6 Swimming Holes Near Cairns, From Crystal Cascades to Lake Eacham

Cairns has the reef on its doorstep, but locals mostly swim inland. For half the year the ocean has stingers, and the creeks near the coast can have crocs. Head up into the rainforest instead and you'll find cold, clear water in gorges, waterfall pools and an old volcanic crater.

This guide covers six freshwater swims you can get to and back from in a day. One is 20 minutes from the city. Three are up on the Atherton Tablelands, where the air is cooler too. One comes with a serious history, and we'll be straight with you about it.

Before you go anywhere near water up here, read the croc section near the end. It applies to all of them.

Quick answer: the best swimming holes near Cairns

Drive times are our estimates without traffic.

Short on time? Crystal Cascades. Want calm water? Lake Eacham. Want the classic photo? Millaa Millaa.

1Crystal CascadesRedlynch

The spota string of pools and small waterfalls in a rainforest gorge, 20 minutes from the Cairns CBD.

This is the swim Cairns locals grow up with. Queensland's tourism board describes a short, 1.5 km paved trail along Freshwater Creek, passing several swimming holes and finishing at a waterfall. The rainforest canopy keeps most of it in shade.

Cairns Regional Council runs the park, with electric barbecues, picnic tables and a toilet block near the car park. Dogs aren't allowed.

Heads up: Cairns Regional Council lists Crystal Cascades among the local swims with the most drowning deaths, and it has proposed no swimming zones here. Stick to the calmer pools, follow every sign, and stay out when the creek's running fast after rain.

2Lake EachamCrater Lakes National Park

The spota deep, round crater lake ringed by rainforest, with steps and ladders straight into the water.

If you want calm water, this is it. There's no current, no surf and no slippery waterfall rocks. Queensland Parks runs a day use area on the edge of the lake, with steps, ramps and ladders to get in, and it's a popular spot for a swim or a snorkel along the edges.

The lake is deep, so it's best for confident swimmers. And yes, there's a crocodile: a freshwater one. Queensland Parks says freshies are timid and not considered life threatening, but asks you to take care and report any sighting.

Heads up: Queensland Parks asks you not to dive or jump from the viewing decks, the pontoon, the lake edges or overhanging trees.

3Babinda BouldersBabinda

The spota wide, clear swimming pool on Babinda Creek, at the bottom of a run of huge smooth granite boulders.

Babinda Boulders is beautiful, and it's also the most dangerous swim in this guide. Cairns Regional Council says 21 people have drowned here, and most of them died outside the swimming area, at The Chute and Devil's Pool. The creek pushes through gaps between the boulders, and hidden underwater gaps can trap a swimmer.

So here's how to do it safely. Swim in the main pool, which council calls the safer swimming spot and which is easy to reach from the car park. Don't go past the fences. The council has made Devil's Pool, The Chute and the Washing Machine a permanent closed area, and council staff and police issue fines.

Once you're in the right place, it's a lovely swim, with picnic shelters, barbecues and toilets right next to it.

Heads up: never dive, never climb the fences, and never swim at The Chute or Devil's Pool. If the creek is high or fast, don't get in at all.

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4Mossman GorgeDaintree National Park

The spota crystal clear river tumbling over granite boulders in the southern end of the Daintree.

Mossman Gorge is the easy way into the Daintree. You park at the Mossman Gorge Centre and catch a shuttle bus 2 km into the gorge, then walk a few minutes to the river. The operator lists adult fares at $15.50, and a ticket covers as many trips as you like on the day.

From the shuttle stop, the lower river track and the short Baral Marrjanga boardwalk lead to the river, with pools between the boulders. If you have time, the rainforest circuit loops through the forest too.

Swimming here is at your own risk. The operator warns that conditions change quickly and aren't monitored.

Heads up: the river can rise fast after rain in the ranges, even on a sunny day at the gorge. If the water's high, brown or fast, enjoy the walk and skip the swim.

5Millaa Millaa FallsAtherton Tablelands

The spotan 18 metre curtain of water dropping into a wide, round pool, the most photographed falls in the region.

Tablelands Regional Council calls Millaa Millaa the main attraction on its Waterfall Circuit, a heritage listed 18 metre plunge waterfall. It's a 300 metre return walk from the car park, and you can swim in the pool at the bottom.

The water's cold, which is half the point on a hot day. There's a car park, a picnic area and toilets.

Top tip: it gets busy with tour buses from late morning. Go early, then do the rest of the Waterfall Circuit. Zillie Falls is a viewing platform only (the current is too strong for a swim), but Ellinjaa, below, is a good second dip.

6Ellinjaa FallsAtherton Tablelands

The spota wide waterfall spilling over basalt columns into a rocky pool, a few minutes' drive from Millaa Millaa.

Ellinjaa is the quieter sister of Millaa Millaa. It's on the same Waterfall Circuit, and Tablelands Regional Council points out the lava column formations the water runs over. Queensland's tourism board calls it a great spot for a swim.

A short walk from the car park, about 400 metres return, takes you down to the base. There are no toilets here, so use the ones at Millaa Millaa first.

Heads up: the rocks at the base are wet and slippery. Step carefully, and check the depth before you swim.

What about Josephine Falls?

It's one of the most popular swims south of Cairns, with a natural rock slide, so you'll see it on every list. But right now, it's a bad time to plan around it.

Our call: check the park alerts, and if it's shut, swim at Babinda Boulders' main pool instead, a short drive north.

Are there crocodiles in swimming holes near Cairns?

The swims in this guide are upland, freshwater spots away from the tidal rivers, and they're popular, signposted swimming areas. But the Queensland Government's advice is to expect crocodiles in all waterways in the north, even without a sign. Estuarine crocodiles turn up in freshwater lagoons and rivers far inland, and after floods they can appear in places they've never been seen.

So swim only where swimming is clearly encouraged, read the signs every visit, and be extra careful at dawn, dusk and night. Report any sighting to CrocWatch on 1300 130 372. The Queensland Government's crocodile page has the full rules.

Can you swim at the beach in Cairns instead?

In the warmer months, the ocean off Cairns has marine stingers, which is a big part of why locals head for the creeks. If you do swim at the beach, use a patrolled beach with a stinger net and swim between the flags.

Practical tips for swimming holes near Cairns

• Check the alerts the morning you go. The Queensland Parks alerts list covers closures in Wooroonooran, Crater Lakes and Daintree, and creeks close quickly in the wet.
• Watch the rain, not just the weather where you are. Storms up in the ranges can send a wall of water down a creek on a sunny afternoon.
• Never dive or jump. Every official page for these spots says the same thing: submerged rocks, logs and gaps you can't see.
• Save the route offline. Signal drops out on the Tablelands roads. Open the spot in Maps from the Sole Drift app, then download the area for offline use. Our stay safe outdoors guide covers what else to pack.
• Heading south later? Our guide to swimming holes near Brisbane picks up where this one leaves off, and there's more in our Queensland guides.

Pick a swim and go

The best swimming near Cairns isn't at the beach. It's an hour inland, in a gorge or a crater lake, where the water's cold and the stingers can't follow.

Pick the one that suits your day, check the alerts that morning, and give the creeks time to settle after a storm.

Take your rubbish home, keep sunscreen out of the water where you can, and leave the rocks and plants where they are. Read our Leave No Trace guide before you go. These places stay special because people look after them.