Local Attractions
PARONELLA PARK (7 MINS DRIVE)
Everyone has a dream but not everyone's dreams are fulfilled. José Paronella's dream was to build a castle. He chose a special part of Australia and created Paronella Park. On 5 Hectares beside Mena Creek Falls he built his castle, picnic area by the falls, tennis courts, bridges, a tunnel, and wrapped it up in an amazing range of 7,500 tropical plants and trees (now a lush rainforest!). It opened to the public in 1935. Paronella Park has received multiple Queensland tourism awards, is State and National Heritage listed and is a National Trust listed property. It is privately owned and operated and Eco accredited. Paronella Park is the site of Queensland's 1st privately owned hydro electric plant
MISSION BEACH (40 MINS DRIVE)
Mission Beach is a relaxed beachfront town between Cairns and Townsville on the Queensland coast. Here two World Heritage areas, the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics Rainforest, form a natural environment like nowhere else on earth. Mission Beach is a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and a perfect base for visiting nearby Dunk, Bedarra and Hinchinbrook islands.
ATHERTON TABLELANDS (1 HOURS DRIVE)
The Tablelands (or Atherton Tablelands) is a highland region of northern Australia near Cairns, Queensland. The landscape's mix of rainforest, wetlands and savanna is home to numerous birds and wildlife like tree kangaroos and wallabies. The region encompasses the Waterfalls Circuit, a 17km driving loop that includes Millaa Millaa Falls, where the forested setting is a favourite of photographers.
