Granite Gorge, Mareeba: Wallabies, camping & tours from Cairns

Near Mareeba in far north Queensland, Granite Gorge offers cute wallabies, impressive granite rock formations, forest walks, crocodile-free swimming and camping.

Granite Gorge is an underrated tourist destination located in far north Queensland, Australia. It is known for its impressive rock formations and wildlife. However, the distance from Cairns puts most people off visiting.

Granite Gorge location and access

The Granite Gorge Nature Park is located approximately 75 kilometres southwest of Cairns, with the nearest town being Mareeba in the Atherton Tableland. It is accessible via car or tour bus. The drive from Cairns to Granite Gorge takes around one hour and 15 minutes.

It’s a good stop on the route out the Chillagoe Caves if you’re heading that way.

If you’ve not got your own wheels, then there are a couple of tour options from Cairns that visit Granite Gorge. Pick from a Chillagoe Caves and outback tour, or a Paronella Park, Herberton and wildlife tour.

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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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Granite Gorge features and scenery

Granite Gorge is home to a range of granite rock formations, including boulders and cliffs.

The area is surrounded by tropical forest and is home to a range of wildlife, including echidnas, quolls, possums and gilders.

Mareeba rock wallabies

Most beloved of all, however, are the Mareeba rock wallabies, which have been designated as a separate species in 1996.

These wallabies, as the name suggests, tend to hang out on the rocks. They’re fairly used to humans trying to get photos with them.

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.

Walking and swimming at Granite Gorge

Walking trails lead through the forest to the giant granite boulders, and visitors can go for a swim in Granite Creek Weir – a crocodile free swimming hole.

Entrance to the Granite Gorge costs $13, although you can also camp overnight if you wish.