cairns swimming attractions
- cairns esplanade lagoon
- swimming at cairns beaches
- babinda boulders
- crystal cascades
- atherton tableland swimming
- lake tinaroo
- lake eacham & lake barrine
- malanda falls & millaa millaa falls
- mungalli falls
- tips for swimming in cairns
The one thing everyone wants to do while they are in the Cairns region is to have a swim … in summer you practically live in the pool and even in winter it warms up enough during the day for visitors to jump into the water.
The Cairns region has a number of great places to go swimming from secluded freshwater creeks to major public swimming pools and the outstanding lagoon pool on the Esplanade.
cairns esplanade lagoon
The Esplanade Lagoon is a 4800sqm saltwater swimming pool set on the Cairns foreshore. Saltwater is pumped from the inlet and filtered through a state-of-the-art filtration system.
There are sandy edges with shallow water for the kids and timber decks with deeper water for adults. Jumping, running and diving are not permitted.
The lagoon is close to the many shops and cafes on the Esplanade but there is a kiosk, toilets, a first-aid room and a police station located at the lagoon. Barbecues and picnic tables dot the area and are cleaned daily and available for booking if you have a major event planned.
Trained lifeguards are on duty at the lagoon from 6am-10pm daily from October to March and from 7am-9pm daily from April to September. There are also security guards and police on patrol in the area 24 hours a day.
swimming at cairns beaches
Among the best places for a swim are the fantastic beaches that follow the coast from the city of Cairns to Port Douglas and beyond.
>> See here for more information about the Cairns beaches
babinda boulders
South of the city visitors can head to the Babinda Boulders, about 58km south of Cairns. There are large pools surrounded by boulders and rainforest and the water remains cool even during the warmest summer months.
Babinda Boulders holds great significance for the Aboriginal people of the area and there is a legend about the Devil’s Pool which is said to explain why so many young men have come to grief while swimming there.
A beautiful young girl of the Yidinji people married an elder from her tribe shortly before another tribe moved to the area. She met a handsome young man and they fell in love but realising their love was doomed the pair fled to the valleys around the Babinda Creek. The lovers were captured by their two tribes but the young girl escaped and threw herself into the water calling for her young man to follow. As he entered the water, the girl cried out and the calm creek turned into a torrent, throwing the boulders around as the girl disappeared into the water. The legend says that her spirit still guards the area and that her calls for her lost lover can still be heard.
The reason why this legend has continued to have currency in this modern day and age is because of the unusual number of young men who have died in the area. The Devil’s Pool has taken 15 lives since 1959 and visitors are warned away from the more dangerous areas of the boulders. The currents and rocks can be deceptive.
However, this doesn’t mean that visitors can’t enjoy the cool waters in safety as long as they respect the warning signs. There are shallow and safe areas for all levels of swimmers.
The Babinda Boulders has picnic areas and toilets and there are day tours available to the area. If you are self-driving, head south along the Bruce Highway for about an hour and turn right into the town of Babinda. Signs will direct you the rest of the way.
crystal cascades
Closer to the city of Cairns, visitors can visit Crystal Cascades, northwest of the city in the suburb of Redlynch. Small waterfalls drop into large pools surrounded by boulders and rainforest. There are picnic tables and toilets but no kiosks or other places to buy food or water.
Although popular with locals and increasingly so with visitors, Crystal Cascades has no public transport. Visitors will either need to hire a car or take a taxi to the area.
Also be aware that there is little to no mobile phone reception at Crystal Cascades either so make sure you book the taxi to return at a particular time to pick you up. If you are driving, head northwest to the suburb of Redlynch and follow the signs.
swimming tips
- Always remember to take a hat, waterproof sunscreen and sunshirts for children while swimming
- It's a good idea to take snack food and drinks with you when visiting some of the more isolated swimming holes
- Remember to always follow the directions of lifeguards when directed
- For many of the freshwater swimming opportunities visitors will need to hire a car. There are some tours that visit these attractions but time for swimming may be limited
atherton tableland swimming
If you’re more interested in swimming in fresh water rather than the ocean then you can head to the fantastic lakes and waterfalls on the Atherton Tableland.
