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Inspiring travel through photography

Home » Travel » Oceania » Australia » Cairns to Paronella Park – See Waterfalls, Platypus, Ruins, & More

Cairns to Paronella Park – See Waterfalls, Platypus, Ruins, & More

Last Updated: December 11, 2022 // by Rhonda Albom // 48 Comments
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After a drive from Cairns to Paronella Park we enjoyed seeing the castle ruins lit up at night.
After a day enjoying waterfalls and swimming holes as we drove from Cairns to Paronella Park we were enchanted by the castle ruins after dark.
Our day trip from Cairns to Paronella Park ended at the ruins of this Spanish castle, that is light up at night.

Australia’s tropical Queensland is nature’s playground filled with rainforests, impressive waterfalls, distinctive wildlife, and the ruins of a unique Spanish castle. Lush green forest enveloped our day trip, as each of our stops seemed to encompass aspects of the rainforests from Cairns to Paronella Park.

Our adventure took us first across the Atherton Tablelands, then back to Cairns through the Cassowary coast. While both provide incredible scenery, the tablelands are often considered to be Australia’s most scenic drive destination.

For locals, the Atherton Tablelands is an easy-to-access getaway destination into the highlands. With cooler temperatures offered by the higher elevations and frequent swimming holes, it is a paradise amidst this tropical region.

We journeyed in a day, but this left us time only for quick dips in selected water holes. A more relaxing option would have kept us in the rainforest for days, allowing us to really appreciate all it has to offer.

Our highlights below include our recommended driving route from Cairns to Paronella Park. We started inland on the Tablelands by daylight, allowing us to enjoy the castle ruins in the evening, as its air of mystery seems exaggerated after dark. And our big bonus of the day, we saw a platypus in the wild.

Cairns to Paronella Park day trip map

The map highlights our route and options. Click the expand / collapse icon in the upper left corner of the map for details.

Also, note our primary route is blue and takes about 4.5 hours of drive time to complete. The two options in yellow require an extra 1.25 hours of driving in total, while the orange markers highlight other things to do in Cairns.

Heading south from Cairns to Paronella Park on the inland road

Ideally, you want to time your day to arrive at Paronella Park at least an hour before sunset. While it’s impressive and mysterious in the daylight, it is captivating after dark.

Key stops include:

  • Cairns
  • Lake Eacham
  • Curtain Fig National Park
  • Malanda Falls
  • Two optional stops that add extra drive time: Nerada Tea Factory and Millstream Falls
  • Waterfall Circuit (Millaa Millaa Waterfall, Zillie Falls, and Ellinjaa Falls)
  • Paronella Park

To calculate your start time following our basic suggestions, you will arrive at Paronella Park about 6.5 hours after you start out. This includes about 3 hours of drive time along our suggested route, plus 2.5 hours for basic stops. Plus, we included an hour for a picnic lunch.

You will also need to allow time for each swim you plan to take. And if you want to add either optional stop, add 1.25 hours for each, which includes drive and visit time.

Note the return drive is about 1.5 hours

Stops from Cairns to Paronella Park

Lake Eacham

(Drive time from Cairns to Lake Eacham: 1 hour, 12 minutes)

Lack Eacham in Crater National Park, was our first stop as we drove from Cairns to Paronella Park
Lake Eacham
Australian Bush Turkey
Australian Bush Turkey

Our first stop is a local’s favourite, Lake Eacham in Crater National Park. We opted for a swim, but if you are more energetic, there is a somewhat shady 3km rainforest loop track around the lake, best known for its bird life and for musky rat-kangaroos.

It’s also a lovely picnic spot, but depending on your start time, it may be too early, even for morning tea.

It’s one of two lakes in the park we could have chosen. Lake Barrine is home to the King Fern trees, which boast the world’s longest fern fronds. (Up to 7 meters).

Both blue lakes fill the craters of an extinct volcano that last erupted over 10,000 years ago.

Yungaburra platypus viewing platform

(Drive time from Lake Eacham to Yungaburra platypus viewing platform: 8 minutes)

Wild Platypus in a stream in Australia
Platypus

Even amongst Australia’s unusual wildlife selections, the platypus stands out for its uniqueness. Seeing these elusive creatures in the wild is a rarity, and we have been lucky enough to see them twice.

