Atherton Tablelands

• Summary
• Weather for Atherton Tablelands

The Atherton Tablelands, also known as the Cairns Highlands, is a plateau inland from Cairns that forms part of Australia's Great Dividing Range. A beautiful area rich in diversity consisting of spectacular rainforest national parks, lakes and villages.The pristine environment and beautiful scenery make this area a popular tourist destination in tropical Far North Queensland.

There are many small country towns scattered throughout the Atherton Tablelands area that are connected by a series of scenic driving routes. The towns of Atherton, Mareeba, Malanda, Ravenshoe, Lake Tinaroo, Yungaburra each boast unique characteristics.

Most of the Atherton Tableland area is farming land, due to the rich soil that abounds in this region due to its volcanic history. Tropical fruits, vegetables, coffee and dairy products from this region are highly sought after and are sold weekly at the legendary Rusty's Bazaar markets in Cairns.

Other areas of interest include the Lake Barrine and Lake Eachum freshwater crater lakes surrounded by sub-tropical rainforest, and the natural hot springs in Ravenshoe.