Full-day Tour at the Atherton Tablelands with Food Tasting
Description
This tour is so much more than a tasting tour! A full day exploring this diverse region heading west of Cairns is a plateau rising from 400 metres to 1200 metres above sea level on the Great Dividing Range, the Atherton Tablelands. Offering a full comprehensive guided tour visiting ten different locations in one day. We offer an interactive tour with wildlife, nature, history, culture and food. Our guide's experience and knowledge within the Wet Tropics Region deliver interesting and fascinating facts on tour. The tours are personable and intimate enhancing every traveler's experience. Visiting a number of National Parks, local produces, a nature park, and waterfalls while traversing across some of the most scenic natural landscapes in Far North Queensland. We travel in a comfortable modern Toyota Hiace. Please be sure to specify any special requirements for mobility and dietary as we will always do our best to accommodate all our passengers.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your accredited guide will take you on a scenic tour of Kuranda the quaint village nestled amongst the Rainforest. Arriving at Barron Gorge National Park we stop to enjoy a rainforest walk. Your guide will share the cultural history, flora and fauna and wildlife of this area as you walk through the tropical rainforest canopy walk to view from both platforms the spectacular Barron Falls.
Leaving the Rainforest for the savannah we drive through Mareeba township and stop for morning tea and first tastings at Skybury Coffee and Papaya Plantation. Enjoy fresh scones with papaya jam and cream, Skybury coffee and a selection of papaya and lime. Opportunity to wonder through the retail outlet to purchase produce and watch a virtual tour on the plantation.
A venture out to Granite Gorge for the opportunity of wildlife encounters as your experienced guide will take you on a short trek for the opportunity to encounter rare unadorned wallabies endemic to Granite Gorge. Observe and learn about these adorable wallabies in their natural environment, admire the vast landscapes of surrounding views, the array of birdlife and lizards on this fascinating exploration.
Arriving at Mt Uncle for tastings of award winning premium spirits and liquors. Your host will welcome you and introduce the range of liquors and spirits giving a choice of experiencing 4 tastings. Learn the history of the distillery, explore the landscaped gardens and see some of their farm animals.
Continuing west of the Tablelands passing the rich agriculture lands your guide will share the geology of history and knowledge of this magnificent region. Arriving at Gallos Dairyland, one of the last few operating Dairy Farms in Far North Queensland. We stop for lunch and enjoy tastings of gourmet cheeses and chocolates produced directly from the farm.
While visiting the Curtain Fig National Park you will be fascinated to learn of the history of this fascinating Curtain Fig Tree. Estimated to be over 500 years old there is a elevated board walk that takes you around the tree to view every angle. It has areal roots stemming 15 m to the forest floor. It is a popular habitat for many birds and wildlife.
We visit Bromfield Swamp viewing platform a historic site where troops where stationed in WW2. This extinct volcanic crater is a nationally important wetland for its paleoenvironmental studies for vegetation and climate changes over millennia and as a wintering roost for numbers of Australia's two species of Crane.
On our way to Millaa Millaa Falls we drive through the scenic landscape of country surrounded by mountain ranges and lush green paddocks and through the historic town of Malanda. Passing Queensland's largest timber pub, the oldest operational picture theatre while learning the rich history and culture of this town.
Viewing this stunning waterfall you may wish to enjoy a swim and photo under the falls. One of Australia's most photographed waterfall for its cascading water falling into a plunge pool surrounded by lush rainforest.
A popular volcanic lake for its fresh clear water for swimming, lush rainforest surrounding, birdlife and wildlife. We stop here for afternoon tea with the chance for a swim or walk along the board walk to spot some birdlife or wildlife.
Stopping at Lake Barrine the larges volcanic crater lake in the area. It sits approximately 730m above sea level and the lakes depth is 65m. Surrounded by dense rainforest home to an array of birdlife and wildlife, we walk a short distance along the board walk to view the twin bull Kauri Pines. Taking in the beautiful afternoon sun across the lake is the perfect end to a perfect day!
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Please note we pick up directly from all hotels, please ensure you manually add the name of the hotel you are staying at in Cairns. Please be waiting at 10 minutes prior to the scheduled pick up time in the reception lobby.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The legal age for drinking alcohol in Australia is 18 years old. Tastings of Alcohol will not be served to any person under 18 years of age. It is recommended passengers carry their drivers licence in the event of having to declare their age.
- Travel time is included in the total tour duration.
Reviews(33)
Booking at least one tour with Simon and Renae is an absolute must when in Cairns, and that is an understatement of the exceptional experience we had. Simon was immediately accommodating for my partner and I based on our preferences, and incredibly knowledgeable of wildlife (dare I say how lucky we got with two platypus sightings!). His passion is evident and infectious, and he ensured we were comfortable throughout the day. It was a blessing to have gone on such a side quest adventure through this company - cannot recommend it enough.
Thank you so much for your great review. We’re so glad you had such a wonderful day and were lucky enough to see two platypus! It’s great to hear you felt comfortable and enjoyed the experience. We really appreciate your kind recommendation. I will pass on the feedback to Simon and Renae.
We enjoyed every minute of the trip. It was great to get to see sites and out guide was excellent.
