Mareeba

The Mareeba area is known as the big land of outback plains, endless blue skies and orange sunsets and is considered "The Gateway to the Cape of Carpenteria ", with many travelers stocking their supplies before their journey. Mareeba enjoys 300 sunny days a year.

Mareeba is an Aborigine word meaning "Meeting of the Waters". This refers to the confluence of three streams in the area. It is the largest town on the Atherton Tablelands, situated on the banks of the Barron River near its junction, with Granite and Emerald Creek.

Things to do

Mareeba Heritage Museum and Tourist Information Centre

At the entrance to the town, the Mareeba Information Centre is well worth a visit. The adjoining Museum features displays of Aboriginal Culture, Pioneer and Early Settler history, Historical Mount Mulligan, Mareeba Rail Ambulance, mining, a purpose built Blacksmith shop and lots of historical memorabilia. The Centre has a small shop catering for all of those sought after souvenirs, historical books and local produce. The information centre staff will provide you with all of the accurate and up to date information you will need to explore Mareeba Shires many fascinating attractions.

Coffee Plantations and Tours

This rich agricultural region supports 90 % of Australias Coffee Produce. There are numerous Coffee Tours and Plantations to visit. Find out about the growing, harvesting and processing of the coffee bean. Enjoy a delicious cup of freshly brewed coffee, and purchase the unique products to take home. For more information on the tours available, see our tour page.

Visit a Boutique Winery

Visit a Boutique Winery or Distillery to experience the unique flavours of tropical fruit wines, ports and liqueurs. A variety of tropical fruit are used to produce these exotic flavoured wines such as Lychee, Mulberry and Bush Cherry. Sample and purchase one of the unusual and beautifully packaged products. For more information on the tours available, see our attractions page.

Mako Trac Go Karting

Mareeba Mako Trac is a must for the young or just the young at heart. This is a world class Go Kart track with lots of fun for the whole family to enjoy.

Becks Aviation and Military Museum

Becks Aviation and Military Museum houses the largest privately owned collection in the Southern Hemisphere. See a variety of aircrafts and tanks from the wartime.

Warbirds adventure

Take a ride on one of the Warbirds adventure flights from the Mareeba Airport or go Free Flying on a microlight - an adventure sure to bring out the daredevil in you.

Hot air balloon

If you would like to see Mareeba from the sky in a more relaxing way wake up early and take one of the Hot air balloon flights and float over Mareeba. See our tours page for more information.

Mareeba Tropical Savannah and Wetlands Reserve

The Mareeba Tropical Savannah and Wetlands Reserve is at the foot of the Hann Tablelands, to the northwest of the town. The Wetlands covers 120ha of open water and attracts a rich, diverse bird life and aquatic wildlife. More than 3,300 species of birds have been noted in the Mareeba Shire, making it a leading bird watching area. Interpretive tours are available as well as canoe hire, picnic grounds and light refreshments.

Mareeba Drive In

While in Mareeba you can take a journey back in time at the Mareeba Drive In and experience the 50s style café whilst watching a movie under the stars.

Granite Gorge

Some of Mareebas natural attractions include feeding rock wallabies at Granite Gorge. The gigantic granite rock formations with deep pools will amaze you, and you can feed the wallabies any time of day. The gorge is on privately owned land and a nominal charge is made for entry.

Davies Creek National Park

Davies Creek National Park is situated on the Kennedy highway, 21klms south west of Kuranda, or 15klm east of Mareeba. There is 7klm of gravel road with corrugations and is unsuitable for caravans. An unmarked 2km walk upstream from the camping area leads to the base of Davies Creek Falls . This is also the home of the northern Bettong. You can also go swimming in the crystal clear water at Emerald Creek Falls , just 15lm from the township.

Events

Mareeba Rodeo - July
Mareeba Multicultural Festival - August
(for more information look at our Events Page) 

How to get here

By Car:
Mareeba is easy to access - from Cairns you travel north along the Cook Highway and turn left up the Kuranda Range, from Port Douglas you travel up the Rex range just south of Mossman and from the southern Tablelands, via Atherton.

By Bus: White Cars Bus Service travel Cairns - Mareeba - Atherton and the reverse every day.

Map of the township

Click here to open a map of the Mareeba Township as a PDF Document. This map has been kindly supplied by the Mareeba Shire Council. The file size is 437 kb.

Click here to open a map of the area around Mareeba as a PDF Document. This map has been kindly supplied by the Mareeba Shire Council. The file size is 1,090 kb.

If you do not have a pdf file reader installed on your computer, you can download a free version at  Adobe Reader.

History

Prior to European settlement, Mareeba was a meeting place for the Aboriginal tribe of the area, Kuku Muluridji who had adjoining boundaries with the Yindinji, Kuku Imidji, Kuku Yananji, Kuku Jungan and the Kuku Kulunggurr.

The explorer James Venture Mulligan discovered payable gold on the Palmer River and Hodgkinson goldfields and a great gold rush followed. In 1877 pastoralist John Atherton, known as the founder of Mareeba, arrived with his herds of cattle to take up land in the area. He built his homestead, which he called Emerald End, just north of what was to become Mareeba. At that time, Mareeba became a busy coach-change on the track from Port Douglas, following the discovery of tin at Herberton. The railway reached Mareeba in 1893, and it grew from a coach-change to a busy railway town.

Services:

Fuel: Up to 8 Fuel stations in and around Mareeba
Food: There are many restaurants and bistros, and a range of take-away franchises and cafes in and around Mareeba. They offer Australian, Chinese, Italian and Turkish foods.
Groceries : I.G.A. Supermarkets 122 Byrnes St Mareeba QLD 4880 ph: (07) 4092 2344
Pubs: Ant Hill Hotel, Graham Hotel, Royal Hotel
Police Station: Yes
Medical: Doctor surgeries and pharmacies
Information Centre: Mareeba Heritage Museum & Tourist Information Centre 345 Byrnes St Ph: (07) 4092 5674
RACQ Road Assistance:
Public Toilets: Yes, one is located at the Information Centre
Public Phone Boxes: yes
Post Office:  Australia Post
Banking: Westpac, Bendigo
ATM: yes
Accommodation Styles: Caravan Park, Motel, Pub, safari tents

Note: Information is correct at time of publication but may be subject to change.

Images from top: Mareeba - Hot Air Ballooning, Atherton Tableland (image courtesy TQ)