This Tablelands town has rainforest trails, waterfalls, and national parks on its doorstep.
To local farmers, Malanda is known as the “dairy capital” of Northern Queensland, but this small agricultural town has more to offer than milk. Naturally, a visit to the Malanda Dairy Centre should be at the top of your to-do list, but once you’ve sampled the town’s lifeblood, head down to Malanda Falls to cool off with a swim or hike to waterfalls and crater lakes at nearby Mt Hypipamee National Park. For bigger adventures, the Tully Gorge National Park and Wooroonooran National Park are within easy day-trip distance. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage Wet Tropics region, both parks boast scenic rainforest trails with spectacular wildlife-watching opportunities and a variety of options for camping. Alternatively, campers can choose from several campgrounds and Hipcamps around Malanda or check into the town’s caravan park, which has spacious powered and unpowered sites, as well as cabin rentals.