Last visit: 27/4/2021
Rating: 10/10
Difficulty: 2/10
Duration: 2-3 hours
Who doesn't love a natural infinity pool? We certainly do.
The perks of being a shift worker means weekday adventures! Unfortunately, it means Rochelle is stuck in the office and can’t come, but it evens out in the long run! I had a friend on holidays visiting Cairns from Mount Isa and she was keen to hit the hiking tracks and see some waterfalls (outback QLD is severely lacking in this department apparently!) My feet were itching to hit the trails after a couple of weeks of heavy rain far too late in the wet season for my liking, so I thought what better than to take her to Windin Falls, one of my top 3 hikes in far North QLD? Whilst Rochelle was sad she had to miss this trip, she has spent plent of time at Windin Falls and this is also one her favourite hikes in the region.
The trail to Windin Falls is an approximately 11km and is located in the Wooroonooran National Park near Malanda on the Atherton Tablelands. This hike has gained a lot of popularity over the last few years with countless Instagram influencers posing in the now famous infinity pools at the top of the falls. What makes it so appealing is the relatively easy walk to get to the falls, making it achievable to do as a family or those of your friends who balk at climbing steep mountains.
How to get there:
Head up the Gillies Range from Gordonvale for approximately 40km. Turn left onto Lake Barrine Road and follow for 6.4km. Turn left onto Topaz Rd for 9.5km, before taking a slight left onto Old Cairns Track. You will see a sign for Western Bartle Frere and Windin Falls which you need to follow through to a car park signifying the beginning of the track. You can also type Windin Falls into google or use the coordinates: 17°21’50.6″S 145°44’59.6″E . This is the same starting point for the hike to West Mulgrave Falls Track (we also have a great blog on this West Mulgrave- a much harder hike than Windin).
Alternative route: unbeknown to me initially, there is a second route up to the top of Windin Falls. I first did the hike several years ago after a night shift before it became well known. When I went to do it again several years later, I couldn’t understand why the track seemed so unfamiliar and why I arrived at the top of the falls from the right, when the first time was from the left. I put it down to night shift brain (it’s real, trust me) and thought nothing of it until talking with a colleague who confirmed there was indeed a second track. The first one mentioned is far more popular but I’ve included the directions to get here in case you’re up for a different route.
Once you find Lamins Hill Lookout, continue along Old Cairns Track past the lookout for a few minutes, The road forks, and you need to turn left in order to continue driving on Old Cairns Track for approximately 4km before you will find a small sign (not a QLD National Parks Sign) stating ‘Windin Falls’ with an area to park. Walk approximately five minutes where you will come across two gates, one, serving as access to private property and the second, a metal gate. Climb over the metal gate and continue the track from here. Unfortunately I don’t have any further information about the quality of the hike, whether it is easier or harder, condition of the track, etc. but I will endeavour to do this hike at some point to build some comparisons.
What you need to know (Based on track 1)
The total distance (according to my trusty-ole’ Strava) is 11.75km and should take between 2-3 hours at a steady pace.
If you go after heavy rain, it will be muddy, very muddy, extremely muddy. You are probably also guaranteed a few leeches. But I promise you it will be worth it! I felt this added some time onto our journey navigating through big mud puddles so allow some extra time if you go after a big wet. It may be worth bringing a plastic bag for your muddy shoes and some clean shoes for the trip home, especially if you want to explore more of what the Tablelands has to offer (Gallo’s Dairyland, Yungaburra, waterfall circuit, to name a few).
The track follows a wide, red clay road, that is easy to follow. For the majority of the hike, it is reasonably flat, making it suitable for a wide range of fitness abilities and ages. This would be a great hike to take your kids too (if they can walk 10km return) and what a sense of achievement they will feel having completed the hike!
There is a small, steep ascent which flattens with signs indicating the start of the descent to the top of the falls. Even before we reached the signs, with all the rain we had been experiencing in Cairns, we could hear the sheer force of the water raging over the side of the mountain range, increasing our expectations of what was shortly in store.
The descent is quite steep and can be slippery so take care when walking down. It is well signed, and the track, whilst not wide, is still easily visible. The track is not long, 100m maximum, before you reach the ultimate destination.
Enjoy the falls and the beautiful vista of the valley, but please be careful. If you go after heavy rain, the currents will be too strong, and you will be swept off in an un-survivable fall. If the water levels are low and the current is weak then the perfect opportunity awaits you for a swim in Australia’s most arguably scenic infinity pool.
Trail Notes
After you park your car, this well-formed path and signs signify the start of the hike. Unfortunately, there are no toilets at the start of the track (but plenty of bush!)
The track varies, with some sections resembling 4WD roads and other sections gravel and dirt track. Dry season would be the best time to go (these photos don’t do it justice just how muddy and sludgy a lot of the route was). If you are into trail running, this would be a great little track to get into too. This is actually the first hike Rochelle ever did, in her white Nikes, she can verify that the track is extremely muddy and that clay stains, she would also recommend hiking in the dry or a good pair of hiking shoes in the wet.
These shoes were pretty clean before the start of the hike! Sections of the hike required trudging through mud puddles so expect a little bit of mud and dirt. It would be a good idea to bring some clean shoes for the drive home and plastic bag for the dirty ones.
Following a short, uphill section, the track turns into a large open space with these signs pointing the way to the base of the falls (go left). Look for the orange markers in the tree to ensure you head down the right route.
This is the only part of the hike that I would consider remotely difficult. The actual track is steeper than the pictures make it out to be, but it is well marked with orange arrows and is no more than 100m. It was a little bit slippery going down so if you don’t have grippy hiking shoes on, then be careful and use the trees as support if needed.
Some of the beautiful scenery from the top of the falls. Be careful close to the edge, the rocks can be very slippery.
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