Things to do on the Atherton Tablelands 30 to 60 minutes from Grandview
Herberton (30 minutes from Grandview)
- Herberton Mining Centre (35 minutes from Grandview) - The Herberton Mining and Visitors Information Centre offers a great interpretative and interactive way to experience the mining history of the district. The Herberton Mining and Visitor Information Centre is built on a part of the original Reward Claim purchased by the men who discovered payable tin mineralisation on this site 19th April, 1880.
- Herberton Historic Village (30 minutes from Grandview) - Live the folklore and romance of yesterday's Australia in every piece of the eye-opening collection at Herberton Historic Village. Sit in the schoolhouse. Stand at the bar of the pub. Herberton Historic Village is more than a vintage precinct — it's a tangible buzz of things past. Open daily 9am - 5:00pm (Closed Christmas Day and during February) — Last entry 3.30pm.
- Spy & Camera Museum, Herberton (35 minutes from Grandview) — You will be astounded at the number of cameras on display in this collection including the world's oldest and smallest cameras, oldest sewing machine, Police pocket watch camera 1904, Russian spy cameras, WW II cameras, Nikon million dollar collectable cameras. Personalised tours with digital camera demonstration and advice available.
Mareeba (50 minutes from Grandview) & District
- Mareeba Heritage Centre (50 minutes from Grandview) - Gain an insight into the region's history and attractions. The Centre has an extensive Aboriginal cultural display, a settler's hut showcasing historical memorabilia, turn-of-the-century telephone exchange, a printing press and a unique motor rail ambulance. There are also displays on mining, forestry, tobacco, agriculture and the Wet Tropics. The Centre is open 7 days a week and entry is free.
- Maloberti's NQ Gold Coffee Plantation, Mareeba (60 minutes from Grandview) — Where we plant, nurture, harvest and finally roast all the coffee we grow to make the perfect coffee for you. “From the coffee bush to the coffee cup”.
- Coffee Works (50 minutes from Grandview)— Arabicas Coffee are Tropical Australia's original coffee roasters and have been roasting since 1988. 100% Australian family owned and operated, we have become known as the people to see for quality Australian coffees and creative Arabica Australian coffee blends fresh from the roaster. We select and roast only the best arabica coffees from the local Cairns Highlands area of Tropical North Queensland and origin beans from around the world.
- Golden Drop Winery (60 minutes from Grandview) – GoldenDrop is a boutique winery owned and operated by the Nastasi family and situated on their mango plantation. Golden Drop, when served chilled, provides the wonderful experience of crisp intense fruity flavours on the palate and a delicate aftertaste, whilst remaining refreshing and light. An absolutely terrific wine to be enjoyed - premium quality, refreshing and light - and a terrific wine for, and from, the tropics.
- De Brueys Winery (60 minutes from Grandview) - The Tropical Fruit Winery is located on a 16 hectare mango orchard. The wines are made on site using traditional winemaking techniques and meet wine industry standards for clarity and stability. Wines are matured for up to twelve months before sale and all products are sealed by corks.
- Ballooning with Hot Air (50 minutes from Grandview)— Operating the Best Priced Balloon rides in Australia, flights are from Mareeba, so if this is your first time, come fly with Australia's Favourite Hot Air Balloon ride (Grandview can arrange your Hot Air Balloon Flight.)
- Warbird Adventures (50 minutes from Grandview) - Dare to be thrilled on a Warbird Adventure Flight, witness the meticulous Restoration process, grab a coffee in the Kittyhawk Cafe, or just enjoy the experience.
- The Beck Museum (50 minutes from Grandview) – Walk down memory lane with fascinating and unique military items of yesteryear.
- Mt Uncle Distillery (50 minutes from Grandview) - This award winning tourist destination produces and sells a large variety of 100% naturally flavoured liqueurs including: Banana Liqueur, Coffee Liqueur, Mulberry Liqueur, Mango Liqueur, Limecello and Lemoncello.
Ravenshoe (40 minutes from Grandview) & District
- Ravenshoe Visitor Centre and Nganyaji Interpretative Centre (40 minutes from Grandview) – The Centre offers interesting interpretative displays of the history of Ravenshoe. Local produce is also for sale.
