Kickstart your health journey on the Atherton Tablelands where you can relax, rejuvenate and recover with these healthy holiday ideas – all while enjoying yourself at the same time!
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Disconnect from daily life on the Atherton Tablelands
Leave the hustle and bustle of the cities behind you as you venture up and onto the Atherton Tablelands. There are numerous accommodation options on the Atherton Tablelands that enable you to fully disconnect from the stresses of daily life. Stay at the Canopy Treehouses or Mt Quincan Cater Retreat or explore the magnificent rainforest environment like Tully Gorge, You can search for the best accommodation on the Atherton Tablelands here.
Swap your relaxing Spotify for the real thing – Atherton Tablelands waterfalls
There’s a reason why the sounds of waterfalls and streams often feature in relaxation playlists, it’s because everyone who wasn’t at a waterfall wishes they could be at one (or something like that!) When visiting the Atherton Tablelands forget about packing the headphones and don’t worry about the relaxation Spotify playlist – you can enjyo the benefits of listening live to some of the most beautiful waterfalls in Australia. And the best part? The waterfalls on the Atherton Tablelands are free to visit! Find out about the Atherton Tablelands lesser known waterfalls here: Atherton Tablelands waterfalls you probably haven’t heard of yet.
Rejuvenate at the Innot Hot Springs
Save on the pricy day spas and make your way to the Innot Hot Springs, just a 20 minute drive outside of Ravenshoe. Here you can spend an afternoon on the Atherton Tablelands relaxing in one of the six thermal pools at the Innot Hot Springs Health and Leisure Park. Feel your worries wash away as you relax in the native Australian bush – did you know that the water from the nearby Nettle Creek was bottled and shipped to Europe as a health treatment? Something about Australian waters, they sure work wonders!
Suggested read: Things to see and do near Ravenshoe: The hidden gems of Ravenshoe
Stretch the legs and get the heart pumping
In addition to relaxing the mind and body, the Atherton Tablelands is full of incredible hikes to help work out your muscles and flood yourself with endorphins. Choose from sealed pathways around Lake Eacham, the rugged dirt track of the Herberton Stewart Head Lookout (pictured below) or challenge yourself with a bucket list hike up Bartle Frere, which at 1,611m is Queensland’s highest mountain.
Take inspiration from the world’s oldest tropical rainforest
Did you know that the Tropical North Queensland region is home to the world’s oldest tropical rainforest? While the Daintree Rainforest often gets credit for its age (and it’s true!) the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area (that the Daintree National Park is a part of) stretches for about 450km along the North Queensland coast and that includes the beautiful section found around the Palmerston Highway! Access a part of this incredible rainforest at Mamu Tropical Skywalk where you can wander along the multi-levelled walkways, take part in the audio tour and learn about how parts of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area Rainforest survived against all odds for over 130 million years to stand before us today. You can book your Mamu Tropical Skywalk experience through Get Your Guide here.
Eat your way through the rainbow at Kuranda Village
Kuranda, the village in the rainforest, is a must do day trip for anyone visiting the Atherton Tablelands. You can visit this quaint village from Cairns via the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway or the Kuranda Scenic Railway or simply hop in your car and drive over (pro tip: Turn your Kuranda Village day out into a road trip with this itinerary). When you arrive be sure to stop by the numerous healthy cafes, that often use locally sourced organic produce.
Rise above it all on the Atherton Tablelands (no, really!)
We’ve all heard about the never-ending benefits of being an early riser (seize the day and all of that), but word on the street is it’s far easier to rise with the sun, when you’re doing so on a hot air balloon (might not be scientific, but I’m sure it’s true!). Add a hot air balloon sunrise flight to your Atherton Tablelands must do health kick list. You’ll sail above the clouds and admire the beautiful Mareeba landscape. You can book your Atherton Tablelands hot air balloon ride here.
Reconnect with the universe
Put your problems into perspective by stargazing on the Atherton Tablelands. With limited light pollution on the Atherton Tablelands, it can be one of the best places to see the stars – especially during Milky Way season from approximately April to October each year, where the stunning Milky Way will be visible across the night sky.
Find this spot: How to get to Emerald Creek Falls
Take it easy, Atherton Tablelands style
And finally, enjoy self-care the Atherton Tablelands way by simply pulling up a chair, taking it easy and enjoying this view.
If you are interested in Your Atherton Tablelands health kick, you may also be interested in:
- Atherton Tablelands waterfalls you probably haven’t heard of yet
- Kid friendly: How to enjoy the Atherton Tablelands with children
- Things to do on the Palmerston Highway in Cairns
- 101 things to do in Cairns
- The best easy day trips from Cairns
- Cairns to Townsville: The 2 day North Queensland road trip for time poor travellers
