Emerald Creek Falls, Mareeba, QLD: Walks, swimming & crocs

Emerald Creek Falls near Mareeba, Queensland, offers a series of cascades over granite boulders. A walking track takes visitors to the bottom, and gives them access to a string of crocodile-free swimming holes.

What is Emerald Creek Falls?

Emerald Creek Falls is one of several photogenic waterfalls in Queensland’s Atherton Tableland region.

Unlike other waterfalls, Emerald Creek Falls isn’t special due to its height – it’s more the way it cascades along a series of giant granite boulders. It’s almost horizontal in parts, as the water tumbles along the shiny granite surfaces.

Don’t have a car? Book an Atherton Tablelands tour from Cairns.

Where is Emerald Creek Falls?

Emerald Creek comes out of the rainforest on the Lamb Range, 15km south-east of Mareeba. The waterfall is inside the Dinden West Forest Reserve, and there are two walks to the falls.

The Emerald Creek Falls Lookout walking track is about 1.9km return from the car park at the Emerald Falls day use area. Expect eucalypt and acacia forest along the way, plus plenty of pandanus growing in the gullies.

Can you swim at Emerald Creek Falls? Are there crocodiles?

The lookout is nice enough, but most visitors will want to get in the water. There are several beautiful swimming holes downstream of the falls, and you’ll pass some on the walk to the bottom of Emerald Creek Falls.

The Emerald Creek Falls swimming holes are crocodile-free as the elevation is too high for the crocs.

Emerald Creek Falls walk

The Emerald Creek Falls walk branches off the lookout walk, and is shorter but trickier. It’s about 1.6km return, but involves two crossings of Emerald Creek, where the granite surfaces can be very slippery.

Don’t attempt the walk during or after wet weather – you’re going to struggle to stay on your feet.

Driving to Emerald Creek Falls

The access road to the Emerald Creek Falls day use area is partially unsealed. It’s usually fine for conventional vehicles, but caravans and trailers aren’t going to make it.

Emerald Creek Falls near Mareeba, Queensland. Photo courtesy of Destination and Events Queensland.

Atherton Tableland waterfalls

Other waterfalls nearby include Davies Creek Falls. Elsewhere in the Atherton Tableland, Wrights Creek Falls is near Yungaburra and Lake Eacham, while Malanda Falls and Dinner Falls are close to Atherton.

Further south, Millaa Millaa Falls, Ellinjaa Falls and Zillie Falls can be combined in a handy 17km circuit.