Quick Answers
What food is the Atherton Tablelands known for?
Coffee in Mareeba, dairy in Malanda, and avocados and tropical fruit.
Where can I taste local produce?
At farm gates, speciality outlets and the weekend markets at Yungaburra, Atherton and Malanda.
What else is made here?
Chocolate, vanilla and macadamia products.
“The Atherton Tablelands feeds itself — and then it feeds everyone else. The food here tastes like the soil it came from: rich, honest, and full of altitude.”
Food, Wine and Farm Produce on the Atherton Tablelands
The Atherton Tablelands is one of the most productive agricultural regions in tropical Australia, and the food culture that has grown from that abundance is something genuinely worth experiencing. From the coffee plantations of Mareeba to the dairy farms of Malanda, from the avocado orchards to the exotic tropical fruit farms, what grows on the Tablelands ends up on tables across Far North Queensland — and increasingly, at farm gates and markets where visitors can taste it directly from the source.
Coffee, Chocolate and More
Mareeba is the coffee capital of the Tablelands, with Skybury Coffee Plantation and Coffee Works among the most visited destinations in the region. The coffee grown here is distinctly different from the robust varieties typical of coastal regions — the altitude and the dry season conditions produce a cup that’s clean, bright, and worth paying attention to. Chocolate, vanilla, and macadamia products are also produced on the Tablelands and available for tasting at various farms and speciality outlets throughout the region.
Lake Euramoo
Lake Eacham
Lake TinarooMarkets, Farm Gates and Local Producers
The weekend markets at Yungaburra, Atherton, and Malanda are some of the best in regional Queensland — places where local growers bring their produce directly to customers. Fresh tropical fruits, artisan cheeses, baked goods, honey, jams, and preserves sit alongside handmade crafts and local art. If you’re visiting the Tablelands on a weekend, arranging your trip around at least one of these markets is worth doing.
A Hot Getaways destination. Where Care is Our Compass.
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.
