DESTINATION: Malanda

Located at the heart of the Atherton Tableland, Malanda is almost encircled by the Johnstone River. The town, 20km SE of Atherton, is the centre of the only dairy industry in the tropics, and has the longest milk run in the world, supplying milk to Darwin and South-East Asia.

Main Attractions

The historic Majestic Theatre is a much-loved feature of Malanda and the only original movie theatre on the Tableland with the original ticket office still standing. The historic Malanda Hotel is the largest all-timber structure in Queensland. The town's best-known attraction is Malanda Falls CP and Scenic Reserve where the Johnstone River 'falls' over a basalt lava flow into a natural swimming hole. The surrounding park offers 2 short rainforest walks that shelter many birds. The Malanda Falls Visitor Centre has much to offer, including the 'Volcano Experience', Rainforest Room, interactive touch-screen computer displays, and indigenous and non-indigenous historical displays. For a truly wonderful experience, visitors can book a guided Rainforest Walk with Ernie Raymont, a tribal elder with the Ngadjonji people.

Nearby attractions

The Atherton Tableland provides many attractions, including Bromfield Swamp; the National Trust-classified village of Yungaburra; and the volcanic crater lakes, Barrine and Eacham, near Yungaburra. Mount Hypipamee NP (The Crater), to the SW on the Evelyn Tableland, has an extinct volcanic pipe crater with 58m sheer granite walls dropping down to a 82m-deep lake. Eacham Historic Museum, in Millaa Millaa, has displays depicting the life of early timber-cutters and the district's rural pioneers.

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Region: Tropical North Queensland

by admin

Tropical North Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea islands and the Great Barrier Reef to the east and the rainforest mountains that sweep down from the northernmost section of the Great Dividing Range to the west. Inland from the balmy, humid coast, the Atherton Tableland is elevated 600-900m above sea level. Known as the cool tropics, the weather is usually warm and sunny during the day, while nights are cool to cold. more

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Tourist info

Atherton-Malanda Rd, Ph: (07) 4096 6957

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