After standing at the Yungaburra platypus viewing platform for a while, to no avail, we opted to stroll along the Peterson Creek Walking track. We were lucky, we didn’t have to go far along the 3.4km (out and back) track before we spotted a platypus in the creek.

To be honest, we spotted another photographer who knew the location of the platypus, and we just stood quietly and waited.

This is probably the coolest thing we saw from Cairns to Paronella Park.

Curtain Fig National Park

(Drive time from Yungaburra platypus viewing platform to Curtain Fig National Park: 1 minute)

Curtain Fig Tree
Curtain fig tree

There are two primary things to see in Curtain Fig National Park. First is the endangered mabi forest. The second (in the photo) is the aerial roots that drop from a large fig tree, creating a curtain effect as they reach almost 15 metres to the forest floor.

The signage explains the process in more detail and welcomes visitors to the land.

Malanda Falls

(Drive time from Curtain Fig National Park to Malanda Falls: 8 minutes)

Malanda Falls, one of the quick stops when driving from Cairns to Paronella Park through the tablelands
Malanda Falls

Great for families, this one is quite close to the car park, surrounded by lush rainforest remnants, and features two short and well-signed posted educational walks. There is a visitor’s centre here where you can learn more about the area.

Wildlife spotters will want to keep their eyes focused in the trees for Lumholtz’s tree kangaroos.

Two options off our main route on our Cairns to Paronella Park drive

Nerada Tea Plantation in the Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Australia
Nerada Tea Plantation
The famous Millstream Falls National Park in the Atherton Tablelands area of Queensland, Australia
Millstream Falls
  • Nerada Tea Plantation (Adds 15 min to the total drive time)
    Tea lovers may want to enjoy a cup of tea at the Nerada Tea rooms or go behind the scenes for a farm tour to discover how tea is grown and processed.
  • Millstream Falls (Adds 1 hour to the total drive time)
    Australia’s widest single-drop waterfall is certainly an impressive sight to stand in front of but does add a lot of time to an already long day. Formed from the Tableland’s volcanic past, the water cascades over an old basalt lava flow.

Waterfall circuit

Millaa Millaa falls between Cairns to Paronella Park
Millaa Millaa falls
Zillie Falls oustside of Cairnes, Australia
Zillie Falls
Ellinjaa Falls in the Atherton Tablelands
Ellinjaa Falls

Leaving the main Cairns to Paronella Park road at the sign pointing to Millaa Millaa Falls, just after the small town of the same name, we drove a loop and explored three striking waterfalls. The heavy water flow of each is one of the benefits of the rainforest.

  • Millaa Millaa Falls (Drive time from Malanda Falls to Millaa Millaa Falls: 21 minutes)
    This 18m plunge waterfall just might be Australia’s most photographed waterfall. If you don’t believe me, a quick look on Instagram will have you convinced. Cool and refreshing, the cascade’s pool is an ideal swimmable opportunity to cool off. We have also read there is occasionally platypi here, but we have been multiple times and never saw one.
  • Zillie Falls (Drive time from Millaa Millaa to Zillie Falls: 8 minutes)
    Bigger, louder and seemingly more powerful than Millaa Millaa, we enjoyed Zillie Falls from the viewing platform. While we have read there are rock pools at the bottom, we saw no way down. Be on the lookout for flying foxes (we didn’t see any).
  • Ellinjaa Falls (Drive time from Zillie to Ellinjaa Falls: 2 minutes)
    Although not the most popular, watching the water cascade over a series of lava columns made Ellinjaa falls my favourite of the three. The relatively shallow pool is not deep enough for swimming, but one can wade in and sit behind the falls and enjoy it from a different perspective.

Paronella Park

(Drive time from Ellinjaa Falls to Paronella Park: 48 minutes)

Australia 276460
Portion of the Castle in Paronella Park in Queensland, Australia

The ruins of this old Spanish castle, surrounded by tropical rainforest, are now covered in moss, yet the magic and romance that once dominated this fortress are apparent. It is no wonder this site has won so many awards.

