Davies Creek Falls

Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Australia

About Davies Creek Falls


Hiking Distance: 1.3km circuit
Suggested Time: 30-45 minutes

Date first visited: 2022-06-27
Date last visited: 2022-06-27

Waterfall Latitude: -17.00919
Waterfall Longitude: 145.58363

Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

Davies Creek Falls is an impressive series of cascades said to drop with a vertical height of about 100m (its largest cascading tier was said to have a 76m drop making it ones of the highest in the region).

This waterfall is situated in Dinden National Park, which is right next to the Barron Gorge National Park (of Barron Falls fame).

Davies_Creek_Falls_025_06262022 - Davies Creek Falls
Davies Creek Falls

Therefore, this waterfall is within reach of the well-touristed town of Cairns, which is most known for Great Barrier Reef tours.

Further adding to this waterfall’s allure was the chance at swimming within Davies Creek, particularly an “infiniti pool” at the brink of the Davies Creek Falls.

I’m not sure if such a swimming hole is sanctioned by the authorities because there’s no formal trail leading to the brink of the falls (it’s really more of a boulder scramble with some risk involved).

Anyways, we didn’t get to visit this waterfall when we first visited Cairns in May 2008, but we did finally get a chance to experience it in late June 2022, and below is our trail description of how it went.

Trail Description of Davies Creek Falls

Davies_Creek_Falls_006_iPhone_06272022 - Looking downstream from the first lookout into a valley in the direction of Mareeba
Looking downstream from the first lookout into a valley in the direction of Mareeba

We experienced Davies Creek Falls as part of a short 1.3km loop walk, which we did in a clockwise direction.

From the car park (see directions below), we descended a gentle track about 200m before keeping left at a fork to check out the view from an overlook another 25m later.

At this lookout, we could hear but not really see the Davies Creek Falls as this spot was more for the valley views in the direction of Mareeba.

Backtracking from this lookout and continuing the trail’s descent for the next 150m, we then arrived at the next lookout.

Davies_Creek_Falls_036_06262022 - Context of Mom checking out the lookout for Davies Creek Falls
Context of Mom checking out the lookout for Davies Creek Falls

At this spot, we were able to get a sideways view of the main drop of the Davies Creek Falls, which was difficult to capture in a single shot due to the length of its run.

Given the slippery and steep slopes of the underlying rocks surrounding the falls, fencing was set up to prevent people from getting themselves into (fatal) trouble.

Therefore, there was no safe or sane way of scrambling to the bottom of the waterfall, which would be where they’re best experienced.

So after having our fill of the views from this spot, we then backtracked 60m to resume the circuit walk, but before doing that, I noticed a well-used trail-of-use to the left.

Davies_Creek_Falls_054_06262022 - Bright look back towards a (non-sanctioned) swimming hole beneath some upper cascades just above the brink of Davies Creek Falls
Bright look back towards a (non-sanctioned) swimming hole beneath some upper cascades just above the brink of Davies Creek Falls

Well, that trail quickly disappeared into a combination of boulder scramble with overgrowth, but it eventually led back to the brink of Davies Creek Falls, which is where I saw people swimming at the so-called “infiniti pool”.

There was a small cascade feeding this plunge pool, and needless to say, you definitely don’t want to be anywhere near the brink of the main drop of Davies Creek Falls and its 76-100m drop below.

Given the somewhat rough nature of the scramble and the risk involved if you don’t respect the hazards involved here, I don’t think this interlude to the swimming hole is endorsed by the authorities.

Continuing with the circuit walk, after another 80m or so, we reached a calm part of Davies Creek, and I’d imagine this could be another opportunity for a swim (though there wouldn’t be a view).

Davies_Creek_Falls_065_06262022 - This was Davies Creek at the so-called 'picnic area' on the opposite end of the circuit walk from the Davies Creek Falls
This was Davies Creek at the so-called ‘picnic area’ on the opposite end of the circuit walk from the Davies Creek Falls

Beyond this calm part of Davies Creek, the trail then proceeded for another 300m or so before reaching a trail junction nearby a so-called “picnic area” (except there’s no picnic tables nor shelter).

At this spot, I’d imagine you could picnic on some random rocks as well as go for a swim in another calm part of Davies Creek.

After having our fill here, we then walked uphill for the remaining 300m to return to the car park and end this circuit walk.

Overall, we spent about an hour away from the car to complete this circuit (including all the scrambling and picture-taking).

Davies_Creek_Falls_066_06262022 - Looking up at the trail junction near the so-called 'picnic area' where the ascent goes right back up to the car park for Davies Creek Falls
Looking up at the trail junction near the so-called ‘picnic area’ where the ascent goes right back up to the car park for Davies Creek Falls

That said, I’d imagine you could even spend half that time on this loop without making as many stops as we did.

And if you only went to Davies Creek Falls and back, then you could even spend less time than that so you could make this excursion as short or as long as you want.

Authorities

Davies Creek Falls resides in Dinden National Park near Mareeba, Queensland. It is administered by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, visit their website.

