Crystal Cascades, Cairns: Location, walks and swimming safety

The Crystal Cascades near Cairns, Queensland, offers waterfalls and crocodile-free swimming holes in the rainforest-surrounded Lamb Range.

What is the Crystal Cascades?

The Crystal Cascades is a group of waterfalls and water holes on Freshwater Creek in the rainforest near Cairns, Queensland. The pools are surrounded by photogenic granite boulders. The most fun way of visiting the Crystal Cascades is on a beginner-friendly canyoning expedition from Cairns.

Where is the Crystal Cascades?

The Crystal Cascades is a 20 minute drive south-west of Cairns, in the Lamb Range. This is part of the Great Dividing Range.

Access to the Crystal Cascades is along the Redlynch-Intake Road.

The Crystal Cascades Park is at the end of the road. Here, you’ll find a car park, picnic area with public barbecues and toilets.

Save time queuing – Book these Cairns attractions in advance

From the air: Outer Reef helicopter flight | Sunrise hot air balloon ride | Skyrail Rainforest Cableway.
At night: Sunset dinner cruise | Pub and club tour | Aquarium by Twilight experience.
For wildlife: Birdworld Kuranda | Kuranda Koala Gardens | Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome | Cairns Aquarium | Rainforestation Nature Park
For culture: Cairns Museum tickets | Street art walking tour | City and surrounds highlights bus tour.
For thrills: AJ Hackett giant jungle swing | High speed jet boat tour | Barron Gorge white water rafting | Mulgrave River tubing.

Crystal Cascades walk

The most popular walk at Crystal Cascades is the paved 1.5km trail that passes several swimming holes and finishes at a waterfall.

However, you can undertake a longer 6.6km walk through the rainforest to Copperlode Dam.

There’s a good chance of seeing wildlife along the way. Goannas are fairly common, and cassowaries have been spotted here.

Another walking option is the 15 minute trail to Fairy Falls.

Trip-booster! 8 great day trips from Cairns to power-up your holiday

Kuranda combo package – take the Kuranda Scenic Railway up and the Skyrail cable car down.
Green Island tours with beach time, glass bottom boat and snorkelling. (Or pick a Fitzroy Island trip instead).
Moore Reef day tour – with underwater observatory, snorkelling gear, glass bottom boat & semi-submersible cruises.
Great Barrier Reef snorkelling cruise – with snorkelling stops at two excellent spots on the Reef.
Cape Tribulation rainforest day tour – with Mossman Gorge Aboriginal cultural experience and Daintree River crocodile-watching cruise.
Atherton Tableland waterfalls and rainforest tour – including wildlife-spotting and a swim in a volcanic lake.
Outback 4WD tour – visiting Chillagoe Caves, Aboriginal rock art and Granite Gorge.

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Can I swim at Crystal Cascades?

It is possible to swim in the pools at Crystal Cascades. The site is too high up for crocodiles to reach, so you can have a croc-free swim here. However, swimming is best avoided after heavy rain. As with all such creek swimming site, flooding and fast currents can prove dangerous.

You also need to be aware that there may be submerged rocks in the Crystal Cascades pools.

A family at Crystal Cascades in Cairns, Queensland. Photo courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland.

Accommodation near Crystal Cascades

If you’d prefer to stay nearby, the Cairns Crystal Cascades Holiday Park is a few minutes away. This Cairns holiday park has a range of family-friendly accommodation, including camping sites, cabins, villas and chalets.

Other attractions in Cairns include the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon, Cairns Aquarium, Barron Gorge National Park and the Skypark Cairns bungy jumping site.