Following a dream to bring people together with a castle and adventure park, Jose Paronella built this masterpiece on 5ha of land alongside Mena Creek Falls, opening it to the public in 1935. A Spanish immigrant, his park was well received, and tourists enjoyed his pools, tennis courts, and tea gardens.

Through a series of events, the park was ultimately left abandoned for 15 years, but new owners helped to re-establish it as a destination. Best of all, entry includes a tour where you will learn some of the fascinating history of the place, as I left out most of the details here. Reserve your Paronella Park tickets here.

Paronella Park at night …

Bats in a cave at Paronella Park in Queensland Australia
Bats in the Tunnel of Love
Paronella Park at night
Mena Creek Falls shining golden at night in Paronella Park, Queensland Australia
Mena Creek Falls at night

Still in awe of this place in the daytime, the nighttime lighting resulted in a dramatic change as an eerily mysterious aura enveloped the place. Instantly, it became my highlight of our time in Cairns.

Visiting Paronella Park at night is like walking through a dream.

More about Cairns

Originally founded following an 1876 gold discovery, Cairns didn’t grow as a tourism destination until marlin fishing became popular after World War II.

Today, it’s known as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, wetlands, and rainforests.

The best time to visit Cairns is during the winter months of June to August. Monsoon season is from December to March, and with it comes heavy rains, high temperatures, extreme humidity, and cyclones.

Today, it is also a popular cruise ship port, although many ships, like the Radiance of the Sea that brought us here for one of our visits, dropped anchor in Yorkey’s Knob, just north of Cairns.

Other things to do in Cairns

There is no shortage of things to do in Cairns. Some of the most popular include:

  • Head out to the Great Barrier Reef. Discovered in the 1970s, it’s the world’s largest reef measuring 2300km long and up to 250km wide, making it also the world’s largest UNESCO World Heritage Area. Here there are soft and hard corals, jellyfish, plus 1625 types of fish, including 133 varieties of sharks and rays. Reserve one of these top-rated tours to get you to the reef.
  • Take the Skyrail cableway to Kuranda.
  • Check out the impressive Aquarium.
  • Day trip to the north and visit Daintree, Mossman Gorge, or Cape Tribulation.
  • Within the city, don’t miss the man-made saltwater swimming lagoon, the artificial beach located on the esplanade, or the impressive aquarium.

Save on your Australia trip with these resources

We usually start with aggregator companies as they do the work for us by providing a list of options, prices, and reviews. However, we also added a few personal NZ favourites:

  • Flights: we use Expedia for the best and cheapest flight options.
  • Hotels: we use Booking.com as they consistently return the best rates and their reviews are from actual guests. However, for self-contained lodging in Australia, we use VRBO
  • Cars and Campervans: we use RentalCars to find the best deals and dealer ratings. Use Jucy for small campervans.
  • Activity discounts: we always check Bookme.com for discounts of up to 70% on selected tours, activities, restaurants and more.
  • Travel Insurance: we start at InsureMyTrip as they are the best option to compare plans and find the right coverage for you.

Before you book the rest of your trip: Check out our travel resources page for more companies that we use when you travel.

We believe this list to be the best in each category. You can’t go wrong using them on your trip too.

Save for later

If you enjoyed this article, please share it on social media and save it for later on Pinterest.

Our day trip from Cairns to Paronella Park ended at the ruins of this Spanish castle, that is light up at night.

Are you ready for a day trip from Cairns to Paronella Park?

More from Australia that you might enjoy

  • Fun Things to Do in Melbourne for Couples
  • 17 Fun Things to Do in Adelaide, South Australia
  • Things to do in Jindabyne Australia – A Visitors Guide
  • 5 Great Family-Friendly Surfing Vacations in Australia

Photo Credits:

All photos on this page are either shot by our team and watermarked as such or stock images from Depositphotos.

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Category: AustraliaTag: Australia, Castle, Night Photography

About Rhonda Albom

Capturing the essence of travel through photography, Rhonda Albom is the primary author and photographer at Albom Adventures. She is an American expat based in New Zealand. She travels the world with her husband.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Josy A

    December 12, 2022 at 3:40 pm

    Squeeee this is sooo flipping cool! I would love to see the platypus (I mean, the waterfalls are gorgeous too – but those animals are the best!!) Great post!

