Atherton
Atherton is the bustling township at the centre of the Atherton Tablelands. Facilities include restaurants, cafes and take aways, hotels, motels, caravan parks, B&Bs and other licenced clubs and pubs. Shopping facilities including a Big W, Target Country, Woolworths, antique shops, variety shops and numerous parks and gardens are all part of this thriving town.
Things To Do
Platypus Park
Visitors and locals can take time out and enjoy a barbecue lunch at the popular " Platypus Park " which has been built on the surrounds of a local freshwater stream. This park can be found on the Herberton Road , heading towards Herberton and is only 5 minutes out of Atherton. Barbecues are supplied for your convenience. And of course dont forget to see the main attraction at this park – the local platypus.
Hou Wang Temple
Next door is the Hou Wang Temple and the Chinese Interpretive Centre. The site and temple was bought by a number of Chinese families who donated it to the National Trust in 1979. It is the only temple outside China known to be dedicated to Hou Wang and is the only surviving timber and iron temple in Queensland . The Temple contains a substantial number of original artifacts. The Chinese were pioneers of agriculture in North Queensland and as such played an important role in opening up the Atherton area for settlement.
Hallorans Hill
Atherton is actually built on the side of an extinct volcano – Hallorans Hill. Take the walking track (1.5km) youll see a curtain fig tree, miniature waterfalls rock pools and rainforest. Once you reach the lookout, youll experience sweeping views across some of the richest farming land in North Queensland, "The Seven Sisters" and Lake Tinaroo . Both Hallorans Hill and The Seven Sisters are the cinder cones of extinct volcanoes.
Crystal Caves
Crystal Caves in Athertons main Street is a fascinatingly crafted mineralogical museum. There is an entry fee into the museum. Don a miners helmet, and venture into the man made cave system, which offers an amazing labyrinth of gemstone, crystals and fossils studded into the walls.
Bird Watching
If you are a keen bird watcher, Atherton has both Hasties Swamp and Wongabel Botanical Walk where various bird species frequent throughout the year. This is an absolute birdwatchers delight. Victoria s Riflebirds, Tooth-billed Bowerbirds can be seen on the Wongabel Botanical Walk which is only 9 kilometres from Atherton. Hasties Swamp is located in Koci Road , Atherton and sightings of Jacanas, large flocks of Whistling-Ducks, Magpie Geese, Sarus Cranes and Brolgas can be expected. Hasties Swamp now offers a bird hide which will guarantee uninterrupted views over the water area...so pick up your camera and binoculars and spend a relaxing half hour just watching the birds.
Tinaroo Dam & Danbulla State Forest Drive
Lake Tinaroo is only only a 15 minute drive from Atherton. See our page on Lake Tinaroo for more detailed information.
Historical Sites
Take a rest from driving and have a cuppa at the Rocky Creek Memorial Park (on the Kennedy Highway) - undercover picnic tables and chairs are provided for your convenience. If youre interested in exploring the history of the Tablelands, this is the right place to start. The old hospital site during the war is appropriately marked with the battalion number and memorial plaques have been erected in remembrance of our soldiers. Dedication ceremonies are held twice throughout the year. An old igloo erected on Frazer Road during the war still stands today with plans underway for its restoration. As you approach Tolga call at the Railway Museum and see the many photographs and relics of the past.
History of Atherton
Atherton was explored by JV Mulligan in 1875, but it was John Atherton who settled near the town which now bears his name. John Atherton was originally a pioneering pastoralist and was the first to find tin deposits in Northern Queensland . In the very early days, Atherton was a staging post for Cobb & Co coaches which stopped at the Barron Valley Hotel in Main St on their journey between Herberton and Port Douglas.
Getting Here
By car: access is via the Rex Range (from near Mossman), Kuranda Range (from Smithfield ), Gillies Highway (from Gordonvale) or the Palmerston Highway (from Innisfail) Times vary from 1 hour to 2 hours depending on which route you take.
By bus: Whitecar Coaches & Mr T run bus services from Cairns to Atherton Monday to Saturday.
By air: Charter flights from Cairns to the Atherton Aerodrome.
Map of the township
Click here to open a map of Atherton North as a PDF Document.
Click here to open a map of Atherton South as a PDF Document.
The maps has been kindly supplied by the Atherton Tablelands Geographic Information Systems. The maps opens in a new window.
If you do not have a pdf file reader installed on your computer, you can download a free version at Adobe Reader.
