Turn off the Palmerston Highway onto Theresa Creek Road, about 1 km to the falls.
Directions in Google MapsThe waterfall on every postcard
Millaa Millaa Falls drops 18 metres in a single clean curtain into a rainforest swimming hole, with a grassy bank to sit on. It's one of the most photographed waterfalls in Australia.
You can see it from the car park, and it's about a five-minute return walk to the edge of the pool. There are toilets, change rooms, picnic tables, BBQs and shelters.
It's also the first stop on the Waterfall Circuit, a short loop on Theresa Creek Road that links Zillie and Ellinjaa Falls.
Swimming at Millaa Millaa Falls
Yes, you can swim in the pool at the base. The water is famously cold, so a warm day helps. As with all fresh water up here, stay out when the falls are thundering after heavy rain.
Keep an eye out for Ulysses butterflies, those electric-blue flashes, and for platypus late in the afternoon if you're lucky.
The Waterfall Circuit: Millaa Millaa, Zillie and Ellinjaa
Millaa Millaa, Zillie and Ellinjaa Falls sit along Theresa Creek Road, each about 10 minutes' drive from the next.
- Zillie Falls is about 7.5 km from Millaa Millaa Falls. It's almost 40 metres high, seen from a signed viewing platform, and not for swimming: the current is powerful and the pool rocky and shallow.
- Ellinjaa Falls is around a 200 metre walk down a rainforest staircase. The water falls over old lava columns into a cool pool, and there's a little ledge behind the falls where you can sit in the spray.
How to get to Millaa Millaa Falls
Millaa Millaa is about 98 kilometres from Cairns on the southern Atherton Tablelands. Head south from the township on the Palmerston Highway, turn left onto Theresa Creek Road, and the falls turn-off is about 1 kilometre along. It's well signposted.
Millaa Millaa Falls: good to know
Go early
It's popular. Mornings are quieter.
Cold water
Fresh and cold all year. Skip it after heavy rain.
Platypus
Best chance late in the afternoon. Be quiet and patient.
Three falls, one loop
Zillie is for looking, Ellinjaa and Millaa Millaa for swimming when it's calm.
Millaa Millaa and the circuit in pictures
Swipe or use the arrows. Tap a photo to see it bigger.
Where Millaa Millaa Falls is
Theresa Creek Road, Millaa Millaa
About 100 kilometres from Cairns, roughly 1.5 hours by car. The falls are about 1 kilometre along Theresa Creek Road from the Palmerston Highway.
Turn it into a Tablelands day
Lake Eacham, Lake Barrine and the Curtain Fig are all within half an hour. Or let a guide do the driving.
Lake Eacham
A clear, deep volcanic lake with a pontoon, a shady 3 km loop and turtles.
See the guide →Curtain Fig Tree
A 500-year-old fig with roots that fall 15 metres like a curtain. Ten minutes on a boardwalk.
See the guide →Josephine Falls
A three-tiered waterfall with a natural rock slide, under Queensland's highest peak.
See the guide →Waterfalls & Paronella Park
Tablelands waterfalls and Paronella Park in one guided day.
Barefoot Tours
A full day of waterfalls and swimming holes on the Tablelands.
Uncle Brian's Waterfall & Rainforest Tour
A fun, swim-heavy waterfall day for grown-ups.
Millaa Millaa Falls FAQs
Can you swim at Millaa Millaa Falls?
Yes, in the pool at the base. The water is cold. Stay out after heavy rain.
How tall is Millaa Millaa Falls?
About 18 metres, a single drop.
Are there crocodiles at Millaa Millaa Falls?
None of the official sources for the falls mention crocodiles. It's a popular swimming hole high on the Tablelands, and swimming is part of the official description.
How far is Millaa Millaa Falls from Cairns?
About 100 kilometres, roughly 1.5 hours by car.
What is the Waterfall Circuit?
A short drive along Theresa Creek Road linking Millaa Millaa, Zillie and Ellinjaa Falls, each about 10 minutes apart.
Are there toilets at Millaa Millaa Falls?
Yes, plus change rooms, picnic tables, BBQs and shelters.