hiking trail or boat transfer from Cardwell or Lucinda
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