No idea what to expect from a visit to Babinda Boulders? Perhaps you’ve heard about the legend and the eerie history of the place and you’re not sure whether you should visit.
Given that it is one of the region’s most popular drawcards, it was naturally on my radar when I was visiting Cairns. I wasn’t sure what to make of it, what I would get out of the visit, or how long I would want to spend there.
Of course, I went anyway, and it was spectacular! There was a stunning water hole enveloped by lush, tropical rainforest. There was wildlife and the sounds of nature all around, and I felt grateful to have made the effort to visit. Read on to find out the 7 key things you need to know before you go; how to get there, what you can do there, and the history of the place.
1. It’s only an hour from Cairns
It takes 55 minutes, to be exact, to drive from Cairns to Babinda Boulders. If you’re visiting Cairns and wondering how to spend a day while you’re there, consider adding Babinda Boulders to your epic day-trip around the region. To get to the Boulders from Cairns, travel south along Bruce Highway until you get to the town of Babinda. Make a right turn into town and follow the road signs to the Boulders.
Once you’re off the highway you’ll have the chance to get up close to the abundant sugar cane and banana crops that flank the roads. It’s quintessential Queensland at its finest – roll your windows down and take in the sweet smell in the air. One of my favourite parts about driving through Queensland was the faint smell of the sugar cane on almost every back road I went down.
2. You don’t need to hike to enjoy your visit
The best thing about Babinda Boulders is that you don’t need to be an avid hiker to enjoy the best of the Boulders. As soon as you step out of the car you will be surrounded by nature. Greenery is absolutely everywhere, and tiny water droplets rain from the trees above.
Once you get a spot in the carpark, you’ll virtually step right onto the manicured lawns and be able to see straight across to the swimming hole. It’s less than a 100 metre walk from the carpark to the swimming hole. There’s an all-access ramp that leads straight down to the water hole where you can easily pop in for a swim. This is the perfect place to float around in tropical bliss. It’s completely safe to swim in the designated swimming hole at Babinda Boulders.
But do beware, swimming anywhere else along the creek is extremely dangerous. Do not go rock hopping or exploring off the designated paths and walkways. Make sure you follow the advice on the signs at all times. Both upstream and downstream from the swimming hole, the channel narrows significantly and there are countless hidden underwater caves and holes where water flows strongly. If you were to become stuck in one of these, even the strongest swimmer in the world could not fight the undercurrents. Many lives have been lost at Babinda Boulders due to these hidden underwater hazards.
Keep a lookout for the elusive Ulysses butterfly, or try your luck at spotting an eel, yabbie, perch or freshwater turtle while you’re having a swim. The only animal you won’t find at Babinda Boulders is a crocodile – it’s typically too cold this far upstream for these cold-blooded reptiles.
3. If you want to see Devil’s Pool it’s a 1.3km return walk
Even though it’s easy to see a lot by going not-very-far at the Boulders, if you want to see Devil’s Pool you’ll have to head out along the walk trail to get there. The Devil’s Pool Walk is a lovely, mostly flat walk which follows the creek line for about 700 metres. The path itself is a sealed surface for most of the way, making it accessible and easy for most. You certainly don’t need to be a hiker to get to the Devil’s Pool Lookout. Check out the path on AllTrails.
My one word of advice is to never ignore the warning signs along the trail. There are lots of sections where you could easily cut across the forest in search of a secluded rock to stand on directly overlooking the creek. This is incredibly dangerous for a number of reasons. Lives have been lost by drowning time and time again, and this happens when people deliberately disobey the warning signs. The water may look nice from above, but all the way along there are strong undercurrents and hidden submerged rocks and caves that will pull you under in seconds. So stick to the paths and enjoy Devil’s Pool from the specially-built lookouts along the way.
If you’re feeling like the Devil’s Pool walk just won’t quite satisfy you, there’s a loop-walk option too – the Wonga Track Rainforest Circuit. To find this one you’ll have to lookout for the suspension bridge near the picnic area and follow it across the creek. The flat dirt trail will guide you through the stunning rainforest, and there’s some great information signs along the way to answer all your wildlife questions.
If you’re ready to step it up, and have planned for it, you could hit the Goldfield Trail. This trail leaves from the Boulders carpark and will take you on a journey through history in the Goldsborough Valley. This is the exact trail that gold miners used to take when they came off their boats on the coast and made their way out to the goldfields in search of gold. Head to AllTrails to check out the 19km Goldfield Trail.
4. It’s perfect for a picnic – even in the rain
One of the reasons that I loved Babinda Boulders was because of the awesome park and picnic facilities. It’s definitely not your average suburban park. There are picnic tables and gazebos to hide from the misty rain, there’s lush lawns perfect for laying on and staring up at the tropical canopy above, there are BBQs to cook up a feast for lunch, and there are toilets and even showers too. Let the kids roam around to find the swings and go for a swim in the calm swimming hole.
