An attractive dairy town on the southern edge of the Atherton tableland. It is near to some of the most picturesque wateralls in Queensland. Location: 327 km north of Townsville; 109 km south of Cairns; 60 kilometres west of Innisfail, 821 m above sea-level.
The Millaa Millaa lookout (also called Gentle Annie lookout) presents 180-degree views from the northwest to the southeast of the Atherton Tableland.
There are many pretty waterfalls in the southern region of the Atherton Tablelands in the rainforests beyond the rolling green meadows of cleared farmland. Three of these - Millaa Millaa Falls, Zillie Falls and Ellinjaa Falls, can be viewed by travelling this relatively short drive not far from the township. Pepina, Mungalli and Bridal Veil Falls are other waterfalls in the region.
Millaa Millaa Falls is one of the most photographed waterfalls in Australia, being located in a delightful setting. Here you can swim, look for the Ulysses butterfly and platypus in the late afternoon. The falls has a picnic/barbecue area, toilets and change rooms. Millaa Millaa Falls are not only a popular location for tourists and photographers, it is also an ideal fresh water swimming hole to relax, unwind and enjoy the serenity. As a single drop waterfall spanning at 18.3 metres high, the falls are a glorious depiction of the beauty of Far North Queensland, providing magnificent photo and video opportunities. The video for Peter Andre's 'Mysterious Girl' ideo was filmed here. It was also one of a number of waterfalls and pools in the area that were used as the locations for Herbal Essences' 'Take Your Hair to Paradise' shampoo advertisements.
Swim out to the waterfall and relax under the pristine water flow for a truly soothing experience, or climb onto the rocks and walk behind the water drop. Better yet, bring a few floating chairs from the pool (or your local shop that supplies them) and lounge around the waterhole in style!
Zillie Falls (above) has a viewing platform that provides photographic advantage. BBQ and Shelter in car park .Theresa Creek Bridge also shows the rainforest to advantage.
Ellinjaa Falls (above) cascades over a series of lava columns. The car park has BBQ and picnic tables. Walk down the zig zag track to the stream and a swim - great tree ferns and vines on the descent.
Eacham Historical Museum: Situated in the Main Street of Millaa Millaa, this small museum contains aboriginal artefacts, household memorabilia relative to pioneering days, and items pertaining to the timber and dairying industries and alluvial gold mining. The Museum is a great educational facility and is regularly visited by groups of school children and their teachers. The Historical Resource Centre, situated in Elizabeth Street, Malanda, is the meeting room and archival repository for all printed and photographic collections of the Eacham Historical Society. Ph: (07) 40972725.
Mungalli Creek Dairy: The dairy's award winning produce can be tasted at Out of the Whey Cheesery and Teahouse at Mungalli Creek Dairy. Open Daily, the teahouse offers free Cheese and Yoghurt Tastings. Enjoy the magnificient views to Mt Bartle Frere as you enjoy lunch, cake or coffee. Location: 256 Brooks Road, Mungalli Creek.
South of Millaa Millaa, the road to the coast descends the Atherton Tablelands towards the town of Innisfail. On they way is the Mamu Rainforest Canopy Walkway, a 350 metre high elevated walkway above the rainforest, at canopy level. The Mamu Skywalk allows visitors to explore the rainforest from the forest floor to the canopy, in comfort and safety. The Skywalk passes through one of the largest-remaining continuous stands of complex vine forest on basalt soils in the Wet Tropics. Enjoy close-up views of rainforest plants, insects and birds, and take in sweeping vistas. Information signs tell of the rainforest s complex web of life and the rich culture and history of the area.
In Western Australia, the hot social media trend is to take a selfie with a quokka on Rottnest Island, in Queensland it is to recreate the famous Herbal Essences hair flick, which sees mainly young women dipping their head in the water and quickly flicking their hair back behind them, creating a rainbow of water. The trend began after Herbal Essences shot a series of 'Wild Naturals' advertisements in tropical water locations around Queensland. The most memorable of these depicted spanish actress Maria Valverde flicking her hair back in front of a waterfall. As Millaa Millaa Falls is the actual spot where the iconic scene was filmed, the falls has become the most popular location to recreate the shot, then posting it on Instagram.
White settlement began in the area in 1910 with the arrival of timber cutters. The railway reached the town in 1921 and it remained a rail terminus until the closure of the line in 1964.
Origin of name: like the similarly sounding Malanda, the name is said to mean 'many waterfalls' in the language of the local Aborigines. There is a story which suggests that it was Christie Palmerston who gave the town its name. In 1884, Palmerston created the track from Innisfail (then known as Geraldton) through Millaa Millaa to the mining settlement at Herberton. The Milay Milay Vine (Elaeagnus triflora) is also said to be the origin of the name (the English version of the word). It is a vine with a similar habit to Bougainvillea, somewhat sprawling all over the place.
