Lake Eacham .. A natural, ancient Crater Lake.
One of the most popular swimming lakes on the tableland, the clear blue lake is one of three crater lakes, the lake is a marr or crater lake created thousands of years ago by two massive explosions of superheated ground water, and is at the centre of 489 hectares of lush rainforest, the traditional owners the Ngadjon-Jii welcome you to their rainforest homeland in the Wet Tropics World Heritage area. Activities on this lake include canoeing, bushwalking and bird watching. There are several picnic grounds, Sheltered BBQ’s, showers, toilets and ample parking. Cassowaries have been sighted around this lake; you may catch a glimpse of the Musky Rat Kangaroo, Victoria’s riflebird, a red legged Pademelon or a Tooth billed catbird walk the 3klm lake circuit track, learn the geology and history of the area and enjoy the 
abundant birdlife and lush tropical rainforest. There is a shorter 1.4 klms (return) active children’s walk. Look for fish swimming in the clear waters, turtles, and native wildlife. Be aware of stinging tree growing around the lake and never touch the leaves. The Lake is 21 minutes from Atherton (19.9 klms-12 miles) and 9 minutes from Yungaburra. The local Aboriginal people have a story echoing the violent creation of lake Eacham and it’s nearby neighbour Lake Barine. As told by Warren Cannendo.
“Two young fellas were trying to spear that wallaby. But they missed and hit a flame tree. That’s a sacred tree. The young fellas not supposed to be out hunting. They weren’t initiated. Their elders told them to stay put, not go out hunting. But they didn’t listen. When they pulled their spear out, part of a grub came out with the spear, which was a witchetty grub. They started cutting down that tree to get more grubs. When they cut down that tree, the ground began to shake. Those two fellas had made Yamini (rainbow serpent) angry. Then the sky turned orange, then all these people back at the camp, the earth went from underneath them, sucked them in, whoosh, they all got drowned. Where they were camped became Bana Wiingina (Lake Eacham).” (Warren Cannendo, Ngadjon-Jii).