Atherton

Atherton is a prosperous and bustling town with all the services you need, including restaurants, motels, caravan parks and licenced clubs. It also boasts modern shopping facilities, antique shops and numerous parks and gardens.

Surrounding Atherton you will notice several small hills known as 'Seven Sisters'. These seven hills can be seen, in full or part, from various locations across the Tableland, and are cinder cones, the relics of ancient extinct volcanoes.

Halloran Hill Lookout, on top of a dormant volcano at the highest point in Atherton, offers spectacular views of Atherton, the Tableland, and the volcanic ranges beyond. Extensive picnic area with bbq's and children's play area are provided. Visitors can follow an interesting trail meandering down through the park and then on through the rare Mabi forest and down into the crater. Art work created by local artists, and signs shaped like vines and flowers, help draw visitors to different points of interest and intrigue.

Along Herberton Road is the century old historic Hou Wang temple, where you can discover Atherton's Chinese Heritage. Atherton was home to a thriving Chinese community from the 1880s to the mid-1900s. The remains of Atherton's Chinatown are now an archaeological site featuring the community's place of worship, the Hou Wang Temple, which has been conserved and restored. Guided tours take visitors through the Queensland National Trust-owned temple which was used as a place of worship until the early 1970s.

A few kilometres along is the Nyleta Wetlands Bird Hide. The wetlands are known by the local Yidinji people as "where the waters meet" . The two storey hide has views over the Hasties Swamp and roosting sites, and includes signage to assist with identification. You may be lucky enough to spot some of Australia's most elusive migratory birds in the wild. More than 220 species of birds have been recorded at the hide including large numbers of Whistling Ducks, Magpie Geese and Sarus Cranes.

From Atherton you can travel north to Mareeba and Chillagoe, south east to the Waterfall Circuit, north east to Lake Tinaroo, south west to historic Herberton, and south to Ravenshoe and beyond.

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