On the Atherton Tableland

Millaa Millaa a small town on the Far North Tropical Tablelands, is the Southern gateway to the Atherton Tableland. Settled in lush green hilly countryside, beside the Wooroonooran Wet Tropics National Park and at the top of the Palmerston Highway, Millaa Millaa and it is aptly named.

Millaa Millaa Waterfalls.

Only 5 minutes from Millaa Millaa you will find the world famous Millaa Millaa Waterfalls. Images of these falls have been used in Australian promotional material worldwide, “

in Australia. The falls area is also known for its population of Ulysses Butterflies, and possible sightings of platypus late in the afternoon have been reported. Feel the power of the waterfalls, take a swim in the popular swimming hole at the bottom of the falls and soak in the sights from the very assessable viewing platform. Facilities include change rooms, picnic tables, toilets, parking is suitable for all vehicles. In 1880 on his quest to carve a track from Geraldton (Innisfail) to Herberton for the tin mining industry, pioneer Christie Palmerston camped at the bottom of the falls. Millaa Millaa is the start of the “Waterfalls Circuit”.  Just a short drive east from Millaa Millaa on the Palmerston Highway take the turn off at Teresa Creek Road to Millaa Millaa Waterfalls, on departing Millaa Millaa waterfalls heading to Zillie Falls look to the left at the intersection and you may see Asian water buffalo grazing in the paddocks of a local farm specialising in making cheese from water buffalo milk. Zillie Waterfalls, 7.5 klms from Millaa Millaa features a photographic viewing platform to capture the falls; picnic tables, BBQ and shelter, other excellent photo opportunities can be taken at the Teresa Creek Bridge. A further 3 klms drive from Zillie Falls and you are at Ellinjaa Waterfalls, the water from these falls cascade over larva columns, you can follow the track down to the stream, picnic tables and a car park are nearby. Visit Pipina Falls, 10 klms from Millaa Millaa, take the scenic route (old Palmerston highway) towards Ravenshoe; it’s a short walk to the base of the falls. View the highest waterfall on the “Waterfalls Circuit” travel 13 klms east from Millaa Millaa on the Palmerston highway, turn off at the Junction Road, and follow the signs to Mungalli Falls. The Mungalli bio dynamic dairy is close by on the loop road. Millaa Millaa is 2 Hours from the Cairns International Airport, 45 minutes from Atherton, 20 minutes from Malanda and 55 minutes from Innisfail on the Cassowary Coast.

Millaa Millaa History

The township of Millaa Millaa was established in 1910 and it owes its early beginnings to timber and dairy, bullock teams varying from 8 to 20 bullocks were harnessed and gigantic logs of black bean, red cedar, kauri pine, and mostly quality furniture timbers were hauled to the sale yards between 1923 and 1939, the timber industry lasted until 1986. Several of these massive logs (kauri pines) can be seen on display in the park in Main Street, Millaa Millaa, along with artwork of a full sized farmer pushing a reluctant dairy cow into a bale, a great holiday photo memento of your visit to misty Millaa Millaa.

As more and more country was cleared of timber and more land became available dairy farming commenced in the 1920’s and played a huge role in the development of the town, the regions dairy industry peaked in 1970, for many years the company Malanda Milk was known to operate the longest milk run in the world supplying Townsville in the south, to Alice Springs N.T. in the west, to Darwin N.T in the north, and across the Torris Straights to New Guinea and to Southeast Asia. In 1970 Millaa Millaa’s world renowned cheese factory won a gold medal at the international dairy show in Glasgow, Scotland for their matured cheddar, the factory was the first in Australia to export certified 100% choice grade cheese. Today little of the dairy industry remains though dairy cows can still be seen grazing on the hillsides in the surrounding area. Specialising in the modern day science of dairy the Mungalli bio dynamic Dairy, allows the taste buds to be excited with a complete dairy product range at their café, and visitors are welcome to watch Mungalli products being made at their cheesery.

Rainforest Walk : Millaa Millaa

Australia’s first network of long distance walking trails in high altitude rainforest commenced at Millaa Millaa there are over 130 kilometres of trails, constructed in partnership with regional shires, Queensland parks, Wildlife Services (QPWS) the lands traditional owners and volunteers. On the Palmerston Highway from Innisfail to Milla Milla before reaching the Beatrice River Bridge you will notice the possum suspension crossings made of netting above the roadway for possums to safely follow their habitual corridors across the road. Occasionally one will see a wild boar run across the highway, and cassowaries have also been sighted. The Beatrice River is a natural home for platypus; sightings are rare as they are very timid animals. Tree ferns and lush flora are abundant and the Ulysses butterfly (locally called the blue mountain butterfly) and the Cairns Birdwing butterfly are all found in the area. Millaa Millaa is 873 meters (2,900 feet) above sea level and approximately 5 minutes west of the town past the greenest golf course is the Millaa Millaa Lookout (Locally known as Gentle Annie) with 180 degrees view northwest to southwest of the Atherton Tableland, the lookout is a photographers heaven with magnificent views of the western side of Mt Bartle Frère, Broken Nose and Innisfail in the distance, on a clear day you can see the ocean approximately 70 klms away as well as the rich landscape and rolling hills of the Atherton tableland, in the very early morning and late afternoon the lookout is often shrouded in a fine mist that clears during the day for the perfect view. The lookout is only 300 meters off the Mc Hugh Road.