The Volcanic Crater Lake Eacham
A mere 10-minute drive from the captivating Curtain Fig Tree in Yungaburra, Queensland, you’ll discover the serene Lake Eacham nestled within the Crater Lakes National Park Cairns. This pristine gem is known for its crystalline blue waters, embraced by lush, dense rainforests and inhabited by a variety of small creatures. It’s a National Park that’s perfect for birdwatching, bushwalking, swimming, and even canoeing.
Approximately 10,000 years ago, molten magma from the Earth’s mantle began its journey toward the Earth’s crust, heating the water that lay trapped underground. This process resulted in the release of steam in the Tablelands area, eventually leading to cracks in the ground. When the pressure reached its zenith, it caused massive explosions, giving rise to what we now know as Lake Eacham and Lake Barrine.
Lake Eacham is a self-contained catchment, a volcanic crater brimming with water, with no direct outlets to nearby rivers, creeks, or streams. The water levels here ebb and flow by approximately four meters between seasons due to evaporation and seepage.
These Atherton Tablelands Lakes are an integral part of the World Heritage Wet Tropics Rainforest and are entrusted to the care of the Traditional Rainforest People of the Ngadjonji Aboriginal Tribe.
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Today, you can revel in the beauty of this azure crater lake near Cairns by embarking on a scenic 3km circuit trail around the lake. The walk offers excellent opportunities for wildlife observation, including musky tree-rat kangaroos, water dragons, songbirds, saw-shelled turtles, freshwater fish, flying foxes, frogs, and more. The walk typically takes a maximum of one hour, although brisk walkers might comfortably complete it in about 30-40 minutes.
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While Lake Eacham reaches depths of over 65 meters in some areas, there’s no need to be an expert swimmer to enjoy its waters. Shallow areas near the water’s edge provide ample space for a refreshing swim or snorkelling. You can access the water via steps or a ramp at this popular Queensland lake. For those more comfortable in the deeper water, Lake Eacham features a viewing platform near the picnic area, as well as a pontoon with a ladder.
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Fishing and the use of motorized water sports, domestic animals, feeding wildlife, and camping are all prohibited at Lake Eacham. The site offers bins, toilets, picnic areas, and BBQ facilities for visitors. We kindly ask that you respect the land and nature, leaving nothing behind but footprints and taking with you only memories and photographs.
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Warren Cannendo the Traditional Rainforest People of the Ngadjonji Aboriginal Tribe tells his story of Bana Wiingina (Lake Eacham) as follows
“Two young fellas were trying to spear that wallaby, but they missed and hit a flame tree. That’s a sacred tree. The young fellas not supposed to be out hunting, they weren’t initiated. Their elders told them to stay put, not go out hunting, but they didn’t listen…
When they pulled their spear out, part of a grub came out with the spear, which was a witchetty grub. They started cutting down that tree to get more grubs. When they cut down that tree, the ground began to shake. Those two fellas had made Yamini (rainbow serpent) angry.
Then the sky turned orange, then all these people back at the camp, the earth went from underneath them, sucked them in, whoosh, they all got drowned. Where they were camped became Bana Wiingina”
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Lake Eacham is known to be home to a two male freshwater crocodiles.
These freshwater crocs are generally small in size, with the two currently present (as of July 2023) measuring less than 1.5 meters. In contrast to their larger Australian relatives, the saltwater crocs, freshwater crocs have a narrow snout, small teeth, and primarily feed on small prey they can consume whole, such as frogs, small birds, insects, and tiny fish.
It’s important to note that freshwater crocs are generally considered timid and not a threat to humans, unless they perceive a need to defend themselves against direct interference or disturbance (no chasing or touching). They tend to avoid noise, and in most cases, they would be more afraid of humans, given our size and noise level.
There have been no reported incidents involving this crocodile and humans.
