Originally home to the Yidinji and Ngajanji people, Yungaburra is a rural town on Queensland’s Atherton Tableland. It was settled by Europeans in 1891 and named after the Yidinji word for native silver ash. The surrounding landscape has been significantly shaped by volcanic activity, with a highlight being the azure-coloured Crater Lakes.
Things to do in Yungaburra
On the outskirts of Yungaburra is the Curtain Fig Tree, a heritage-listed strangler fig and one of the largest known trees in Tropical North Queensland. Follow the boardwalk trail to marvel at its aerial roots, which descend 15 metres to the ground. You can coincide your visit with a stop at the Yungaburra Platypus Viewing Platform to spot these duck-billed monotremes in the wild.
Directly east of Yungaburra is Crater Lakes National Park, which protects the volcanically-formed Lake Barrine and Lake Eacham. You can gaze up at 45-metre-high giant bull kauri pine trees on the Twin Kauris Walk or spot musky-rat kangaroos on the Rainforest Walk. Swimming is permitted in Lake Eacham while boat cruises are available around Lake Barrine.
North of Yungaburra is Lake Tinaroo, which was created with the construction of the Tinaroo Falls Dam in the 1950s. You can cast a fishing line to lure barramundi, cod and catfish or soak up the scenery while water skiing and sailing. Occupying a peninsula that juts into Lake Tinaroo is the Avenue of Honour, a war memorial that commemorates those who sacrificed their lives for Australia.
Getting around Yungaburra
Yungaburra is around 10 minutes’ drive from Atherton and 1.5 hours from Cairns Airport, which has flights to destinations across Oceania. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting to Yungaburra while the town centre is small enough to explore on foot.