| ← Back stroke | Dive in → |
Swimming Hole Heaven in Far North QueenslandYour guide to the best swimming holes
| World Home Page |
| - Australia |
| - Queensland |
| Regions of Queensland: |
| - Far North QLD |
| - South East QLD |
| Other information: |
| Water Safety |
| Map |
| List of Lists |
| Order the book |
| Your Support |
Here are swimming holes that I have visited in far north Queensland, including the region around Cairns, down the coast to Babinda,
as well as up on the Atherton Tablelands.
Above: Discover swimming holes such as Malanda Falls on swimmingholeheaven.com
(Order this image)
Most swimming holes in far north Queensland will be closed during the wet season due to flooding or risk of crocodile attack. Reading the safety information is extremely important in this region as you could be risking your life if you don't.
A swim in the rainforest with its own submerged sandy beach and riverside platform, with steps for entering the water in the designated
swimming area. Wonderfully clear water in an open area with a surrounding lush natural environment…
After a 45 minute walk up and down some steep, buckled hills along a paved, pipeline access road, this long tiered set of falls has several
pools for swimming beside open rock shelves, but is only suitable for swimming when conditions are dry…
Probably the most popular natural swimming spot in Cairns, at only 20 km from the city centre, there are steps down to fast flowing, crystal
clear water in two spots along the creek, but with swimming now officially prohibited in the main pool and along the narrower section of the creek…
Not the typical kind of swim that you would expect at a waterfall, the designated swimming area here has a coarse sandy beach surrounded by granite
shelves and boulders leading down into clear water. The number of visitors is limited by the available parking…
Hidden in a paatch of rainforest, the character of this swim changes rapidly depending on the weather. While only shallow, it is a clear, calm, delightful
splash around in drier weather, but difficult to reach and enjoy if it has been raining…
This elevated, fairy-sized pool has a touch of the mystical about it, with steep rock walls in a tight space that feels like it could be part of another
realm. The clamber up to the pool requires good balance and a cool head to avoid slipping down the cascade…
A short detour that runs parallel to the Bruce Hwy leads to this swimming hole, flanked by two bridges across Harvey Creek that provide some welcome
shade in the water, with a small grassy area one one side of the road and a little sandy beach leading into the water on the other…
One of best natural rock slides you will find, with a wide rock slope leading into a small pool, but on a fickle stream that has its own flood
warning system for swimmers. Read further to find out what happens when the water level starts rising…
Perhaps better suited to canoeing and a trip on the commercial boat cruise than swimming, due to the limited space on the shore to access the water. For the adventurous swimmer,
there is however an abundance of aquatic life in the shallow fringes of this otherwise deep crater lake…
This groundwater fed crater lake is well set up for swimming, with entry steps into clear water from the shore or from a small pier. With high visibility and plenty of resident fish
and turtles, I was encouraged to get into the water by the sight of a commercial scuba diving tour exploring the lake at the same time…
Perhaps better suited to waterskiing than swimming, this somewhat barren part of this huge irrigation storage offers the possibility of a longer distance swim,
or a picnic, barbecue and splash around in front of the lawns on the shore…
A clear, fast flowing stream, with its own rope swing in the narrow strip of deeper water on the opposite bank. This swim has the optional reward of a counter meal
next door at the local pub, overlooking the river, after your swim…
This day visitor area and campground close to the water, with a limited number of camp sites, provides shallow bathing in a fast flowing creek along most of its length, with occasional
deeper sections. A wide granite shelf runs alongside the creek, with some well positioned picnic tables overlooking the water…
An Olympic sized swimming pool on the river with its own waterfall that spreads across the pool at the upstream end, with a concrete concourse providing clean
entry into the water and elevated lawn terraces overlooking the water…
A deep, chilly waterfall pool beneath an 18 metre high basalt column waterfall. Unlike other waterfall pools in the area, this one is large enough
and deep enough for swimming or treading water, with a little lawn area in front of the pool…
A giant boulder plonked in the middle of an otherwise fast flowing, shallow stream in Redlynch creates two deep channels for swimming as water is pushed around
the rock, with a calm eddy at the back. This swim has crystal clear water and a pebbled beach …
Right in the heart of Cairns, this croc-free, constructed lagoon is a well utilised, public open space. It has
a swimming pool with beach entry, lawned surrounds under the palm trees, and a splash park on the foreshore nearby…
This little park in the Cairns Botanic Gardens precinct has a constructed meandering stream, powered by two push button taps, that
runs through a well-shaded nature play area with sandpits, boulders, fallen logs, cables and nets…
A large, long playground on the Cairns foreshore with a many jet splash pad that squirts from below and beside, as well as a meandering stream.
The water play areas are well shaded, with views of the ocean. The cafe in the playground can even cater for kids birthday parties…
This former swimming hole on the Russell River has rounded boulders protruding out of vibrant blue water, but unfortunately swimming is no longer permitted
here because the crocs have moved in, so it is now just a dry picnic spot on the lawn set back from the river…
Before you head out, make sure to read the swimming safety information. If you know of a swimming hole in Far North Queensland that you think I would like to visit, suggest a site.
Above: Discover swimming holes such as Malanda Falls on swimmingholeheaven.com
(Order this image)
Most swimming holes in far north Queensland will be closed during the wet season due to flooding or risk of crocodile attack. Reading the safety information is extremely important in this region as you could be risking your life if you don't.
Select Your Swim:
Click on the heading of each location to find your next swimming day trip or holiday destination.
Swim safe, have fun and remember that no matter how cold the water is, it's alright once you're in!
