Josephine Falls Place guide

Wondering what to do in Cairns? This popular attraction is well-known for its tiered cascade waterfall above a granite boulder formation. Part of the scenic Wooroonooran National Park, Josephine Falls is fed by rains on Queensland’s highest peak, Mount Bartle Frere. With its stunning waters and smooth Cairns rocks that form different pools, this place is great for adventure seekers, swimmers, and those who want to chill by the picnic grounds.

The main attraction of this popular swimming hole is the natural water slide. The flow of water over the granite rock formations wore it down over the years causing the formation of a smooth flat surface running for around 10 meters. The bottom pool below the slide is a large swimming hole (around 25 meters) – the most child-friendly of the pools. 

Josephine Falls is good for a full day, half day, or even a quick dip or swim. The public facilities around the area allow picnic and barbeque setups. 

Bushwalking

If you’d rather skip the water and prefer to hike around, there are several walks up to the top of the waterfall. One is from Bartle Brere to Broken Nose, and another more challenging from Bartle Brere to the Atherton Tablelands. Bushwalking is also a great activity to see the abundance of butterflies and birds, as well as other Australian wildlife and vegetation.

*Be warned that some areas of the Josephine Falls can be extremely dangerous. Always pay attention to the signposts and do not try to swim in restricted areas.

Want to visit the Atherton Tablelands and Josephine Falls? We’ve got the perfect full-day tour for you!

How to Get There

• Josephine Falls is approximately 75 km south of Cairns. 
  
  
• By car, it is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes from Cairns via the Bruce Highway (also known as Highway 1). Once you reach the small town of Mirriwinni (which lies just south of Babinda), take the Mount Bartle Frere turnoff, and follow the signs leading to Josephine Falls (approximately 8km).
  
  
• Join the Cairns Atherton Tablelands & Josephine Falls Tour – Full Day