Davies_Creek_Falls_004_iPhone_06272022 - Getting to where the Davies Creek Road narrowed a bit as it got closer to the signed car park for Davies Creek Falls
Davies_Creek_Falls_006_06262022 - Looking ahead at the signed car park for Davies Creek Falls
Davies_Creek_Falls_005_06262022 - Looking back at the unsealed road leading to the car park for Davies Creek Falls
Davies_Creek_Falls_007_06262022 - Sign at the car park indicating that it was a pretty short walk to the Davies Creek Falls, and even doing the entire circuit track was pretty short as well
Davies_Creek_Falls_010_06262022 - Mom on the Davies Creek Track in a clockwise manner heading to the overlooks for the Davies Creek Falls
Davies_Creek_Falls_015_06262022 - Looking in the distance towards the valley from the first lookout on the Davies Creek Falls Circuit
Davies_Creek_Falls_017_06262022 - Context of Mom checking out the views from that first lookout on the circuit walk encompassing Davies Creek Falls
Davies_Creek_Falls_021_06262022 - Continuing on the circuit track, where this signed spur took us down to the lookout for Davies Creek Falls
Davies_Creek_Falls_023_06262022 - The spur trail going down to the lookout for Davies Creek Falls
Davies_Creek_Falls_024_06262022 - Approaching the fenced lookout near the brink of Davies Creek Falls
Davies_Creek_Falls_027_06262022 - Looking across the brink of Davies Creek Falls from the sanctioned lookout
Davies_Creek_Falls_029_06262022 - Looking down across the main cascade of Davies Creek Falls
Davies_Creek_Falls_035_06262022 - Looking back towards the other end of the lookout for Davies Creek Falls where there were some interesting rock formations
Davies_Creek_Falls_042_06262022 - Mom and I continued on when more people started showing up at the lookout for Davies Creek Falls
Davies_Creek_Falls_045_06262022 - Mom going back up from the lookout for Davies Creek Falls to continue the circuit walk
Davies_Creek_Falls_049_06262022 - Noticing some kind of upper cascade somewhere a bit upstream from the brink of Davies Creek Falls
Davies_Creek_Falls_013_iPhone_06272022 - Another look at the upper cascades upstream from Davies Creek Falls
Davies_Creek_Falls_060_06262022 - Looking towards some calm part of Davies Creek somewhere along the circuit walk between the falls and the picnic area
Davies_Creek_Falls_015_iPhone_06272022 - Sign at the last junction indicating that it was only 400m back to the falls, but we could also do the whole thing as a loop walk encompassing a picnic area to the right
Davies_Creek_Falls_063_06262022 - This was the so-called picnic area on the far end of the Davies Creek circuit walk, which could also act as a swimming hole though you'll have to use your imagination a bit to use this spot for picnics
Davies_Creek_Falls_070_06262022 - Mom heading back up from the picnic area towards the car park for Davies Creek Falls


Davies Creek Falls is in Dinden National Park roughly 23km from the town of Mareeba.

However, since we were based in Cairns, I’ll describe the driving directions from there.

Davies_Creek_Falls_003_iPhone_06272022 - Davies Creek Road was mostly unpaved, but it was pretty wide and in pretty good shape
Davies Creek Road was mostly unpaved, but it was pretty wide and in pretty good shape

So from Cairns CBD, we’d drive north on the Bruce Highway for nearly 14km to a roundabout where the first exit on the left continued the Route 1.

Then, we drove 35km on the Route 1 (which was climbing and twisty for the first 12km) towards the signed turnoff for Davies Creek Falls (or Dinden National Park) on the left.

Once on the Davies Creek Road, we then drove 8km towards the signed Davies Creek car park, which seemed to have room for about a half-dozen cars or so.

It’s worth noting that most of the drive on Davies Creek Road was unsealed, but it was fairly wide and not too beat up so passenger cars should be able to make it without problems.

Davies_Creek_Falls_002_06262022 - Looking back at the limited car park for the Davies Creek Falls
Looking back at the limited car park for the Davies Creek Falls

Overall, this drive would have taken us around 90 minutes (though it depends on how many slower vehicles are in front of you) if we drove from Cairns.

It was about 35 minutes drive from Barron Falls, which was where we had driven from when we visited Davies Creek Falls in late June 2022.

For geographical context, Cairns is 65km (about an hour drive) east of Mareeba, 67km (over an hour drive) south of Port Douglas, 88km (under 90 minutes drive) north of Innisfail, 98km (over 90 minutes drive) northeast of Millaa Millaa, 236km (about 3 hours drive) north of Ingham, and 347km (about 4.5 hours drive) north of Townsville.

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Upstream to downstream sweep of the profile of the falls from the main lookout


Back and forth horizontal sweep of some upper cascades above the main falls


Fairly long sweep from the very brink of the main falls showing a couple using a swimming hole just upstream and a partial view of the main falls below

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Tagged with: dinden national park, queensland, australia, cairns, mareeba, atherton tablelands, infiniti pool, lookouts, swimming hole, cascade



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Davies Creek Falls May 31, 2015 5:16 pm by Suzanne Lennox - Davies Creek Falls is near Mareeba, Far North Queensland. The water tumbles over beautifully coloured rocks into a pool at the bottom. Davies Creek is lined by magnificent trees including paperbacks and pandanus. Grass trees and cycads are dotted around the surrounding bush. ...Read More

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Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
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