Lakes of the Atherton Tablelands

The Lakes of the Atherton Tablelands are only an hour away from Cairns and a must visit when you are enjoying your holiday at the coast or in the Atherton Tablelands area.

Take a refreshing swim in a crater like lake Eacham or having a world-famous Devonshire tea and a cruise at Lake Barrine.
Lake Barrine and Lake Eacham are lakes formed more than thousands of years ago by volcanic eruptions.
Today they are both beautiful lakes fringed by rainforest and a great place to spend the day.

If you are looking for a Lake where the possibilities of entertainment are endless, definitely head to Lake Tinaroo.

Lake Eacham

When we arrived in the Atherton Tablelands, Lake Eacham was our first destination. Although it was pitch-black when we arrived after a long day driving all the way from Charters Towers, you could smell the fresh air of the mountains, or hills we should probably say, and we were really happy to be here.

We stayed for 2 nights at the Lake Eacham Tourist Park, where we had the warmest welcome ever. The owners instantly made us feel at home and we did even more when we discovered the tiny cosy cabin in the woods ( not from the movie 😉

The next day when it was light, we explored the surroundings and discovered the Lake Eacham Tourist Park is not really big ( lucky us, cuz we don’t like massive stacks of people on top of each other on a Holiday Park ) but has this really relaxed and cosy atmosphere. It’s really green and bushy and there is a little pond where you can feed the ducks.

Later it was time to explore Lake Eacham, a clear bleu lake surrounded by lush rainforest. There are great picnic areas, toilets and barbecues, lots of different birds and if you are lucky you can also spot a tree kangaroo.

You can walk al around the Lake ( around 3 km return ) which will offer you forest fringed views of the lake, beautiful nature and bird life and songs.

There is also a 1.4 km return children’s walk which brings you fun little activities along the way and is suitable for prams.

Lake Barrine

Lake Barrine is famous for her beautiful tea house, and as soon as we arrived we knew why. This is such an amazing and tranquil place.

The multi-award winning Devonshire Teas and tasty light lunches can be enjoyed on the balcony of the charming 80-year-old teahouse while taking in the stunning lake views.

Wait What, Devonshire what? Yes we had to google that as well. But in simple terms, a Devonshire tea at the Lake Barrine tea house is a pot of tea with local leaves, fresh home-made scones made out of a recipe going back four generations served with freshly whipped cream and raspberry plum jam. YUMMO!

The thing was gone before we even made a picture ! Oeps! So we have a good reason to come back and while we are only 1 hour away, we definitely will!

We decided to sit back and relax on the great shady balcony and taking in the views, but you can also do a cruise along the lake to spot wildlife or take a walk along Lake Barrine or walk the 5km all around it.

The 45-minute cruise takes you around Lake Barrine and provides you with a great view of one of the most complex and amazing rainforest eco-systems in the world.

Lake Tinaroo

Lake Tinaroo is located in the heart of the Atherton Tablelands and with more than 200 km of shoreline enormously with lots to offer for everyone.
It is a magnet for tourists and more than 500.000 people visit the lake each year, and the reason for that is easy, as the nature and the atmosphere are amazing.

Lake Tinaroo is a very popular spot for swimmers, walkers, fishing (permit required) and ideal for picnics. There are barbecues available and there are five camping areas located around the back of the dam in the Danbulla State Forest.

You can drive all around Lake Tinaroo through the Danbulla State Forest, which will bring you stunning nature, adventure and picture perfect views.

At the Lake Tinaroo Holiday Park you can hire a range of equipment to get the best out of your lake Tinaroo Holiday or day trip.
If you want to see the entire lake rent a 4 meter tinny. They come with all the safety equipment and fuel. If you are not the best in launching and retrieving your boat, they can also do this for you.
Are you more of a slow experiencer? Why not rent a stand up paddle board ( sup`s ) a kayak or a canoe. They are lots of fun and a great way to paddle and splash around.
Look at www.lthp.com.au for all the detailed information and prices.

Looking for a place to stay at Lake Tinaroo ? Then The Lake Tinaroo Holiday park is also your best shot with a wide range of accommodations, camping spots and facilities for everyone.
Read our personal experience at the Lake Tinaroo Holiday Park here

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