Where did I stay when visiting Clamshell Falls for a swim? How did I travel to this multi-tiered waterfall in the Behana Gorge?
Above: Overlooking the larger pool at Clamshell Falls(Order this image)
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There is no camping available at Clamshell Falls. The closest accommodation for camping, caravans and RVs is the
Greenpatch Campground,
which is on the southern edge of Gordonvale, next to the Mulgrave River. The campground is free, but the maximum stay duration is 72 hours (3 days).
The campground includes a dump point, coin-operated hot showers, a picnic shelter, and a toilet block. Note that the campground is closed during the wet season (typically December to March)
due to flood risks, and can be closed at short notice at any time for the same reason. According to the local council, the flood level has been known to rise above the toilet block roof,
so you do not want to be trapped here if there is a notice to evacuate. If you have a high vehicle, access the campground via the Bruce Highway, rather than via the Gordonvale township.
If Greenpatch Campground is closed or full, there is also a commercial caravan park at
Fishery Falls,
also on the Bruce Highway, 14 km to the south of Clamshell Falls car park.
Accommodation in Gordonvale
Gordonvale is the closest town to Clamshell Falls. Accommodation in Gordonvale is fairly limited, however you could try
Cairns Gateway, which is a little cottage/cabin adjacent to a house on a fairly large block on the southern
edge of Gordonvale. It is best suited to two guests, but there is a sofa bed to allow up to four guests. This stay comes with breakfast and has an outdoor swimming pool.
Where I stayed
I visited Clamshell Falls on a day trip from Cairns, as most visitors probably do. It is a 35 km trip or around a 40 minute drive.
When visiting Cairns, I most recently stayed at the
Cairns Colonial Club Resort (as a paying guest). The main attraction for me was that it was very reasonably priced, with parking
available, and has a pool.
Above: The beach lounges beside the pool at the Colonial Club Resort in Cairns, with the motel units in the background(Order this image)
These are a huge main pool and a smaller pool towards the back of the complex that has a swim-up bar. I stayed in a one bedroom motel unit that was
small but quiet and comfortable. The complex itself is huge, with hundreds of guests and a 24 hour reception, and a whole heap of facilities and activities, including mini golf and a restaurant.
All of the walkways to the rooms are covered for when it rains. Parking is available out the front of the complex (i.e. not in front of your room),
with a few spots along the circular driveway and plenty of spots on the street directly outside the reception.
Local swimming hole tours
Cairns is one of Australia's premier holiday destinations, with plenty of holiday activities on offer. Apart from visiting swimming holes and waterfalls, in my visits to Cairns I have taken
snorkeling tours to the Great Barrier Reef, gone skydiving, and taken a day trip to do some white water rafting on the Tully River south of Cairns.
A trip up to Kuranda along the Kuranda railway is also hugely popular with tourists, which I have travelled on in the past to take a look at Barron Falls.
If you are looking for a local guide to help enjoy Clamshell Falls, here are some Behana Gorge tours,
where Clamshell Falls is located. These include sightseeing, swimming, and rafting.
Above: Behana Creek below the falls(Order this image)
These tours can be a good option if you do not have your own transport. Some of these commercial operators
have vehicle access to Clamshell Falls via the otherwise locked gate, which can also save you the 3 km return walk. I have been to all of these swimming locations
around Cairns, but not on these tours, so make sure you read the tour descriptions and reviews carefully before booking:
More information about Clamshell Falls:
If you have arrived at this accommodation web page directly, you can find out more about swimming at the lagoon in my guide to Clamshell Falls. I hope
you enjoy your stay here.
