Paronella Park, Waterfalls & Lake Barrine Day Tour From Cairns

Starting your visit with the guided tour is a must. Hearing the history and background information really enhances the experience.

Pretty good schedule and excellent guide Wiley. The scenery of every station is worth seeing. Better if we can get a message before the pickup (when will arrive)

The drivers/guides were fantastic and very knowledgeable really enjoyed my day be a solo female was totally excluded with all

Well organised tour. I couldn't fault the driver/guide. He was very entertaining, informative and thoughtful towards his passengers needs. I particularly wanted to see Paronella Park. I would have loved more time there so I may go back one day. One of those amazingly intriguing places!

A truly magic place to visit. Fabulous guide and staff. It's like a lost world. A magnificent legacy to a man with a dream. Wsrwick, our tour driver was great. Lots of interesting stops and plenty of information.

We had a small group and Shaun was able to add a couple.more stops to the trip. He was a great guide and would highly recommend

It's a long day. Not much chance of seeing a platypus because of the time of day. Food stops were good.

Had a great day tour with Steve, seeing all the activities on the itinerary...thanks and would highly recommend

Well organised, great guides and safe driving. All places visted were amazing. One of my favourite tours.

Beautiful stops and really nice food. Steve is the born guide. Interesting and funny content/storys throughout the day.

Our guide John made the tour absolutely the best. We had so much fun. We learned so much and saw even more. Paronella was amazing, the staff there was so kind and excited to share their park with us. Everything was so scenic everywhere we went, it was one of the best tours we went on during our trip.

Excellent tour. Super friendly bus driver with a lot of knowledge. Steve is definitely an asset to his organisation. I would do this tour again and I do recommend it to anyone.

Highly recommend this tour. It’s a very full day but it’s a great way to see so many amazing places. Would have loved to have more time at Paronella Park, it’s such a beautiful place and there wasn’t much time to explore after the guided tour (which was super informative and worthwhile). Our guide was very knowledgeable about the places we visited

From a delightful welcome on arrival to the moment we left be were blessed. Exquisite staff and an excellent guide our eyes and senses were feasting. Phenomenal to walk among the ruins that are so perfectly preserved. Wandering such a place is truly a treat and a mist see when in FNQ. Highly recommend spending a few hours exploring and enjoying. The owners passion to ensure a splendid visit is clearly visible at every turn. We will definitely be back

The tour guide, Jeremy was great. Explained quite a lot about the local area. The tour included morning tea at Barrine Lake which was nice, great pub lunch near Paronella park and then the park itself is spectacular. Great way to see the tablelands.

We had a great day! Visited some beautiful places. Our guide Jeremy was very knowledgeable and friendly. This made the day even more enjoyable. The vehicle was comfortable and cool too. Thank you very much!

Would highly recommend this tour company to anyone visiting Cairns, our tour guide Steve was amazing and knowledgeable and was super funny and kind and even made a couple extra stops with some breathtaking views! Was the perfect cherry on top on our visit.

It's amazing. The 3 beautiful waterfalls are breathtaking. The Paronella Park is magnificent and the tourist guider Scott is very knowledgeable about the area and fun to have.

