The Atherton Tablelands truly is a place people of all ages can enjoy thanks to the number of family friendly attractions, space to spread out, and captivating experiences to enjoy. Whether you’re looking to fill in the school holidays, find a family friendly weekend Atherton Tablelands experience or just want to spend some quality time with your children, discover the best kid-friendly things to do on the Atherton Tablelands below.
Suggested read: Discover the best family friendly activities in Cairns
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Things to do on the Atherton Tablelands with kids
1. Birdworld Kuranda
If your family loves the fluffy and flamboyant, then you’ll want to make Birdworld Kuranda one of your first stops on the Atherton Tablelands. Found in the Kuranda Village (suggested read: Things to do in Kuranda), Birdworld is one of Australia’s incredible bird aviaries. Show your children the proud cassowary, the glibness galahs, and more of the 350 different birds that are found in this free-flying birdhouse. Find out more of how to combine your Birdworld Kuranda experience with other kid friendly activities in Kuranda below.
2. The Crystal Caves – a great kid friendly Atherton Tablelands activitiy
If your children (or yourself) enjoy a pretty crystal or two, then The Crystal Caves in Mareeba is a must do kid friendly Atherton Tablelands experience. Here you can explore the owner’s global collection of natural crystals and prehistoric fossils and don’t leave without cracking a geode, where you’ll discover crystals formed 40 million years ago.
3. Mt Hypipamee Crater
Now this is a quick stop on the Atherton Tablelands that’s guaranteed to impress both the young and, well, not-so-young. My Hypipamee Crater near Ravenshoe is an incredible natural phenomenon. While we commonly refer to it as a crater, it is actually a volcanic pipe that exploded some 10,000 to 15,000 years ago. Make a quick stop by to the lookout where you can look down at the vibrant green from 58m above and be sure to take the quick rainforest track to the nearby Dinner Falls found here as well. Suggested read: Things to do near Ravenshoe: The hidden gems of Ravenshoe.
4. Chillagoe
While you may think Chillagoe is a little far out to be called the Atherton Tablelands, it’s such a great place, it’s been included here (plus it’s only a two hour drive west from Atherton!). The caves at Chillagoe are another impressive natural phenomenon. Unlike Mt Hypipamee, which was formed by volcanic pressure, the Chillagoe landscape is actually ancient coral reef, that, over millions upon millions of years, has dried into limestone caves, just waiting to be explored. Some caves are free to enter by yourself, while others need rangers to guide you through. Book an incredible Chillagoe Caves and Outback from Cairns full day tour here.
5. Skyrail Rainforest Cableway – a fantastic kid friendly Atherton Tablelands experience
One of the most top rated kid friendly Atherton Tablelands experiences (and top rated family friendly Cairns experience) is Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. Stretching between Cairns and Kuranda, this 7.5km cableway takes you over and into otherwise inaccessible areas of the Tropical North Queensland rainforest (which, in case you hadn’t heard, is actually the home of the world’s oldest tropical rainforest!). Your kids will be blown away as you skim the canopy before interacting with the friendly rangers on a guided tour of Red Peak and seeing Barron Falls roar into life.
6. Lake Tinaroo
If you’re a Cairns local, you already know that a trip to Lake Tinaroo is a must do kid friendly Atherton Tablelands activity. Spend a day, a weekend or a week at this family friendly lake where you can swim, barbecue, camp, walk, fish and more.
7. Granite Gorge Nature Park – the ultimate kid friendly Atherton Tablelands wildlife experience
If your children love cute little wallabies, they’re going to want to go to Granite Gorge Nature Park. Home to a colony of rock wallabies, here you and your children can hand feed these friendly fellas as they hop about over the boulders. It’s the perfect addition to a Cairns to Mareeba Road Trip Must Do road trip and a fan favourite for kid friendly Atherton Tablelands experiences.
8. Lake Eacham
Lake Tinaroo isn’t the only family friendly lake on the Atherton Tablelands. Say hello to the famous Lake Eacham. This volcanic crater turned lake is a hit with kids as it offers plenty of space to run around, swim and do fun water activities like kayaking. Bring ingredients for a barbecue and you’re set for a fantastic kid friendly Atherton Tablelands day out!
9. Herberton Historic Village
Combine a day of adventure with a touch of education (it’s a win, win) at the Herberton Historic Village. As you explore the antique motor vehicles, shops, tearooms and fashion pieces of eras gone by, you’ll learn all about the history of this area and how it has shaped Herberton to what it is today. The Herberton Historic Village is a hit with the kids and you can book your entry tickets for the Historic Village here.
10. Australian Butterfly Sanctuary
I might be biased (I really like butterflies okay) but one of the best kid friendly activities on the Atherton Tablelands is the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary. Found in the above mentioned Kuranda Village, the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary is the largest butterfly aviary in the southern hemisphere and it’s simply gorgeous to spend an hour or so walking around. Your children will learn all about the different breeds of butterfly and how they flourish in our tropical climate. Book your experience here: Australian Butterfly Sanctuary with GetYourGuide.
11. Kuranda Koala Gardens
And finally, we have the Kuranda Koala Gardens! Also found in Kuranda (and in walking distance from both the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary and Birdworld Kuranda), here you and your children can spend an hour or so wandering through the grounds. Interact with the friendly wallabies, watch on as the koalas snooze the day away, and even keep your eye out for the resident crocodiles! Book your family day out to the Kuranda Koala Gardens here.
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