Davies Creek Falls, Queensland: Walk, lookouts and swimming hole

The walk to Davies Creek Falls near Mareeba, Queensland, offers two lookouts and a crocodile-free swimming hole where platypus hang out.

Davies Creek Falls is the top attraction in the Davies Creek National Park, Queensland. This is hardly one of Australia’s best-known national parks, but you’ll find it in the Atherton Tableland near Cairns in far north Queensland. It’s a popular spot for mountain bikers, and there are several rainforest walking trails to tackle if you want to stretch the legs.

How far from Cairns is Davies Creek Falls?

The nearest town to Davies Creek Falls is Mareeba, a 24km drive to the east. From Cairns, it’s about an hour’s drive.

A visit to this Atherton Tableland waterfall can easily be combined with nearby Emerald Falls. But if it’s just Davies Creek Falls you’re interested in, then you need to drive down the Davies Creek Road.

The Lower Davies Creek camping area is a popular spot for bush camping, but to access Davies Creek Falls you’ll need to head about 2km further down the road.

Davies Creek Falls Circuit Track

This is where you’ll find the car park for the Davies Creek Falls Circuit Track. This Atherton Tableland walking track is fairly easy going, and won’t occupy too much of your day. It’s around 1.1km return from the car park, and the walk should take about 20 minutes.

There are two lookouts along the way. One takes in the valley behind you, and the other focuses on the falls themselves. This cascade plunges 50 metres into the surrounding valley. Be careful and stay behind the barriers, however – people have died falling here.

Swimming at Davies Creek Falls

After the lookout, the walk continues along the creek past paperbark trees and banksia. It comes to a picnic and swimming area by the creek. This Davies Creek National Park swimming hole is a fabulous place for a swim on a hot day, and there’s a decent chance of spotting platypus here. There are no crocodiles at Davies Creek Falls – the elevation is too high.