Josephine Falls Water Slide at Wooroonooran National Park
Starting on the south-east side of Queensland’s highest peak on Mount Bartle Frere.
Just a little trickle 7.5km down from the Bartle Frere summit, its waters run down and across granite boulders. The water eventually leads down as series of cascading waterfalls we know as Josephine Falls Cairns Australia.
The traditional indigenous owners of Noongyanbudda Ngadjon-jii use to live around here and Mount Bartle Frere. The Aboriginal tribe would move around freely, based on its seasons. The women would gather, whilst the men would hunt. The locals only took what they needed, so that the circle of life remained intact.
The indigenous people have a very special connection to mother nature. Parts of Josephine falls are very special to the indigenous and are out of bounds for the public.
This is one of the many waterfalls around Cairns, it’s located in the World Heritage Wet Tropics Rainforest. Josephine Falls has stunning picturesque views, an abundance of plant species, wildlife, crystal clean waters. It’s been voted numerous times as one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Tropical North Queensland.
The Josephine falls walk is roughly 600m each way from the car park. The walking track is fairly flat, the ground area does vary and bend a little. Wheelchair access is possible for the top viewing area only. There are 3 main viewing platforms, the bottom viewing area is the entrance point to this freshwater swimming holes Cairns.
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Takes approx 1hr and 20 mins by car, or why not take a day tour that covers some of the most popular spots on the Waterfalls Cairns Circuit.
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Josephine Falls is in North Queensland, approx 1 hours’ drive from Cairns just off the Bruce Highway.
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Yes, definitely… When visiting Cairns, you should aim to visit at the least, The Great Barrier Reef, Cape Tribulation & Daintree Rainforest or the Atherton Tablelands Rainforest & Waterfalls Circuit.
Josephine Falls & Millaa Millaa Falls are two very popular waterfalls near Cairns and boasting of being some of the most photographed waterfalls internationally. These two waterfalls close to Cairns attract many tv programs, commercials, photographers, both locals and travellers wanting to enjoy a refreshing swim in the beautiful Wet Tropics of Queensland.
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Barefoot Tours has been taking guests on their Atherton Tablelands Waterfall Day Tour since 2010. Josephine Falls is a part of Barefoot Tours’ tour, and their day also visits many of the other popular swimming holes from Cairns on their waterfall circuit like Millaa Millaa falls.
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There are no Josephine falls crocodiles present.
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This freshwater swimming spot is prone to flash flooding especially during Wet Season, so you do need to be cautious. Check the water levels before entering and make sure you safely exit the water, as soon as the flash flooding lights go off or the water level is too high (water level reader on the other side at base of the falls).
We can swim in the middle section, the natural rockslide that leads into the bottom section. The rest of the water areas are out of bounds. If you are caught in a restricted area, you can receive an on the spot fine for being there.
When going on tour with us, our guides show you the guidelines and are there to help keep you safe. They are all first aid rescue qualified and being local they understand the area very well.
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Josephine Falls, Queensland Australia is looked after by the National Parks. National Parks don’t allow domestic animals and they don’t like you to feed the wild animals.
On arrival to Josephine falls there is a Nation Parks private office to the left just before the sign, an emergency phone on the right side, then a set of car parks and bus parks with toilet facilities nearby.
Before the walk to Josephine falls there is a grassy area, picnic table with seating and a BBQ area, then you have an information board next to the walkway leading to the falls.