- Capella Steam Train Ravenshoe (40 minutes from Grandview) - The Heritage Steam Train leaves Ravenshoe Station at 1.30 pm every Sunday. It Travels to Tumoulin, the highest Railway Station in Queensland, and arrives back in Ravenshoe at approximately 3.00 pm. At Tumoulin passengers are able to partake of the Devonshire Teas or cool drinks, and have photos taken at the highest Railway Sign in Queensland.
- Windy Hill Wind Farm (35 minutes from Grandview) - Windy Hill Wind Farm is Queensland's largest wind farm with 20 windmills producing enough power for 3,500 homes.
- Millstream Falls (50 minutes from Grandview) - Millstream Falls are the widest falls in Australia, spilling over an old basalt lava flow. Here in the rain shadow of the eastern dividing ranges, the dry open woodland vegetation offers a stark contrast to the rainforest only kilometres away. This park was the site of an army camp during World War II and many former soldiers make nostalgic visits to remember those times.
- Old Palmerston Highway/Souita and Pepina Waterfalls (Scenic route from Millaa Millaa to Ravenshoe) – this drive takes in some of the most spectacular scenery of the Atherton Tablelands. Travelling through dense Wet Tropics Rainforest and rich dairy country there are picture-postcard views at every turn.
- Lake Koombooloomba Dam and Tully Falls Gorge (travel time varies according to road conditions) - Koombooloomba was once a small town complete with a school and cricket club when workers were building the hydroelectric dam across the Tully Falls in the 1950's. Now deserted, it is a quiet spot for camping, fishing and non-motorised watersports. The Tully Gorge offers a spectacular site with rock walls plunging 300m to the Tully River below.
Kuranda (50-60 minutes from Grandview)
- Kuranda Village – Kuranda’s shops and markets with their exotically handcrafted goods, Aboriginal artifacts, restaurants and coffee shops have made Kuranda a well known destination. Take the time to visit some of Kuranda’s many first class nature based tourist attractions, which include koalas, butterflies, native and exotic birds, kangaroos and reptiles. Don’t miss the famous Barron Falls, which are breathtaking. You can also see traditional Aboriginal dancers perform, travel on a riverboat on the mighty Barron River or join an Army Duck ride through the rainforest. Explore the markets – open 7 days a week.
- Skyrail Kuranda — The Skyrail experience, spanning 7.5kms over pristine rainforest, allows you to explore the wonders of an ancient tropical rainforest and learn about one of the most botanically fascinating and diverse areas on earth. Gliding just metres above the rainforest canopy in comfortable six-person gondola cabins, the Skyrail journey immerses you in an intimate rainforest experience where you'll see, hear, smell and become part of the tropical rainforest environment. (Grandview can arrange your Skyrail experience.)
- Kuranda Scenic Rail - This world famous railway experience is a must-do when visiting Cairns and Tropical North Queensland, Australia. You will discover the pioneering history of the tropical north from way back in the late 1800's, be astounded by a magnificent engineering feat and explore some of the great characters involved in the construction of this great railway. (Grandview can arrange your Kuranda Scenic Rail experience)
- Cairns Wildlife Safari - Located 9kms west of Kuranda, the Cairns Wildlife Safari Reserve is home to animals from all parts of the world. This truly amazing facility enables people of all ages to learn about and see wild animals in action, seven days a week from 9am to 4.30pm. Visitors can see Bears, White Rhinos, Hippopotamus (both large and small), a large variety of primates are there, just to mention a few firm favourites - and of course there is more… the Big Cats . . . lots of them. (Grandview can arrange your Cairns Wildlife Safari experience.)
- Barron Gorge National Park is a spectacular geological feature of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area and the centre of a fascinating network of historic trails. These trails were originally developed by the Djabugai Aboriginal tribe when they hunted and gathered food in their traditional tribal lands. With the advent of European settlement the trails were used by miners and agriculturalists in their drive to open up the hinterland and connect it with the coast
Other Activities on the Atherton Tablelands & Cairns region
*Information taken from the following sources:
- Wet Tropics Things to Do Fact Sheets.
- Misty Mountains Web Site.
- EPA/QPWS web site.
- Wet Tropics web site
- Tourism Queensland – Queensland Holidays web site
- Tablelands Regional Council Web Site