    Reply
  2. Denise

    December 12, 2022 at 10:31 am

    Seeing platypus would be really cool! No sure about the bats in the tumble though.

    Reply
  3. Sierra

    December 12, 2022 at 10:09 am

    Looks like a cool place to explore at night!

    Reply
  4. kmf

    December 11, 2022 at 4:13 pm

    Love this guide from Cairns to Paronella Park. So much wildlifecand nature to explore. Would especially love to see a platypus and the waterfalls.

    Reply
  5. Linda (LD Holland)

    December 11, 2022 at 10:16 am

    We spent most of our time in Cairns by or on the water. So it was interesting to read about all there is to do from Cairns to Paronella Park. We might pass on a a tea factory visit. But I know we would do long stops on the waterfall circuit. Saving this for when we plan our return trip to Australia.

    Reply
  6. Nancy

    August 2, 2022 at 11:16 am

    Love the turkey – all the photos, really! And I love the platypus, which, to me, is absolute proof that God has a sense of humor.

    Reply
  7. Johanna Bradley

    November 27, 2014 at 2:46 am

    Love the golden waterfall shot ๐Ÿ™‚ What on earth is a Spanish castle doing in Cairns?

    Reply
  8. Corinne

    November 24, 2014 at 10:31 pm

    This does look like a deliciously scary place to wander at night! I would NOT be swimming anywhere near those eels!

    Reply
  9. Lisa Ross

    November 24, 2014 at 10:19 am

    Love the bats!

    Reply
  10. Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor

    November 24, 2014 at 10:17 am

    It looked great until I got to that picture of the eels! Now, I have something new to have nightmares about ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  11. Vicki

    November 22, 2014 at 7:34 am

    Wonderful photos!! What an awesome place to check out!

    Reply
  12. Julie K Pick

    November 20, 2014 at 8:37 pm

    Bats and eels, oh my! I think I could only visit Paronella Park with an armed guard, and a shower cap!

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      November 22, 2014 at 7:27 pm

      If you stay out of the cave you probably won’t need a shower cap. I do have a White baseball cap that I wore in a cave in Belize, and the best list little droppings all over it. I guess the shower Would’ve been useful.

      Reply
  13. Theresa

    November 20, 2014 at 4:43 pm

    Just seeing if my comment went through ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  14. Theresa

    November 20, 2014 at 4:41 pm

    Creepy and beautiful, all in one. I’d love to see some daylight photos if you ever go back. I find old places like this fascinating!

    Reply
  15. Alissa Apel

    November 20, 2014 at 11:02 am

    I have not visited or heard of Paronella Park, or been to Cairns, Australia. I wish I had. It looks amazing. I love old castles. I did walk through old cemeteries and castles in Savannah, Georgia when I lived there.

    Reply
  16. imaddy

    November 20, 2014 at 8:11 am

    Thank you for sharing the beautiful pictures. Although bats and eels are scary.

    Reply
  17. Indah Nuria Savitri

    November 20, 2014 at 7:56 am

    love to see those photos…I really the waterfall photo with its golden hue :)…interesting place indeed, complete with bats and eels..

    Reply
  18. Heather L

    November 20, 2014 at 5:33 am

    Looks like an interesting place to visit, night or day. Love the waterfall! Thanks for stopping by my post.

    Reply
  19. lana

    November 20, 2014 at 2:57 am

    amazing photos

    Reply
  20. kristi

    November 20, 2014 at 2:54 am

    Paronella Park is beautiful. I love the waterfall pic. I could leave the eels and bats but would love to visit Australia someday. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      November 22, 2014 at 11:41 am

      Eels and bats are in New Zealand as well, So I guess they didn’t really freak me out. Although, I’ve never seen a bat in New Zealand

      Reply
  21. L. Diane Wolfe

    November 20, 2014 at 1:53 am

    I would take so many photos there!

    Reply
  22. Leovi

    November 20, 2014 at 1:32 am

    Yes, indeed, wonderful place full of beauty! Excellent framing ! Nice castle at night, great shot!

    Reply
  23. Shere

    November 20, 2014 at 1:06 am

    we visited Paronella Park as well!! The owner was so kind to keep the lights on so I can take some pictures in the dark (normally the switch the lights after 5 minutes or so). Very interesting place!

