Atherton Tablelands

The wet tropic's cooler high country

About the region

Meet our local travel specialists

Meet our local travel specialists and learn about the diversity of things you could do and micro group travel in the Atherton Tablelands

At a Glance

A laid-back yet vibrant city, Cairns is the gateway to this incredible World Heritage-listed region. From here, connecting with nature goes deeper. Learn about and experience the local Indigenous culture and explore the rainforest nearby. Discover sophisticated coastal dining, shopping and sprawling untouched beaches. This is also your gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and there are amazing eco-accredited operators to take you to learn about the reef creatures and even participate in some conservation. The Daintree River has boat tours where you can see stunning wildlife including crocodiles, eat locally-made ice-cream and there are specialist guides for spotting native animals like cassowaries. A lifetime isn't long enough to see everything this destination has to offer ... there's a reason why it's considered to be among the oldest and most diverse natural landscapes in the world.

When to visit

Any time of the year other than cyclone season is good to visit. Bushwalking and cycling are pleasant in the Atherton Tablelands, particular during the winter months. Spring and autumn are popular with nature-lovers, as weather is warmer and animal activity highest. It is also slightly less crowded. .

Atherton Tablelands when to visit

Climate

From May to July, maximum temperatures are about 30 degrees when it is also driest. Temperatures climb steadily later in the season. The Atherton Tablelands is considerably cooler and very visitable during the dry and shoulder seasons. Cyclones occur most commonly in the first quarter of the year. 

the Atherton Tablelands Climate

Watch a film about the region

Find out more about the Atherton Tablelands by watching a film introducing these unique destinations.