Malanda Falls caravan park: Rates & waterfall swim safety

The Malanda Falls caravan park is the closest accommodation to Malanda Falls in the Atherton Tableland. Rates for sites start at $27 per night, and the crocodile-free waterfall pool is safe for swimming.

The Malanda Falls caravan park is a cheap accommodation option in the Atherton Tableland region of Queensland. If you fancy staying overnight in the region, rather than tackling it as a day trip from Cairns, this is a decent option.

As the name might suggest, one of the key advantages of staying at the Malanda Falls caravan park is that you’re very close to one of the Atherton Tableland’s most attractive waterfalls.

Where is Malanda Falls?

Malanda Falls is in Malanda, just to the south of Yungaburra. It is part of the Malanda Falls Conservation Park, and the waterfall is pretty much next to the highway. It’s only about four metres high, but it’s about the width here. The North Johnstone River tumbles over a 30 metre wide basalt ledge into a man-made swimming pool at the bottom.

Is it safe to swim at Malanda Falls? And are there crocodiles?

Because it’s a man-made pool, swimming at the base of Malanda Falls is about as safe as swimming under a waterfall gets. The site is too high up and inland for crocodiles to be a danger. The only time swimming is not advised is after heavy rains, when the pool can overflow and the currents can be strong.

If you’re lucky, you might share the pool with a platypus or two – they are known to hang out here.

There are also two half hour rainforest walks near the waterfall, and a picnic area.

Malanda Falls caravan park facilities

The Malanda Falls caravan park isn’t the most generously-equipped caravan park in Australia. There’s the usual camp kitchen and barbecues, plus a laundry room, but not a great deal else.

The two points of difference are having a large oval for kids to run around on and a small animal nursery. Children will enjoy meeting the pony, goats and alpaca.

Malanda Falls caravan park rates

Accommodation at the Malanda Falls caravan park comes in the form of sites, villas, motel units and ‘forest lodges’ which are basic rooms with wall fans. Unpowered sites cost from $27 per night, while powered sites cost from $33. Bookings can be made via the caravan park’s website.

Other attractions nearby include the Yungaburra Markets, Lake Eacham and Lake Barrine in the Crater Lakes National Park and the Gallo Dairyland dairy.