During winter, it can be too cold to swim but the summer months see dozens of people, visitors and locals alike, heading to Lake Tinaroo – the largest lake in the area – or to one of the crater lakes, Lake Barrine or Lake Eacham.
lake tinaroo
About 15 minutes northeast of Atherton, Lake Tinaroo has more than 200km of shoreline when filled to capacity. The lake is a feeder system for the Tinaroo Dam which serves the Cairns city region.
Built in 1959, the dam also supplies the drinking water and agricultural water of the Atherton Tableland. Aside from this function, Lake Tinaroo is a mecca for watersports and fishing enthusiasts and a major tourist attraction.
During the school holidays, the lake becomes a hot spot for local families and can be quite crowded and noisy; it’s best to book accommodation and camping spots during this period.
The landscape surrounding the lake is diverse and includes rainforest, pine tree plantations and ordinary scrub but the birdlife is spectacular.
Lake Tinaroo is considered to have the best barramundi fishing in the world as the lake is stocked annually with baby “barra” that grow into the largest barramundi world-wide, due to the fact that they don’t breed as the fish need saltwater for that to occur.
There is accommodation available at the township and includes a caravan park, cabin-style accommodation and a fine-dining restaurant. There are a number of boat ramps and a large children’s playground.
>> Go to our Accommodation section to book
lake eacham & lake barrine
One of the two crater lakes – lakes created by volcanoes – Lake Eacham is one of the most popular swimming and picnicking spots on the Atherton Tablelands.
According to studies, both Lake Eacham and Lake Barrine began as spots where hot magma was pushed to the surface about 12,000 years ago, heating the watertable and causing an enormous explosion. The resulting craters gradually filled with water over the years and the rainforest grew up around the lakes.
Lake Eacham is fed by underground springs and is therefore never affected by droughts.
The lake is at the centre of the 489ha Lake Eacham National Park and is perfect for swimming, canoeing, bushwalking and bird-watching.
Boats with motors are not allowed on the lake which is 60m deep and has a permanent diving platform. There is a large grassy area and a canteen is open on weekends for drinks and snacks. A 4km walking track surrounds the lake; it’s suitable for all ages as it is flat and paved the entire length.
Similar to Lake Eacham, Lake Barrine was formed by the same volcanic activity and is also surrounded by rainforest.
Although smaller, Lake Barrine offers extra facilities including a picturesque tea house that offers sit-down meals and Devonshire teas. There is also a wildlife cruise that departs four times a day offering a gentle and informative cruise around the lake.
About five minutes from the tea house are two historic kauri pines. Over 1100 years old, these twin trees are a magnificent site.
malanda falls
The waterfalls at Malanda Falls, Millaa Millaa Falls and Mungali Falls are also popular cooling down spots.
Malanda Falls is located on the edge of the township of Malanda on the Atherton Tableland on the Malanda to Atherton Rd. There is a visitor’s centre open seven days a week from 9.30am-4.30pm, toilets, picnic areas, barbecues and easy rainforest walks which you can do with local Aboriginal guides. But the real drawcard are the falls themselves.
The area was discovered by Europeans in 1882 and the first settlers arrived in Malanda in 1907. Over the years, the swimming hole at the base of the Malanda Falls has been widened and the addition of man-made walls and bridges added. The area is relatively safe for children to swim in as well as it is quite shallow.
About 15km south of Malanda are the Millaa Millaa Falls. The name “Millaa Millaa” means “waterfalls” in the indigenous language and Europeans first settled the area in 1910. A few kilometres out of the small town, east on the Palmerston Highway and turn north at the signpost, are the falls which can be viewed from the carpark.
There are another two sets of falls, the Zillie Falls and the Ellinjaa Falls, which make up the “waterfalls circuit” in the area. There are at least five more sets of waterfalls also in the area.
Mungalli Falls, further south of Millaa Millaa and still on the Atherton Tableland, is the only freehold World Heritage listed waterfall in Australia. The Student Village and Wilderness Retreat based at the falls includes accommodation, a café and various tours and activities.
In the same area is the Mungalli Creek Dairy which is North Queensland’s only organic/biodynamic dairy and cheese-making operation. About 10km south of Millaa Millaa on Brooks Rd, the dairy offers visitors great Devonshire teas and other meals at their Out of the Whey café and tours of the dairy and production areas are available.
