Lake Tinaroo

“Lake Tinaroo at dusk is something else entirely, the flooded dead trees standing in the still water, the pelicans drifting, the light going gold over the mountains. It’s a big, unexpected feeling.”

Lake Tinaroo: The Tablelands’ Great Man-Made Lake

Lake Tinaroo is not a crater lake,  it is a large, man-made reservoir created in the 1950s by damming the North Johnstone River, and its character is quite different from the volcanic lakes to the south. Where Lake Eacham and Lake Barrine are jewel-like and intimate, Lake Tinaroo is vast and open, 3,500 hectares of water backed by the rolling hills of the northern Tablelands, with long views, summer water skiing, and a strong recreational fishing culture.

The lake is a notable feature in the Tablelands landscape for a reason that is visually striking: the flooded ghost trees that stand throughout the shallower sections of the lake, their bare white trunks rising from the water as permanent reminders of the valley that existed before the dam. At sunset and in still conditions, the reflections these trees create in the water are genuinely beautiful, a landscape that looks like it might have been designed by someone with a strong sense of drama.

Tinaroo is popular with recreational fishermen, water skiers, houseboaters, and campers. The Lake Tinaroo Holiday Park at Tinaroo Falls provides a good base for exploring the lake. The surrounding Danbulla Forest, which has one of the better scenic drives on the Tablelands, a winding forest road that passes all five of the crater lakes in the southern section of the lake area.

Emerald Creek FallsRock pools and walking trails in the hills west of Mareeba.Windin FallsA rainforest hike out to clifftop views. Take great care at the edge.Cathedral Fig TreeA giant strangler fig reached by a short rainforest walk.Peterson CreekA creekside walk at Yungaburra, known for platypus spotting.

A drive around the lake’s perimeter, stopping at Tinaroo Falls Dam and taking in the Danbulla Forest scenic drive, makes for an excellent half-day from Atherton or Yungaburra.

A Hot Getaways destination. Where Care is Our Compass.

Lake Tinaroo FAQs

Where is Lake Tinaroo?

Lake Tinaroo is a large man-made reservoir on the northern Atherton Tablelands, near Tinaroo village and Danbulla, about a 90-minute drive from Cairns.

Can you go fishing at Lake Tinaroo?

Yes. Lake Tinaroo is famous for barramundi fishing and holds a Stocked Impoundment Permit fishery. A permit is required and the lake is one of the best freshwater fishing spots in the region.

Can you do water sports at Lake Tinaroo?

Yes. At 3,500 hectares, Lake Tinaroo is large and open, and is popular for water skiing, boating, kayaking and sailing, especially over the warmer months.

What are the ghost trees at Lake Tinaroo?

The striking bare white trunks standing in the shallower parts of the lake are flooded dead trees, left standing when the valley was dammed in the 1950s. They are one of the lake most photographed features.

What is the Danbulla Forest Drive?

The Danbulla Forest Drive is a scenic drive around the northern shore of Lake Tinaroo through Danbulla National Park, passing lookouts, camping areas, the Cathedral Fig Tree and Lake Euramoo.