Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Frankland Islands
If the idea of hanging out on one of five uninhabited coral-fringed islands with excellent
snorkelling and stunning white sandy beaches appeals - how can it not? - cruise out to the
Frankland Group National Park.
Camping is available on the rainforesty High and Russell Islands; contact the
NPRSR
(
13 74 68;
www.nprsr.qld.gov.au
;
permit $5.45)
for advance reservations and seasonal restrictions.
Frankland Islands Cruise & Dive
( 07-4031 6300;
www.franklandislands.com.au
; adult/child from $149/79)
run excellent day trips which include a cruise down the Mulgrave River, snorkelling gear
and tuition and lunch. Guided snorkelling tours with a marine biologist and diving pack-
ages are also offered. Transfers for campers to/from Russell Island are available. Boats de-
part from Deeral; transfers from Cairns and the northern beaches cost $16 per person.
You'll need to organise your own boat or charter to reach High Island.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Atherton Tableland
Climbing back from the coast between Innisfail and Cairns is the fertile food bowl of the
far north, the Atherton Tableland. Quaint country towns, eco-wilderness lodges and lux-
urious B&Bs dot greener-than-green hills between patchwork fields, pockets of rainforest,
spectacular lakes and waterfalls, and Queensland's highest mountains: Bartle Frere
(1622m) and Bellenden Ker (1593m).
Four main roads lead in from the coast: the Palmerston Hwy from Innisfail, the Gillies
Hwy from Gordonvale, the Kennedy Hwy from Cairns, and Rex Range Rd between
Mossman and Port Douglas.
DON'T MISS
WATERFALLS CIRCUIT
Take in four of the Tableland's most picturesque waterfalls on this leisurely 15km circuit. Start by swinging on to
Theresa Creek Rd, 1km east of Millaa Millaa on the Palmerston Hwy. Surrounded by tree ferns and flowers, the
Millaa Millaa Falls
, 1.5km along, are easily the best for swimming and have a grassy picnic area. Almost ridicu-
lously picturesque, the spectacular 12m falls are reputed to be the most photographed in Australia.
Zillie Falls
,
8km further on, are reached by a short walking trail that leads to a lookout peering down (with some vertigo) on
the falls from above. The next,
Ellinjaa Falls
, have a 200m walking trail down to a rocky swimming hole at the
base of the falls. A further 5.5km down the Palmerston Hwy there's a turn-off to
Mungalli Falls
.
