Ravenshoe

Perched atop the Great Dividing Range at 920 metres, Ravenshoe proudly bills itself as Queensland's highest town. This former timber and railway hub has reinvented itself as a gateway to the lush Atherton Tablelands, where misty mountain air, ancient rainforest and tumbling waterfalls await. For travellers on a self-drive circuit from Cairns, Ravenshoe offers a refreshingly cool, laid-back base to explore the region's natural wonders, from the headwaters of the Herbert River to the soaring canopy of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.

Highlights & What to See

• Millstream Falls – Australia’s widest single-drop waterfall, thundering over a 60-metre basalt escarpment. A short walk leads to the lookout; for a real treat, follow the creek upstream to find secluded swimming holes.
• Ravenshoe Historic Railway Station – A beautifully restored 1916 timber station that now houses a museum, café and the starting point for the Ravenshoe Steam Railway heritage rides (check for seasonal openings).
• Mount Hypipamee Crater – A dramatic 80-metre-deep volcanic pipe surrounded by cool, mossy rainforest. The 20-minute trail passes a picnic area and the eerie, emerald-green Crater Lake.
• Nandroya Falls – A 2.2 km circuit through towering tree ferns and giant kauri pines leads to this majestic, tiered cascade. Best visited after rain when the flow is most impressive.
• Tully Gorge National Park – Just 20 minutes south, this park offers epic views from the Cardwell Range lookout, plus the chance to spot the elusive southern cassowary.
• Windy Hill Wind Farm – One of Australia's first commercial wind farms, with accessible turbines and sweeping views over the Tablelands. A surprising but photogenic stop.

Suggested Time to Spend

Two days is ideal to do justice to Ravenshoe's main attractions. Use Day 1 to explore Millstream Falls and the historic railway precinct, then drive the scenic loop to Mount Hypipamee and Nandroya Falls. Day 2 can be spent on a half-day trip to Tully Gorge or a longer hike in the Wet Tropics. If you're on a tight schedule, you can tick off the top waterfalls in a single, busy day from Cairns (about 2.5 hours' drive), but you'll miss the town's relaxed early-morning atmosphere and the chance to catch sunset from the wind farm.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Millaa Millaa – 30 minutes north, famous for its picture-perfect waterfall circuit and rolling dairy pastures.
• Malanda – A charming Tablelands town with a platypus-viewing boardwalk and the Malanda Falls swimming area.
• Yungaburra – Heritage-listed village with a vibrant Sunday market, the famous Curtain Fig Tree, and the Yungaburra National Park.
• Innisfail – A sugar-cane hub 45 minutes east, offering a glimpse into the region's Italian and Melanesian heritage and the Mamu Tropical Skywalk.
• Cardwell – Coastal town 50 minutes north-east, with the Hinchinbrook Island ferry and the Cardwell Rainforest and Reef Discovery Centre.

Please check official sources for current details.