Yungaburra, on the Atherton Tableland in North Queensland, is an attractive National Heritage-listed village which has seen little change since its heyday in the early 1900s. Its streets are lined with wide verandahs and heritage shop fronts, now mainly occupied by craft shops, galleries, cafes and restaurants.
The historic Lake Eacham Hotel, fondly known as the Yungaburra Pub, takes its given name from the neighbouring lake and National Park. Stop and have a drink here for a touch of nostalgia - and you might even catch a glimpse of the resident ghost.
The Atherton Tablelands is generally milder than down on the coast around Cairns, with summer temperatures around 28 degrees Celsius and winter temperatures around 23 degrees Celsius, with most rain falling between the months of December and April.
Not far from Yungaburra, Lake Eacham is a volcanic crater lake where the lush, tropical highland forest descends right down to the crystal clear water. Nearby, Lake Barrine is also a crater lake where a cruise boat operates.
Man-made Lake Tinaroo was formed by the damming of the Barron River and offers a range of watersports options. Fishing is huge here - the Barra Bash is held in the waters of the lake each year, with a record-breaking barramundi catch always a possibility.
With its small but high-class range of boutique restaurants and its cool mountain climate, Yungaburra is an idyllic base from which to explore the surrounding crater lakes, waterfalls and rainforest. Pride of the natural wonders is the famous curtain fig tree whose veil of aerial roots trails 15m to the forest floor.
Festivals: Yungaburra Folk Festival (Oct), Lake Tinaroo Barra Bash (Oct)
Things to do:
Heritage walk including the "Old Town Loop"
Platypus viewing platform and nature walk
Browse the galleries and craft shops
Markets - Fourth Saturday of each month
Walk to the famous curtain fig tree
In the area:
Lake Eacham - rainforest walking track around the lake
Lake Barrine - Cruise the lake or take a rainforest walk
Lake Tinaroo - Watersports galore - sailing, waterskiing and canoeing, fishing for barramundi, forest drive around the lake, lakeside walks
Millaa Millaa - famous waterfall circuit
Mt Hypipeme National Park - waterfalls, birdwatching and wildlife spotting (especially at night)
Australia - plan it, book it
