Babinda is located on the Bruce Highway 59km South of Cairns or 33km north of Innisfail. It is a small sugar town in the heart of cane growing country. The scenery as you approach from either direction is stunning, with huge tree covered mountains ranges dominating the landscape. It is home to two of the highest mountains in Queensland, Mt Bartle Frere and Mt Bellenden Kerr. Boasting some of the highest rainfalls in Queensland, these mountain ranges provide the source for many of the crystal clear streams and waterfalls in the area.
What’s Around Babinda
Babinda Mountain Ranges & Streams
As you enter the town off the highway, you will see the beautifully resorted bright blue information Centre.
Babinda Tourist Info Centre
The staff were very friendly and proud of their town, pointing out all there is to do in the area. The town itself is quaint and set out like many of Australia’s small country towns, with the main street being the focal point with independent specialty shops and cafes lining the street. We managed to dwindle away a few hours exploring most of them.
Word of mouth had it that the Butcher and Baker where both definitely worth a visit and this proved correct. The butcher smokes his own home made Ham, Bacon & Sausages. We tried all three and were quite impressed. The Bakery is known for its pies, with travellers coming from all over the district just to sample them. Warning: There is a Chilli pie that comes with its own warning label, which I was stupid enough not to take notice of. Thankfully there are many other flavors to choose from.
Some of Babinda’s local businesses
There is a great Arts and Craft shop which has a large selection of locally made items for sale. The local pub is great for a refreshing ale and a meal, and there was also an old time picture theater showing the latest movies.
Originally planning just an overnight stay in Babinda, we ended up staying for three nights as we loved the place so much. We were fortunate enough to be in time for the sugar cane harvest, and on a drive around the area we saw many cane harvesters in full action.
Sugar Cane Harvest Time
We spent another day on a trip to the Boulders which are fascinating to see. They are a series of large round granite rocks strewn throughout Babinda Creek. The water in the streams was crystal clear, and icy cold. The locals tell us that the odd platypus is sometime seen in these waters, but we were not so lucky. There is a beautiful picnic spot at the entrance, a great swimming hole and a short walk that leads up to the Boulders themselves, but cautioned should be exercised and keep within the boundaries as there have been quite a few accidents from people walking all over the boulders themselves.
Babinda Boulders
Josephine Falls was another great highlight. It was quite a warm day when we went there, and the icy cold water in the natural rock pools made for a very refreshing swim. There are three cascading layers of falls, one with a natural rock formation that becomes a huge water slide, which was a tonne of fun.
Josephine Falls @ Babinda
The drive to Bramston Beach is well worth it also. This is a small beach side village and reportedly very good for fishing, unfortunately we didn’t try it. The beach was also used as a location in the movie ‘The Thin Red Line’ (1998). The Eubenangee Swamp National Park was on the way out and we had fun exploring that, there is a walking track that leads to a beautiful lookout overlooking the swamp which is reportedly a good vantage point to try out some Croc spotting. Just don’t get too close.
Eubenangee Swamp
Another major attraction in the area is the Wooroonooran National Park which surrounds Babinda, as does Mt Bartle Freer which at 1622 meters is Queensland’s tallest mountain. There are an abundance of walking trails in the area for those that love to hike.
Where to Stay
Babinda has some camping options available close to the town, but there is a variety of locations within a 50klm radius of the town.
Babinda Rotary Park Free Campground
This is a fantastic Free Campsite located right on the banks of Babinda Creek. The site is quite large with a few areas to choose from.
Babinda Boulders Free Camping Area
Babinda Boulders Free Camping Area is a small camping area located at the end of Boulders Road sealed road. It is located within the National Park, entry is Free, but they do not permit Dogs.
Bramston Beach Passion Patch Camping
Bramston Beach Bush Camping is located less than 1km from the beautiful Bramston Beach. A passionfruit farm with 6 campsites to suit all camping. Nice place to camp to visit Babinda, Josephine falls and the Boulders.
