Millaa Millaa Waterfall, North Queensland
90 mins inland and upland from Cairns, in the Atherton Tablelands is a small tropical dairyland town of Millaa Millaa… Surrounded by lush rainforest, the internationally recognized, Heritage listed falls is famous for many things. It is seen in TV ads, movies, documentaries and music clips all around the world.
Millaa Millaa falls sits in the middle of the Atherton Tablelands waterfall circuit. Within the Atherton Tablelands Waterfalls Circuit is the Millaa Millaa waterfall circuit. This has a few nearby waterfalls such as Ellinjaa falls, Mungali falls, Zillie falls & Pepina falls!
Today when in the Wet Tropics visiting Atherton Tablelands waterfalls from Cairns, you’ll see the jaw dropping natural features. Millaa Millaa falls has a 18m (60ft) waterfall dropping over the long pipe formation of surface rocks. Beneath the waterfall is a plunge pool, surrounded by a rich green rainforest and a grassy picnic area. Swimming under or standing behind the waterfalls, is popular with many visitors visiting Millaa Millaa falls.
If you are extremely lucky some people have spotted platypus in the creek, as well as small turtles and fish. You’ll want to put this on your bucket list when exploring the region, make sure you bring a camera!
-
Yes, you can swim at Millaa Millaa falls, this a refreshing swim with jaw dropping serenity. There are no crocodiles present at the falls.
-
Driving takes about an hour and a half, but why not jump on a day trip or tour instead? You can meet like-minded travellers and Barefoot Tours can show you their favourite Cairns Waterfalls spots in the Tablelands.
-
In the Aboriginal language when they want to say plenty of, or many they multiple the word to say lots.
The word “Millaa Millaa” is of popular belief to be “plenty of water”, but it had a different meaning.
“Millaa, Millaa” comes from the local Mamu Aboriginal people who use the word “Malay, Malay” which is the Rainforest Vine (aka Elaeagnus triflora). This is the fruit of which was a seasonal food source in the area.
-
Millaa Millaa falls has a car park, a bus park, a viewing platform overlooking the falls from the bottom. There is toilet facilities, changing rooms, a grassy area and tables area here.
-
Millaa Millaa started in the 1880’s when Alexander Douglas and Christie Palmerston began to clear paths to connect the Herberton mining fields to the Queensland coastal area. Today this is known as the Palmerston Highway.
Back in the day many other different parties would use Millaa Millaa falls… The Mamu Aboriginal people used it for a seasonal food source. European settlers used it as a rest spot, from land surveyors, construction workers for the railway line and there was a short-term quarry that produced road making materials. This is a key area, playing a huge role for the evolution of Queensland’s history and development.
Rawson’s Pool was once the more popular swimming hole. In the late 1950’s Millaa Millaa falls received an upgrade. A better road was built with a small car park, toilet facilities, a BBQ and a shelter shed. After this the private property with Rawson’s Pool was closed off to the public.