During a short visit to Cairns in October 2025, I had a spare day to do some local touring and so I booked up on the “Paronella Park and Millaa Millaa Falls Full-day Tour from Cairns “ -a small group bus tour, organised by Northern Experience Eco Tours (Discover Tours Australia). A bonus on this tour was that I could be the picked up and returned to my accommodation at Cairns Queenslander in Lake Street, North Cairns – beats having to walk to a set pick up/return point in the tropical heat. We had a very manageable mini ‘United Nations” group on the tour – three from Brisbane, Australia; a married couple from Florida, USA; a couple from Canada; two youth hostellers from Spain and a man from Taiwan with a passion for taking photos, who carried with him some very elaborate and bulky photographic equipment. Our driver Steve was very friendly and knowledgeable and drove the bus really well. As I was the first passenger picked up, I had the “pick of the stalls” so I sat with him in the driver passenger seat where great windscreen views could be appreciated. The tour started with a drive out of Cairns passing though the town of Gordonvale. There was lots of sugar cane growing and the Sugar Mill there was smoking away with great gusto. Big highlight is the local little mountain “The Pyramid” standing out like a beacon in the rural countryside. We then negotiated the winding Gillies Highway carving its way through the Gillies Range with 263 bends in its uphill section. There are several places to stop to take in the mountain views and Steve did stop at one where the bus could be safely parked on the side of the highway. Steve had a great hint to avoid travel sickness here – look up and don’t look down – wise counsel indeed! The Gillies Highway is a local engineering marvel having been built in the 1920s and officially opened on 10 July 1926. On to our first main stop – the beautiful volcanic Lake Barrine where we had a lovely morning tea of scones and cream and special local plum jam on the verandah of the Tea House overlooking the Lake. We took a short walk through the adjacent rainforest to see the mighty twin Kauri trees. There are several walks that can be done around the Lake but time was not on our side for such sport. We did however, get a good glimpse of the beautiful lake and its clear crystal water from the tea house verandah. Lake Barrine was formed over 17,000 years ago by massive volcanic explosions that created a large crater, which then filled with rainwater to become the lake. From Lake Barrine we enjoyed a nice drive through the Atherton Tablelands passing through the charming town of Yungaburra (it was a Saturday and the markets were in full swing ). Time constraints meant we could not make a stop here. The next long stop was to view a magnificent local phenomenon – the famous Curtain Fig Tree. This well known landmark is reached by parking on the roadside at the entrance to the Curtain Fig Tree National Park, enjoying a short walk along a well maintained boardwalk and hey presto – there it is in all its splendid glory. The Curtain Fig Tree is unique because the extensive aerial roots, that drop 15 metres to the forest floor, have formed a ‘curtain’ and over hundreds of years these roots have strangled the host. The boardwalk goes right around the tree so that one can get a 360 degree glimpse of this marvel from all angles. I last saw this tree in 1967 – it was still as good to see 58 years later. More driving followed as we travelled through the dairy town of Malanda before we made an impromptu stop, not included in the original itinerary (because time was on our side) to the Millaa Millaa Lookout (also known as McHugh Lookout). Well what can I say? This lookout is absolutely fabulous with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, an impressive rustic timber fence around the car park area, lovely strategically placed trees dotted here and there where impressive photos of the distant views, framed by these trees, could be achieved and picnic tables and benches dotted here and there. Seriously, this attraction is so good that it should be included in this tour’s itinerary as a given in my view. This has to be one of the best lookouts I have visited anywhere. I was so thrilled that Steve chose to make the detour to this lookout as a sensational added extra. And so on to the beautiful Millaa Millaa Falls where locals and tourists were enjoying a dip in the pool surrounded by rainforest, 20 metres below the Falls when we arrived. Some of our group changed into swim gear and joined them in this cool pastime. Although Steve said the water pouring out of the Falls was not as intense as usual, there was still plenty of water gushing out over the Fall’s edge down to the pool 20 metres below to make the visit more than worthwhile. By now we were looking forward to lunch which we had pre-ordered at the start of the tour. So, it was on to the tiny town of Mena Creek via South Johnstone and to the Mena Creek Hotel where I enjoyed nicely cooked fish and chips and salad. We were given very generous time here at the hotel and the lunch was not rushed which was appreciated. The original hotel was opened in 1929 but was destroyed by fire in 1956 resulting in the hotel being rebuilt as the structure used today. Adjacent to the Mena Creek Hotel is the world renowned Paronella Park celebrating José Paronella’s dream to built something unique with a Spanish flavour in tropical North Queensland. José built his castle, picnic area by the falls, tennis courts, bridges, a tunnel, and wrapped it up in an amazing range of 7,500 tropical plants and trees (now a lush rainforest!) and he opened it to the general public in 1935. The present owners, locals Mark and Judy Evans, purchased the Park in 1993 and formulated a plan to put the Park back on the map. I did enjoy the stories that guide Bill told us about life at the Park in José’s day. There were lots of ruins of what were once proud buildings in an earlier time. However, one could still get a sense of life in these buildings so long ago. I have to say that while I enjoyed the experience, the weather suddenly got quite hot and wandering the grounds was quite oppressive for me. Perhaps if the weather had been kinder I could have given the place more attention and a higher mark. We did have lots of time to roam around by ourselves in the Park after Bill’s spiel. All up we had a 2 hour stop here. From here it was a non stop trip back home to Cairns. That then is a summary of what was overall a very enjoyable trip out for the day touring the beautiful Atherton Tableland. It was varied and the stops were plenty and generous in the time given at each. By the way this was the first trip that I booked up via TripAdvisor and the process was outstanding. The trip was reserved for me and the payment was not effected until two days before. Tripadvisor regularly communicated with me at all stages of this booking. On that score I could not fault them. Well done Tripadvisor.