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      November 22, 2014 at 11:39 am

      You know firsthand how really amazing this place is. How lucky that they kept the lights are longer for you. I’ll bet your photos are fantastic, especially if you had the tripod.

      Reply
  24. Barbara

    November 19, 2014 at 3:49 pm

    I would love to visit Paronella Park; stunning photos – I think that waterfall is calling my name too

    Reply
  25. Joyce

    November 19, 2014 at 2:25 pm

    This actually looks quite cool. I’d love to go there.

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      November 22, 2014 at 10:13 am

      Did your daughter get here when she was in Australia? It’s pretty far away from where she was, But if she went up to the Great Barrier Reef, she might’ve visited here.

      Reply
  26. Emma and Buster

    November 19, 2014 at 1:50 pm

    Oh my what a lovely place to visit.

    Meow!

    Reply
  27. Indrani

    November 19, 2014 at 1:26 pm

    This place is new to me and I had a great tour through your pics.
    Happy WW!

    Reply
  28. Jay @CraftySpices

    November 19, 2014 at 10:30 am

    Have never been to Australia and never really heard about this park, but it does seem very interesting.

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      November 22, 2014 at 10:11 am

      It’s quite a bit off the beaten track, About 120 km from Cairns, where most people go to visit the great Barrier reef.

      Reply
  29. YAM

    November 19, 2014 at 10:13 am

    Hari OM
    Worth pointing out it is a 1930’s immigrant’s ‘castle’!!! Great fun though. 20 years since I was there. Cairns is one of my most favourite places in the whole world (I say that as intended!) – not so much the town itself, but all the places around…if I hadn’t gone to India, that would have been my next home… ah the twists and turns… YAM xx

    Reply
  30. Christina Morley

    November 19, 2014 at 6:55 am

    The bats would have been okay, but the eels certainly seemed out of place. Kind of spooky.

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      November 22, 2014 at 10:08 am

      The eels really didn’t seem out of place we were there, as it was a body of water. And there were turtles too, And probably Fish.

      Reply
  31. Comedy Plus

    November 19, 2014 at 6:13 am

    I’ve not been there before. Looks like a great place to explore too. In the daylight though. Looks kind of spooky in the dark.

    Have a fabulous day. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      November 22, 2014 at 10:06 am

      I don’t know if it would’ve been spooky if we were off on our own, but with the tour guide it was fine.

      Reply
  32. Merlinda Little (@pixiedusk)

    November 19, 2014 at 5:50 am

    Wow. This is such a quirky place! The eels are like so random too! Stunning photos as always =)

    Reply
  33. Alex J. Cavanaugh

    November 19, 2014 at 5:33 am

    That’s cool it can be explored at night. Bet the place comes alive. And with more than eels and bats!

    Reply
  34. Patrick Weseman

    November 19, 2014 at 4:52 am

    So Beautiful. Great pics. Super in love with New Zealand.

    Reply
  35. Karren Haller

    November 19, 2014 at 1:33 am

    What a great tour, the night shot of the castle is awesome!

    Reply
  36. Life in Pieces

    November 19, 2014 at 1:30 am

    Beautiful, though a bit creepy, place. Your night photos turned out beautifully.

    Reply
  37. Terri

    November 19, 2014 at 1:03 am

    Wow. Really gorgeous; what a great adventure.

    Reply
  38. Hilary

    November 19, 2014 at 12:33 am

    Hi Rhonda .. Paronella Park looks amazing .. bats and eels – I’d have loved it .. and I think a night or two in the Park would be amazing … I’d love to see it .. whenever I get to Cairns … cheers Hilary

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      November 22, 2014 at 10:02 am

      When you say night or 2 do you mean evening or overnight? I don’t think I want to sleep there with all those bats. But, they seems to be self confined to the cave.

      Reply
  39. Diana @ Toronto Teacher Mom

    November 19, 2014 at 12:20 am

    So glad to hear they are retrofitting. Looks like an incredible place!

    Reply
  40. stevebethere

    November 18, 2014 at 10:54 pm

    Interesting place & photos Rhonda, until I got to the eels LOL …shudders although I used to like jellied eels heheh!

    Have an eellesstastic week ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply

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