Thank you so much for your lovely review. We’re so glad you enjoyed every minute of the trip and had a great day exploring the sights. 🌿
We highly recommend Simon and the team at Tropic Tours! We went on the Taste of the Tablelands tour with Simon and enjoyed it so much that we immediately booked another tour later that same week to Paronella Park—and it was just as amazing. The Taste of the Tablelands tour was an unforgettable experience. From feeding wallabies and spotting kangaroos and native birds in the wild, to visiting the stunning crater lakes, every stop was incredible. Simon shared so much fascinating information about the wildlife, landscape, and cultural history of the region, which made the experience even more meaningful. Simon is knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about what he does, and his enthusiasm made the entire day fun and engaging. Our trip to Australia would not have been the same without Simon. If you’re visiting the Cairns region, we can’t recommend Tropic Tours highly enough
Thank you so much Alex for your kind words and for joining us on two tours, what a compliment! We’re so pleased you enjoyed the Taste of the Tablelands experience, from the wildlife encounters to the crater lakes, and that Simon helped bring the region to life through his stories and knowledge. It means a lot to know your time with us was a highlight of your trip. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you and your family back again one day. Take care, Renae & Simon
We spent our 38th wedding anniversary on the tablelands tour. We had an amazing day. Went to stunning places and ate lots of beautiful food. Simon our tour guide was fun and knowledgeable. The Mareeba Rock wallabies we fed were very special. Great memories.
Happy Anniversary! Thank you for choosing to celebrate 38years together on the Taste of the Tablelands tour. Such a special day and wonderful new memories to add to your continued story. Thank you for sharing your day with us, and all the best for many more chapters to come.🙏
Everything about the day was excellent. The Day provided me with a wonderful understanding of the importance of the Atherton Tableland as a food bowl. And this was reinforced by the tasting experiences as a part of the day….Coffee at the Coffee Plantation, the excellent Pink Papaya for morning tea (as my substitute for glutinous scones), the fantastic Cheese Tasting at the Dairy and then an excellent gluten free sandwich, the spirit tasting at the Distillery and being able to discuss the produce and processes with the distiller, and then the yummy home cooked cake for afternoon tea. Thank You for a Memorable Day. John WORLDON
Thank you so much for your kind words. We are happy to hear that you enjoyed such a memorable day exploring the Atherton Tablelands. It truly is a diverse region and often referred to as the “food bowl of the tropics”! We feel very fortunate to be able to share its rich produce, passionate local growers, and unique flavours with our guests. Its always a joy to share the range of quality produce grown in this region. All the best and hope to see you again 😊
Taste of the Tablelands If you only have one day for the Tablelands do not go past this tour - combining rainforests, savannah, volcanic plains and lakes and food and coffee tastings. Simon and Renae are wonderful hosts full of hospitality and information. This tour was so full of variety and diversification is is difficult to find a highlight. What struck us was Simon's phenomenal knowledge of the landscape and environment and the welcome he received from all the venues we visited. This tour company is obviously held in very high reqard throughout the Cairns area. Tastings were well spaced, plenty of time allowed for each stop and lots humour and fun along the way. Granite Gorge was awesome, the opportunity to interact with the little Rock Wallabies without causing any distress or interference to them was amazing and the walk through the gorge itself was just awe inspiring. All in all one of the most enjoyable days we had in Cairns.
Thank you for sharing your day on the Taste of the Tablelands. You have summed up the diversity of the day perfectly, it is one of the only tours that shares a vast insight on the Tablelands in one day. Thank you for booking Tropic Tours, we wish you the best and safe travels for the rest of your holiday.
Simon and Carl of tropical tours definitely lived up to the company’s reputation. Our tour taste of the table lands was everything we could ask for. First I walk with a cane and found the van very easy to navigate. Simon and Carl were both very kind to make sure I could enjoy each stop. Next Simon is incredibly knowledgeable about the local geology, history and flora/fauna. He is happy to answer any questions. Not to be discounted is the wonderful food we enjoyed. Home baked cakes, wonderful coffee, spirits, cheese, chocolate and lunch were delicious. A special thank you to Skybury plantation who opened on a holiday and made us welcome. I highly recommend the coffee and the location is a beautiful setting. We had a wonderful day and learned so much. I cannot recommend this tour or company highly enough
Thanks Michele for your wonderful review and recommendation. It is a great day, leading our tours our fantastic guides Simon and Karl definitely enhance the experience. Safe travels and thanks for booking Tropic Tours.
We've done several tours with Tropic Tours now, and will always engage them when we're visiting Cairns in the future. Simon was our driver and tour guide, with Renae handling the admin and background for their small group tours. We've done Paronalla Park, A Taste of the Tablelands, Mossman Gorge & Daintree, & The Cassowary Coast, over two visits to Cairns. Simon keeps you entertained and informed the whole time, and all of the tours are very complex, and diverse. He has a vast array of knowledge on all the areas we visited, and managed to answer all the questions I had, including those that were completely off topic. We had a great experience with Tropic Tours, and the small group tour bus suited us down to the ground. We would highly recommend Tropic Tours for anyone wanting to do a small group tour.
Great to see you guys again and thanks again for all your support. Take care x
This is an amazing Tour. Simon and JJ gave us the time of our life! With great sight seeing and some of the most beautiful places, coffee and coffee tasting, cheese tasting, a beautiful lunch at a dairy, CHOCOLATES and afternoon tea! We even visited a distillery for spirts and tasting local gins and rums. Does it get any better?? This was a small group tour with just 8 of us. It made it almost one on one and we gained a lot of knowledge of the area. If you have a day to spend relaxing, eating and taking photos of incredible venues, you have to take this tour.
Thank you for the fantastic review of your tour on the Taste of the Tablelands. All the best and thank you for booking with Tropic Tours.
This is a long day with fantastic food & spirits stops. This tour includes everything we expected and more. Simon & JJ are very knowledgeable, professional & entertaining. This is one of the best tour we have booked in a long time. We enjoyed all of the nature walks. The table lands has so much to offer. Totally different than Cairns. The diversity of the different parks and waterfalls are amazing. We would definitely book a tour with them again when we are back in Cairns. Everything was top quality. If you want to experience a terrific day this one is for you!
Thank you so much for your fantastic review of your day with Simon and JJ. We hope to see you again😊