Awesome experience. Take a towel and swimmers as there are opportunities for a quick dip. We felt relaxed and safe. Our guide was informative and enthusiastic.

We had an exceptional guide (Steve) who gave a wonderful guided trip all day. Wonderful scenery, great food, great areas to visit and Steve was even able to switch the rain off while we were out of the bus and he let it rain while we were driving. Not too many guides would go to this level of commitment. Extremely enjoyable day, definitely a highlight of our trip to Cairns

We went on a tour with our tour guide Troy and guests from Australia, UK, Spain, Portugal and Italy. Troy is an excellent tour guide. The pacing of the trip was wonderful. Our group were lucky enough to see 3 platypus-a baby and 2 adults. The drive to Lake Berrine is gorgeous and Troy does an excellent job of giving the history and information about the area. The 2 standing red cedar trees are amazing. The entire day, Troy provided pertinent information about the area along with personal information as he is from the area. Having a tour guide who grew up in the area just adds to the experience. The Miliaa Falls was beautiful and many of the guests joined Troy for a dip. The Paronella Park was our final stop and was an excellent place to end our adventure. We would highly recommend this tour and especially our tour guide, Troy. Thank you for a fun and wonderful day exploring Australia.

Fantastic great day on 9 August 2025 visiting Paranella Park and its many sights of interesting architecture, waterfalls and many exotic gardens with a Park Guide to explain its history. The Milla Milla falls was also beautiful and a swim tempting. Lunch at Meena Creek Pub was delicious and wholesome and well organised. Our Tour Driver was Steve who is well versed on all the sites and kept us all well entertained with his gereat sense of humour. He took us to some extra lookout sights too. A great day and good value for money.

It was a great trip. Lovely country. The driver/guide was a wealth of knowledge. Loved every minute. Millaa Millaa Falls was a beautiful spot. Lake Barrine was a stunning spot and morning tea at the tea house was so yummy. Paranella was great, the story is the highlight though.

Excellent day trip with a very experienced friendly driver with good knowledge of sites, customs and history . Morning tea and lunch were both tasty and enjoyable , The stop at the fig Tree was enhanced by watching tree kangaroo. The Paronella park was extremely interesting- what a monument to one man's dream! The park tour guide was very theatrical in his presentation which made the tour even more interesting. To finish of the day our driver detoured to the "Boulders", an unexpected site tour that was not on itinerary but very interesting and worthy of a visit

A brilliant day out to see sights with very well informed and friendly tour guide . A most enjoyable day touring and seeing a Platypus in its natural environment was the true highlight for me.

A big enjoyable day with a great host driver who was authentic and down to earth.It itinerary was varied and interesting.

From start to finish this was an awesome day. Our guide (Darryl) was extremely knowledgeable and informative. He engaged with every nationality on our trip. The cream teas were divine and swimming in the waterfall was an awesome experience. I wish I had taken ocean shoes as the waterfall was rocky underfoot as you got in.

The tour was excellent! So many unique stops and sights were packed into a fun filled day. Our guide, Stephen, was the absolute best!

We were picked up at the given time. Our guide for the day was informative and very good. The Paronella Park was the definite highlight although we had a wonderful day. The weather wasn't great but it didn't detract from the day at all

Steve was excellent guide continuous commentary and great knowledge and history of all the areas we visited and went out of his way to show the group anything they were interested in , 100% recommend this tour and Steve as a truly nice friendly professional person and guide.

Tour guide Jim is super Nice and very helpful. Informative and had a sense of humour. What a great experience! I would recommend to everyone. Nice coffee as well!

Just brilliant. Just would’ve liked more time at the park. It is so interesting the history but the gardens are just amazing.

