Quick Answers
Where is Mareeba?
About 60 km from Cairns, roughly an hour’s drive, on the drier western edge of the Tablelands.
What is Mareeba known for?
Coffee plantations, mango farms and its Sunday markets.
What is there to do in Mareeba?
Coffee and fruit farm visits, Granite Gorge and the Sunday markets.
“Mareeba is where the Tablelands meets the savannah, a dry, open town with a coffee history, a fruit culture, and a market on Sunday mornings that makes everything feel right.”
Mareeba: Coffee Capital and Gateway to the Tablelands’ Dry Country
The largest town on the northern Atherton Tablelands is Mareeba and one of the most underrated destinations in Far North Queensland. It sits at the drier, western edge of the Tablelands where the annual rainfall drops sharply and the landscape opens from lush rainforest to tropical savannah, a transition that produces a markedly different character from the towns to the south.
The Mareeba Rodeo
The Mareeba Rodeo is one of Australia’s oldest and most celebrated rodeos, drawing thousands of visitors every July since 1949. Held at Kerribee Park, this iconic event showcases the heart of country Queensland with thrilling bull riding, saddle bronc and bareback riding, barrel racing, steer wrestling, campdrafting, junior rodeo competitions and live entertainment.
The excitement begins with the colourful Downtown Parade through Mareeba’s main street before continuing into two unforgettable days of rodeo action, country music, food stalls and family fun. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a lifelong rodeo fan, the Mareeba Rodeo is an authentic outback experience not to be missed.
Beyond the rodeo, Mareeba hosts an exciting calendar of events that celebrate the region’s vibrant community and agricultural heritage.
Visitors can browse the popular Mareeba Markets, enjoy the flavours of the Mareeba Multicultural Festival, experience local produce during coffee and farm tours, attend race days at the Mareeba Turf Club, or discover seasonal celebrations throughout the year. Combined with nearby attractions such as Granite Gorge Nature Park, Coffee Works, hot air ballooning, the Mareeba Wetlands and the surrounding Atherton Tablelands, there’s always something new to experience.
Visiting Mareeba
Escape to Mareeba, where sunshine, country hospitality and unforgettable adventures await. Wander through coffee plantations, sample tropical fruits fresh from local farms, meet friendly rock wallabies at Granite Gorge, soar above the Tablelands in a hot air balloon or immerse yourself in the excitement of the world-famous Mareeba Rodeo. With its welcoming community, spectacular scenery and year-round events, Mareeba is the perfect destination for travellers wanting to experience the true spirit of Tropical North Queensland beyond the coast. Whether you’re visiting for a day or staying a little longer, Mareeba will leave you with lasting memories of Australia’s unique outback lifestyle.
Taste the local Coffee
Coffee has defined Mareeba’s modern identity. The town sits at the heart of one of Australia’s most productive coffee-growing regions, and a visit to either Skybury Coffee Plantation or Coffee Works gives visitors an accessible, enjoyable window into the full coffee production story, from the cherry on the tree to the cup in your hand.
The coffee grown around Mareeba has a distinctive character, clean, bright, and reflective of the dry-season growing conditions that concentrate flavour in ways that wetter regions cannot.
The Mareeba Heritage Museum celebrates the town’s multicultural history, an Italian, Greek, and Chinese agricultural community grew up alongside the original Irish and British settlers in the post-war years, and the town’s character reflects that mix. The Sunday markets at Mareeba are excellent, local produce, tropical fruit, and a convivial atmosphere that sums up the town well.
Explore Atherton Tablelands
Ravenshoe
Yungaburra
ChillagoeMareeba is also the gateway to Chillagoe (2 hours west), Davies Creek and Granite Gorge (30 minutes north), and the Mareeba Wetlands, a significant bird sanctuary that supports over 200 species and is one of the best birdwatching sites in the region.
A Hot Getaways destination. Where Care is Our Compass.
Mareeba FAQs
Where is Mareeba?
Mareeba is the largest town on the northern Atherton Tablelands, on the drier western edge of the region where rainforest gives way to tropical savannah, about an hour drive from Cairns.
What is Mareeba known for?
Mareeba is known as the coffee capital of Australia, with local coffee plantations, along with mango farms, a rich multicultural heritage and its famous Sunday markets.
What is there to do in Mareeba?
Visitors can tour coffee and fruit plantations, visit the Mareeba Wetlands and Granite Gorge Nature Park, explore the Sunday markets, and experience the transition from tropics to outback savannah country.
Can you visit coffee plantations in Mareeba?
Yes. Several coffee estates around Mareeba welcome visitors for tastings and tours, reflecting the district reputation as one of Australia leading coffee-growing regions.
How far is Mareeba from Cairns?
Mareeba is about 60 kilometres from Cairns, roughly an hour drive up the Kuranda Range and across the northern Tablelands.
Travel Kindly
At Hot Getaways, care is our compass — and a little kindness makes every journey better. When you visit the Atherton Tablelands, we gently ask you to:
- Tread lightly — stay on tracks and lookouts, and take special care around waterfalls, which can be slippery and swift.
- Respect the wildlife — never feed the platypus, tree-kangaroos or birds, and observe them quietly from a distance.
- Support local — choosing local operators, cafés and guides helps this beautiful place thrive.
- Honour Country — we travel on the traditional lands and sea Country of Australia’s First Peoples, with gratitude and respect to the Traditional Custodians past and present.
- Be kind to each other — a smile, a little patience and a helping hand make the day lovelier for everyone.
Small acts of care add up to something wonderful. Thank you for travelling kindly.
