Lake Barrine: Crater Lake and Rainforest

Lake Barrine is a clear crater lake surrounded by lush World Heritage rainforest. The day-use area is in the Lake Barrine section of Crater Lakes National Park. The lake and forest offer different ways to enjoy a visit: you can take a guided boat cruise, look out for wildlife on forest tracks or swim in the lake. Depending on your interests, Lake Barrine can be a destination for nature watching, a trip on the water or a meal stop.

Crater Lake and Guided Boat Cruise

The Lake Barrine Boat Cruise is a 45-minute guided cruise on the lake. It travels across a volcanic crater lake surrounded by World Heritage rainforest and offers views of native wildlife and ancient trees. Several generations of the Curry family have operated a teahouse and offered boat cruises at Lake Barrine since the 1920s. If you choose the cruise, you can experience the lake from the water; the forest tracks, by contrast, offer perspectives on foot. Take care during boat cruises. Swimming is possible in Lake Barrine.

Forest Tracks and Wildlife Watching

The Lake Barrine circuit track offers secluded, forest-fringed views of the lake and excellent opportunities to observe wildlife. This includes saw-shelled turtles and eastern water dragons. The first 80 m of the track, as far as the Twin Kauris, is accessible with wheelchair assistance. This specific section detail may be useful when planning if you want to consider the start of the track.

The Rainforest walk offers a different perspective on the forest: epiphytes grow on the branches. There are also opportunities to spot musky rat-kangaroos in the undergrowth and hear chowchillas foraging on the forest floor. The two walks therefore offer different nature-watching experiences: on the circuit track, the lake views and the reptiles mentioned are among the highlights; on the Rainforest walk, the focus is more on plants and animals in the forest. Which of these discoveries interests you most can shape how you spend your time at Lake Barrine.

Teahouse, History and Respect

The Lake Barrine Teahouse serves food and drinks, including Devonshire tea, breakfast and lunch. The combination of the teahouse and boat cruises is part of the local visitor experience; several generations of the Curry family have operated the business since the 1920s. Lake Barrine and a strip of foreshore vegetation were designated a scenic reserve in 1888. The cultural connection to the place is also important to know: the Tablelands Yidinji are the Traditional Owners of Lake Barrine and ask visitors to respect their land.

Getting There and Choosing a Location

Lake Barrine is about a 60 km drive from Cairns via the Gillies Range. The access roads to the day-use area are sealed and suitable for conventional vehicles. If you are considering a holiday rental in Cairns as your base, the approximate driving distance can help you plan a visit to Lake Barrine. If Lake Barrine is to be a major focus of your trip, you can weigh up how to combine the lake, forest tracks and a meal stop with your other destinations when choosing your accommodation.

More destination pages: Annerley, South Mission, Kairi, Boyland, Caravonica, Toll, Ross River and Bulwer.

Go to the broader travel overview: Queensland.