We did this tour with small kids and although it seemed geared more towards older adults, it worked out nicely as a more relaxed tour day fof us. The waterfalls and short walks are beautiful and enjoyable. A lot of driving is involved (some windy roads) but the sights are worth it and the path was mostly a large loop so much to see and appreciate. Great way to see a lot in one day, well managed and coordinated. The waterfalls, curtain fig tree, and rainforest walks were all excellent. The lake stop was misty and rainy so the views weren't there for us but we will greatly enjoyed the scones and coffee and other things to see. However the highlight for us was the stop James made to see a wild platypus viewing area - we saw one swimming around and it was amazing! 🤩

A beautiful day out and the park is the sort of place you don't want to leave. Food was also amazing.

A great day out with stunning views of the Australian countryside. Morning tea was delicious (scones with jam and cream and choice of hot drink) and lunch was equally tasty - I can recommend the home made steak pie. Paronella Park was lovely and our guide Mario was friendly and knowledgeable. A lot of miles were covered but I felt we had enough time in each place so it wasn't a rushed tour.

Our excellent tour guide michelle made an already memorable day even more so. We drove through quaint townships such as yunguburra, stopped for pie and cakes at great locally run tea houses in addition to the milla milla and Paronella. A great day exploring south beyond cairns

Brett was both great driver and informative guide for the day. Had a great mix of people on the tour and places to visit. Loved both morning tea and lunch😋

The Tour leader Danny was very informative and inclusive. The weather was warm but wet so views were affected but aside from that I believe it was good value.

The tour was beautiful, educational and inspiring. Steve was stellar. Informative, helpful professional and funny. It's very obvious Steve obviously enjoys his job and even made an extra stop! Don't know what his wages are but I believe he deserves a raise. The vehicle was comfortable. The tea break was delicious, as was lunch.

A full day tour is not enough for the locations included in the tour. Millaa Millaa so pretty and welcome surprise. The brave souls can take a swim. The Curtain Fig Tree stop along the way. Paronella fascinating but visit not long enough to fully explore. Really enjoyed this great day with morning tea at Lake Barrine. A drive through Innisfail on the way back. An informative and entertaining tour guide. Drove through several art deco villages which would have like to have explored.

The short introduction on the Paronella Park history is v.g. before starting out on your own to explore. I would have liked more time here. Good ice cream too. Millaa Millaa falls a very pretty spot and very inviting to take a swim if it were warmer. The water is pretty cold. But nonetheless well worth a visit. The Curtain Fig tree which was also included in the tour is fascinating. A beautiful environment we travelled throughout the day. Brian our tour guide is exceptional and had much information to keep us interested.

Informative guide. Steve was a wealth of information. Breathtaking scenery. Well organised. Have already recommended to a friend.

Everywhere we visited was just so beautiful. We just loved the whole day.. Steve was a informative guide and friendly.

Our tour guide Michelle did a wonderful job of keeping everyone organised, tailoring the experience to our group's interests and making this a fun and memorable day trip. The tour was a great mix of educational, exciting and relaxing activities. She went out of her way to drop everyone off at their respective accommodations, and even offered to take me to the airport so I didn't have to book a taxi. It was one of the best tours I've been on, I highly recommend it. Whatever you're paying her it isn't enough!!

A great tour taking a number of memorable sights Not the least being mulla mulla falls for an invigorating swim at the falls And finishing with paronella park, a vision of a man before his time. What was achieved there can only be described as breathtaking

After everyone was collected we headed out of Cairns making a brief stop at a lookout and then morning tea at Lake Barrine. Very good scones , coffee and a beautiful view. When then called in at a huge Curtain fig tree. Wow! It was spectacular. Next was Milla Milla Falls. Despite the water being cold a few people braved the conditions. The falls were mesmerising. We had a delicious lunch with homemade pies and pizza that everyone enjoyed before continuing our way to Paronella Park. The park was so different to what I was expecting. Jose was an amazing man to build all of this especially lugging all the building supplies up and down the grand staircase. I had enough trouble just walking up it. It was a lovely day and I enjoyed every bit of it. The driver was very friendly and made sure everyone enjoyed their day. He also drove well

Michelle was lovely and very informative . The trip was comfortable in the bus and we covered a lot of interesting terrain. The food was excellent and Paronella Park outstanding.

Very good trip with a morning tea and lunch. Jim the Guide/Driver passed on to us a lot of information. He is a knowledgeable person and a great guy to be around. Thanks for having us. Dorota and Jerzy