Bramston Beach Campground
This is a nice size campground located in the seaside village of Bramston Beach. It will accommodate all size rigs and is only a stones throw to the beach. It is a well facilitated site with 40 un-powered sites.
Graham Range camping area – Russell River National Park
Graham Range camping area is located next to the beach and surrounded by areas of paperbark and mangrove forests. The camping area can be reached by four-wheel-drive vehicles only.
So all in all, we would highly recommend stopping off and exploring Babinda. Whether you love exploring, bushwalking, fishing, or just relaxing by crystal clear water, it is definitely worth a stop.
Love reading about the Babinda area. I lived in the area at Josephine falls Road. Bartle Frere. My back yard view was looking at Mnt Bartle Frere. Lived there for 12 yrs. Still visit the area regular.yes its a great place to visit. In the early cane cutting days it was it was a place of plenty of activity. My little Queenslander was one of the 4 older type houses. Past the second bridge. My friends still owns a house there, Her house was a gambling establisment. Run by chinese. When the place got raided. The ladies of night use to run and hide in the house i owned and the house next door. It had a dance hall and tennis court. A beautiful old small catholic church. All got damanged by cyclone Winifrid 1986. All gone. It was a great place to live. Walking to the Golden Hole where my boys learned to swim. You had to walk through a paddock of high grass and you had to ask for a key to open a gate from a cane farmer as the road was a gazzeted road. Swimming there was more private in the eighties. Some of us locals wrote to local council for opening it up to get easy access to the swimming hole. I moved to Bowen NQ 1992. Returning a few years later was good to see that you can drive close to the Golden Hole. Josephine Falls track was a dirt track. The best place to cool down on a hot day and so was The Boulders at Babinda. Great memories of of a lovely place.
Thanks for adding more info. Interesting about the gambling house.
Just to ad a bit to the local legends. The farm at the Golden Hole statred as a pineapple farm. The owner used to pull the “heart” from the pineapple top so you had to go back and not grow your own. There was always a bull in a nearby paddock somewhere, so it was always a challange going swimming or fishing.
I had my own swimming hole on Josephine Creek so didnt have to frequent the Golden Hole that much. It was a great place to grow up.
The Babinda State Hotel used to boast the longest continuous bar in Australia. It was a complete horse shoe style, both sides of the main bar and across the back. Always packed in the 6pm close up.
great read we to loveBabinda the people are so friendly have stayed there 5 times love the way everyone has time to talk to you thank you for your good writings
Thanks Pat
After travelling all around Australia for 12 months I’ve been telling anyone that Babinda is in my top 3 favorite places. The little town is friendly and the ladies at the tourists Info Centre where very helpful. The camping area were spacious and amenities new and very clean. We took the short drive up to “The Boulders” and was blown away by the beauty of the place. Big thumbs up from us, we’ve spread the word and will definitely be back
Thank you for this on behalf of everyone in Babinda. I am the president of the Chamber of Commerce here & we always have strived to make Babinda a great place to visit,the installation of the hot showers at the RV park being one of the more ambitious. We are but one of many organisations who have the same common goal here at Babinda.We have a great Info Centre just at the entrance to the town & they will be only too happy to pass on all the many thing to do & see while you stay.
It is a pleasure, it is a great little town you have there. And great to see that you welcome travellers. We look forward to coming again soon.
It is a pleasure, it is a great little town you have there. And great to see that you welcome travellers. We look forward to coming again soon.
Thanks Pat
Thanks for adding more info. Interesting about the gambling house.
Just to ad a bit to the local legends. The farm at the Golden Hole statred as a pineapple farm. The owner used to pull the “heart” from the pineapple top so you had to go back and not grow your own. There was always a bull in a nearby paddock somewhere, so it was always a challange going swimming or fishing.
I had my own swimming hole on Josephine Creek so didnt have to frequent the Golden Hole that much. It was a great place to grow up.
The Babinda State Hotel used to boast the longest continuous bar in Australia. It was a complete horse shoe style, both sides of the main bar and across the back. Always packed in the 6pm close up.