Windin Falls

“Windin Falls is the least-visited of the major Tablelands waterfalls — and the most rewarding for those willing to earn it with a proper walk.”

Windin Falls: The Tablelands’ Best-Kept Waterfall Secret

Windin Falls is one of the most spectacular and least-visited waterfalls on the Atherton Tablelands — a remote cascade in Wooroonooran National Park reached by an 11.5 km return walk through some of the most pristine and undisturbed rainforest in Far North Queensland. The reward is entirely proportionate to the effort.

The walk to Windin Falls starts from the Gourka Road car park, off Topaz Road near Malanda. The wide track descends steadily through rainforest towards the top of the falls, and the last 50 metres are very steep. It is a Grade 4 track, so wear good shoes and take your time.

The falls themselves are a multi-tiered cascade of considerable scale, dropping through a gorge of dramatic volcanic rock into pools that are swimmable in appropriate conditions. The surrounding forest at Windin is extraordinary — large fig trees, massive ferns, and a bird life that includes cassowaries, riflebirds, and a range of rainforest specialists that the accessible areas simply don’t host in the same concentration.

Lake EachamA clear crater lake ringed by rainforest, with wildlife along the shore.Granite GorgeGranite boulders, rock pools and wildlife near Mareeba.Lake BarrineA rainforest crater lake with wildlife and a lakeside tea house.Curtain Fig TreeA giant fig with a curtain of aerial roots, near Yungaburra.

Allow about 2.5 to 3 hours for the 11.5 km return walk, plus time at the falls. There is no phone reception on the track or at the falls, so carry water and tell someone your plans. Avoid the track during and after heavy rain. At the top there is a sheer drop and slippery rocks, so stay well back from the edge.

A Hot Getaways destination. Where Care is Our Compass.