Swimming Holes:
Babinda Boulders
A swim in the rainforest with its own submerged sandy beach and riverside platform, with steps for entering the water in the designated
swimming area. Wonderfully clear water in an open area with a surrounding lush natural environment…
Clamshell Falls, Behana Gorge
After a 45 minute walk up and down some steep, buckled hills along a paved, pipeline access road, this long tiered set of falls has several
pools for swimming beside open rock shelves, but is only suitable for swimming when conditions are dry…
Crystal Cascades, Cairns
Probably the most popular natural swimming spot in Cairns, at only 20 km from the city centre, there are steps down to fast flowing, crystal
clear water in two spots along the creek, but with swimming now officially prohibited in the main pool and along the narrower section of the creek…
Davies Creek Falls, Mareeba
Not the typical kind of swim that you would expect at a waterfall, the designated swimming area here has a coarse sandy beach surrounded by granite
shelves and boulders leading down into clear water. The number of visitors is limited by the available parking…
Ellinjaa Falls, Millaa Millaa
Hidden in a paatch of rainforest, the character of this swim changes rapidly depending on the weather. While only shallow, it is a clear, calm, delightful
splash around in drier weather, but difficult to reach and enjoy if it has been raining…
Fairy Falls, Cairns
This elevated, fairy-sized pool has a touch of the mystical about it, with steep rock walls in a tight space that feels like it could be part of another
realm. The clamber up to the pool requires good balance and a cool head to avoid slipping down the cascade…
Harvey Creek Scenic Reserve, Bellenden Ker
A short detour that runs parallel to the Bruce Hwy leads to this swimming hole, flanked by two bridges across Harvey Creek that provide some welcome
shade in the water, with a small grassy area one one side of the road and a little sandy beach leading into the water on the other…
Josephine Falls, Bartle Frere
One of best natural rock slides you will find, with a wide rock slope leading into a small pool, but on a fickle stream that has its own flood
warning system for swimmers. Read further to find out what happens when the water level starts rising…
Lake Barrine, Crater Lakes National Park
Perhaps better suited to canoeing and a trip on the commercial boat cruise than swimming, due to the limited space on the shore to access the water. For the adventurous swimmer,
there is however an abundance of aquatic life in the shallow fringes of this otherwise deep crater lake…
Lake Eacham, Crater Lakes National Park
This groundwater fed crater lake is well set up for swimming, with entry steps into clear water from the shore or from a small pier. With high visibility and plenty of resident fish
and turtles, I was encouraged to get into the water by the sight of a commercial scuba diving tour exploring the lake at the same time…
Lake Tinaroo at Tinaburra Drive, Yungaburra
Perhaps better suited to waterskiing than swimming, this somewhat barren part of this huge irrigation storage offers the possibility of a longer distance swim,
or a picnic, barbecue and splash around in front of the lawns on the shore…
Little Mulgrave River at Mountain View Hotel
A clear, fast flowing stream, with its own rope swing in the narrow strip of deeper water on the opposite bank. This swim has the optional reward of a counter meal
next door at the local pub, overlooking the river, after your swim…
Lower Davies Creek Campground, Mareeba
This day visitor area and campground close to the water, with a limited number of camp sites, provides shallow bathing in a fast flowing creek along most of its length, with occasional
deeper sections. A wide granite shelf runs alongside the creek, with some well positioned picnic tables overlooking the water…
Malanda Falls, Malanda
An Olympic sized swimming pool on the river with its own waterfall that spreads across the pool at the upstream end, with a concrete concourse providing clean
entry into the water and elevated lawn terraces overlooking the water…
Millaa Millaa Falls, Millaa Millaa
A deep, chilly waterfall pool beneath an 18 metre high basalt column waterfall. Unlike other waterfall pools in the area, this one is large enough
and deep enough for swimming or treading water, with a little lawn area in front of the pool…
Freshwater Creek at The Rocks, Cairns
A giant boulder plonked in the middle of an otherwise fast flowing, shallow stream in Redlynch creates two deep channels for swimming as water is pushed around
the rock, with a calm eddy at the back. This swim has crystal clear water and a pebbled beach …
Iconic Swimming Pools:
Cairns Esplanade Swimming Lagoon
Right in the heart of Cairns, this croc-free, constructed lagoon is a well utilised, public open space. It has
a swimming pool with beach entry, lawned surrounds under the palm trees, and a splash park on the foreshore nearby…
Free Splash Pads and Splash Parks:
Centenary Lakes Nature Play
This little park in the Cairns Botanic Gardens precinct has a constructed meandering stream, powered by two push button taps, that
runs through a well-shaded nature play area with sandpits, boulders, fallen logs, cables and nets…
Muddys Playground
A large, long playground on the Cairns foreshore with a many jet splash pad that squirts from below and beside, as well as a meandering stream.
The water play areas are well shaded, with views of the ocean. The cafe in the playground can even cater for kids birthday parties…
Former Swimming Holes:
The Golden Hole, Bartle Frere
This former swimming hole on the Russell River has rounded boulders protruding out of vibrant blue water, but unfortunately swimming is no longer permitted
here because the crocs have moved in, so it is now just a dry picnic spot on the lawn set back from the river…
Before you head out, make sure to read the swimming safety information. If you know of a swimming hole in Far North Queensland that you think I would like to visit, suggest a site.
| ← Back stroke | Dive in → |
| Australia | Queensland |
| Water Safety | Map |
| Links | Your Support |
| List of Lists | Suggest a Swim |
| Community, Media, Research | |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
© Brad Neal 2024. All rights reserved. Swimming Hole Heaven is a registered trademark. Here are my
affiliate links and cookies policy and opportunities to provide support to Swimming Hole Heaven.