Parking is easy too, there’s a sealed carpark for normal vehicles, and there are also some larger coach bays for big buses – that means that if you’ve come hitched up with your caravan or trailer that there will at least be room to turn around, you might even find a sneaky carpark to stay for a little while.
5. It’s a place of significance for the local Aboriginal people
The local Aboriginal people have a rich history with Babinda Boulders. The legend tells of a pair of forbidden lovers, Oolana and Dyga. Oolana was said to be from the Yindinji tribe and was promised to a tribal elder in marriage. Dyga was an outsider who came upon Oolana one day – it was love at first sight. The pair were said to have escaped together, roaming the land and enjoying the love they shared until their elders caught up with them.
Oolana and Dyga were separated, and in her despair Oolana waded into the then-calm waters of the creek. Her sorrow was so strong that it caused the earth to shake, sending boulders flying into the air. When they landed, the landscape was changed and the water rushed downstream in a huge flood. Oolana was never seen again.
Oolana’s spirit is said to still occupy the place. Her calls for her missing lover still fill the air and lure people towards her. Head to the Babinda Information Centre’s website to read Oolana and Dyga’s story in detail.
6. It’ll never not be busy!
When a place is this stunning, so well laid out, and so close to a regional tourism hub, it’s no wonder that it’s busy all the time. If you prefer quiet time and fewer crowds, try to come on a weekday, early in the morning, or much later in the day. The weekends are guaranteed to be busy all times of the day. That said, there’s plenty of space to share with everyone, and lots of little nooks and crannies to explore. Don’t stress too much about what time you arrive, just enjoy it while you are there.
Babinda Boulders is a public recreation reserve that’s managed by the Cairns Regional Council. Even though it’s technically not in a national park, dogs are not permitted anywhere at Babinda Boulders.
7. There’s so much to do nearby
There’s a huge variety of things to do near Babinda Boulders, so much that you could easily spend an entire day in the immediate area.
Food
If you’re peckish or in the mood for a coffee, head to the Babinda Bakery for a yummy treat. You could also grab breakfast, lunch or a snack at Kool Spot Café. All of these options are just a 5 to 10 minute drive from the Babinda Boulders carpark.
Camping
If you’re looking for somewhere to camp nearby there is an awesome free campground 100 metres away called the Boulders Free Camping Ground. If you’re lucky enough to fluke a spot there – there’s only 8 camping sites available – you’ll be able to stay for a maximum of 72 hours. The best thing is that it’s free and you can walk to the Boulders from the campground. They’ve got basic amenities including toilets, cold showers, and BBQs. You can’t make bookings so it’s first-in-best-dressed. I definitely wouldn’t rely on it as your only camping option, but it’s worth a quick check if you’re looking for somewhere to stay.
A more reliable camping option that’s also nearby is the Babinda Rotary Park Rest Area. Again, there are no bookings required, but it’s a much bigger campground and it’ll cost you a small donation to stay the night. You can stay for up to 72 hours and there are coin-operated hot showers available. Other amenities include a chemical toilet dump point, toilets, BBQs, a swimming hole, swings, and covered picnic tables. It’s suitable for larger vehicles, motorhomes, and caravans too.
Hiking & Adventure
If you’re up for an adrenaline-pumping activity you could check out Babinda Paintball. It’s 5 minutes from the Babinda Boulders back towards town, and their playing field is set up right in the midst of the tropical rainforest.
If you love the water and want to get out on the creek, Babinda Kayaking offers a unique way to connect with the rainforest. You can hire a kayak or a SUP for a half-day or a full day, they will drop you off with a map showing you where the pick up point is, and all you have to do is paddle downstream until your heart is content.
Head a little bit further south on a 20-minute drive to Josephine Falls for some more tropical fun. From there you can also tackle Queensland’s Highest Mountain – Mount Bartle Frere. Mount Bartle Frere rises 1622 metres above sea level and is a tough hike. It’s 14.5km return to hike Mount Bartle Frere from the Josephine Falls carpark, and takes people about 8 hours to hike it on average. I let the AllTrails reviews scare me away from this one, but no epic adventure story is ever acquired without first going on the epic adventure! Check out the hike on AllTrails.
Is Babinda Boulders Worth Visiting?
I can whole-heartedly say that yes, a visit to Babinda Boulders will be worth your effort. It’s lush, tropical, interesting, and tranquil. You can choose to seek out the adventurous activities, or you can relax into the calmness of nature. It’s so close to many of the region’s other amazing drawcards that you’d be crazy not to stop by while you’re in the area.
If you’re inspired or have some other helpful tips for our readers, leave a comment below – we’d love to hear from you.