Millaa Millaa Waterfall is an eye-catching waterfall which you can swim in surrounded by lavish rainforest greenery.
Named after the nearby town of Millaa Millaa, the falls are part of the infamous Atherton Tablelands waterfall circuit. It is great to stop by and check out the other waterfalls such as Zillie Falls, Ellinjaa Falls, Nandroya Falls and Josephine Falls.
Fun Fact: The name “Millaa Millaa” is actually derived from the local Mamu Aboriginal word “Malay Malay”. It is a rainforest vine which is present within the surroundings.
How to get to Millaa Millaa Waterfall
Address: Millaa Millaa Waterfall, Millaa Falls Road, Millaa Millaa QLD, 4886, Australia
To visit Millaa Millaa Waterfall most people visit from Cairns as part of an Atherton Tablelands waterfall circuit.
The best way is to make your own way there by car and if you don’t have your own, look into renting one. The journey from Cairns to Millaa Millaa falls will take around 1 hour 45 min on a 100 km journey.
The bulk of the journey will be on Bruce Highway before eventually turning off onto Riverstone Road and then Gillies Range Road.
Continue until turning onto Lake Barrine Road in Yungaburra, then turning onto Anderson Road and then Lake Barrine Road.
Head towards Malanda Millaa Millaa Road. Eventually you will turn off onto Theresa Creek Road which will take you a couple of minutes to finally arrive at Millaa Millaa Waterfall.
There is free public parking at the falls and plenty of space.
Don’t forget to plan ahead and make a full day of the journey making stops on the way, viewing other beautiful waterfalls.
Local tour companies within Cairns and other major cities/towns will be able to take you to the falls as part of an Atherton Tablelands tour. It would be best to enquire at least a day ahead to avoid any disappointment.
How far is the walk to Millaa Millaa Waterfall
The walk from the entrance to the bottom of the waterfall will literally take no more than 2 min.
You have to walk down some steps which are not strenuous or too steep; they are easy for children too.
Just make sure you take care if you visit on a rainy day, it could be a banana skin moment, literally.
What to expect at Millaa Millaa Falls
Millaa Millaa Waterfall is one of the most photographed waterfalls in Queensland. When you witness it you will know why, unless you go when Australia’s has a major drought, like we did. The water flows from a drop of 18 metres, plunging into a pool below which can be thoroughly enjoyed by swimming in it.
Yes, that’s right, you can swim in it. No crocodiles are at Millaa Millaa Waterfall, swimming in natural waterholes without crocodiles seems to be a rarity in Queensland.
The bottom of the falls has a nice layout too; it has a concrete slab on the edge of the water in a half-circle formation. It is perfect for leaving your valuables and taking a quick dip in the pool.
There are also picnic and toilet facilities at the bottom of the falls so you can spend a good amount of time there.
Surprisingly, there weren’t many people when we arrived at around 10 am. Since it’s so easy to walk to, people come and go every so often. At times you can literally have the entire beautiful rainforest-covered waterfall all to yourself.
We were a bit underwhelmed by the waterfall after seeing other pictures online but this is because it hadn’t rained much on our visit. The whole of Queensland was going through a major drought.
So instead of a gushing amount of water spraying into the swimming hole, it was more like someone left the tap on in the bathroom. However, it still had some great views and we enjoyed it.
Make sure you keep an eye out for some wildlife; there have been a few sightings of platypus and turtles.
We didn’t see Millaa Millaa Waterfall in its full glory, not like in that Peter Andre music video or the Herbal Essence and XXXX Gold Beer advert. If you didn’t know already that’s why the falls are quite famous, it looks so much more mystical and mysterious in those images.
Millaa Millaa camping
If you’re a fellow backpacker in a campervan or a family on the road, you can camp at the Millaa Millaa Caravan Park. It is only a 5 min drive away. It would be perfect to spend the full day on a waterfall route and staying overnight there.
TOP TIPS
- The waterfall is best viewed after rainy days so don’t expect a full gush of water during droughts
- Pack a picnic and sit down at the picnic area at the bottom of the falls to have food with a view
- To get those glistening rays of sunshine like in the famous videos, visit in the morning
Make Millaa Millaa Waterfall part of your day trip by viewing close by falls such as Zillie Falls, Ellinjaa Falls, Nandroya Falls and Josephine Falls. We did the Atherton Tablelands waterfall circuit in one day renting our own car and it was plenty of time. It worked out well in time to enjoy the amazing sunset on the stunning drive back to Cairns.
FAQ
How long is the walk to Millaa Millaa Waterfall?
The walk takes no more than 2 min from top to bottom.
Is Millaa Millaa falls safe for families?
Yes, it even has changing facilities, toilets and a picnic area at the bottom of the falls.
How big is Millaa Millaa Waterfall?
The waterfall is 60 ft high (18.3 m)
Where is Millaa Milla Falls?
Millaa Millaa Falls is located in tropical North Queensland, Australia, close to the nearby town of Millaa Millaa.
Why is Millaa Millaa Waterfall so famous?
The Millaa Millaa Falls was featured in the popular song “Mysterious Girl” by singer Peter Andre back in 1995. It has also been featured in advertisements from Herbal Essence and XXXX Gold Beer.