Services
Information Centre
Atherton Tableland Information Centre - 95 Main Street - Ph 4091 4222
Emergency
For all emergencies call: 000
Ambulance – 87 Main Street - Ph 131 233
Fire – Vernon Street - Ph 4091 1505
Police – 83 Main Street - Ph 4091 5088
Atherton Hospital – Louise Street - Ph 4091 0253
Medical
Atherton Clinic – 2 Wylie St - Ph 4091 2300 (all hrs) - Open 8am to 5.30pm Mon to Fri , 8am to 11.30am Sat
Atherton Family Medical Centre – 25 Louise St - Ph 4091 1444 (all hrs) Open 8am to 5pm Mon to Fri
Midin Clinic Aboriginal Medical Service – 22c Evans St – Ph 4091 6103 - Open 8.30am to 5pm Mon to Fri, 8.30 to 3pm Wed
Banks
ANZ – Cnr Main & Vernon St (ATM) - Ph 131 314 - Open 9.30am to 4pm Mon to Thurs, 9.30am to 5pm Fri
Bendigo Bank - 39 Main St (ATM) - Ph 4091 2533 - Open 9am to 5pm Mon to Fri, 9am -12 noon Sat
Commonwealth Bank – 81 Main St (ATM) - Ph 4091 1266 - Open 9.30am to 4pm Mon to Thurs, 9.30am to 5pm Fri
National Australia Bank – 38 Main St (ATM) - Ph 132 265
Suncorp – 20 Main Street - Ph 131 155 - Open 9am to 4.30pm Mon to Thurs, 9am to 5pm Sat
Westpac Bank – Main St (ATM) - Ph 132 032 - Open 9.30am to 4pm Mon to Thurs, 9.30am to 5pm Fri
Climate
Wet Season (summer) – generally from December to March, although rain can continue to May or June. Temperatures range from 17 degrees at night to 35 degrees during the day.
Dry Season (winter) – Temperatures range from 5 degrees at night to 22 degrees during the day.
Rainfall: 1360mm annually
Elevation: 750m - 835m (2468 feet)
Population for shire: 11,434 - Atherton: 8964, Kairi: 247, Tinaroo: 782, Tolga/Rangeview/Tandara: 915, Walkamin: 167, Rural: 358 (estimated population until 2006 census )
Postal Services
Australia Post - cnr Robert St & Herberton Rd (opposite Information Centre) - open 5 days a week from 9am to 5pm
Service & Repairs
Atherton Car Electrics – 65 Tolga Rd , (next to Beaurepaires) Ph: 4091 2101
Atherton Mechanical Services – 18-24 Eclipse Dr - Ph 4091 6556
Barry Clough Auto Repairs – 9 Comet St - Ph 4091 2990
Central Tyre Service/Auto Service Centre – 9 Robert St . Ph 4091 1122
FNQ Brake & Service Centre – 95 Grove St - Ph 4091 3327
GA Autos – 146 Herberton Rd (also Pedders agent) Ph 4091 4880
Lawson Automotive – Cnr Jack & Mabel Sts - Ph 4091 1746
Motor Cycle Repairs – Cnr Jack & Mabel Sts - Ph 4091 1740
Tableland Auto Electrics – 7a Herberton Rd - Ph 4091 1209 or Mobile 0419 703 991
Tableland Automatics – 14 Tolga Rd . Ph 4091 3757
Tableland Total Service Centre (Shell Service Station) – 5 Main St . Ph 4091 3712
Petrol Stations
Coles Express (Shell) - 5 Main Street. Phone: 4091 1587 Woolies Fuel - 3 Main Street.
Mobil 24hour - Kennedy Highway. (near Malanda turnoff) Phone: 4091 5255
Portsmith Fuel - 49 Tolga Road. Phone: 4091 6199
BP - 20 Mabel Street. Phone: 4091 6985
Simons Service Station - 43 Robert Street. Phone: 4091 2739
RACQ Breakdowns – Ph 131 111
RACQ Vehicle Inspection Centre – All Wheel Drive Centre, Cnr Louise & Vernon Sts. Ph 4091 2244
RACQ Service Contractors- All Wheel Drive Centre, Cnr Louise & Vernon Sts. Ph 4091 1555
Click here to open the Atherton Tablelands Service Directory as a pdf document.
Note: Information Supplied is correct at time of publishing, but is subject to change without notice.
Images from top: Main St , View from Hallorans Hill lookout, Tinaroo Foreshore, Tinaroo Swimming Pontoon, Rocky Creek Memorial.
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