Lake Barrine: Crater Lake and World Heritage Rainforest

Lake Barrine combines a clear crater lake with lush World Heritage rainforest. When planning your trip, you can choose from experiences on the water as well as walking tracks with views of the lake and forest landscape. The Lake Barrine day-use area is in the Lake Barrine section of Crater Lakes National Park.

Experience the lake and rainforest

The Lake Barrine Boat Cruise is a 45-minute guided cruise. It takes you across the volcanic crater lake, which is surrounded by World Heritage rainforest, and offers views of native wildlife and ancient trees. The stated duration gives you a clear guide to how much time to allow for this part of your visit. Check the operator’s current operating arrangements before your trip.

You can also experience the landscape on foot from different viewpoints. The Lake Barrine circuit track offers secluded, forest-fringed views of the lake and excellent opportunities to spot wildlife, including saw-shelled turtles and eastern water dragons. The Rainforest walk offers different impressions of the forest: epiphytes grow on the branches, there are opportunities to spot musky rat-kangaroos in the undergrowth, and chowchillas can be heard foraging on the forest floor. The tracks therefore have different focuses: the circuit track draws your attention to the lake and wildlife, while the Rainforest walk highlights vegetation and the sounds of the forest floor.

Swimming is permitted in Lake Barrine, but take care during boat cruises. If you plan to include both activities, keep this advice in mind while on the lake. The first 80 m of the Lake Barrine circuit track, up to the Twin Kauris, is accessible to wheelchairs with assistance. Check what assistance you may need before visiting.

Teahouse, history and cultural respect

Since the 1920s, several generations of the Curry family have operated a teahouse at Lake Barrine and offered boat cruises. The Lake Barrine Teahouse serves food and drinks and offers guided boat cruises. Specific food options include Devonshire tea, breakfast and lunch. As offerings may change, check the details before your trip. The teahouse and boat cruise offer two ways to spend time at the lake: enjoy a meal or a drink, or take a guided trip on the water.

The site’s history also goes back a long way: in 1888, Lake Barrine and a strip of foreshore vegetation were declared a scenic reserve. The Tablelands Yidinji are the traditional owners of Lake Barrine and ask visitors to respect their Country. This request is part of the guidance for visiting and, alongside nature and activities, is an important part of the local context.

Getting there and planning your trip

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. Road conditions may change after severe weather, so check them before driving.

When planning your visit, you could first consider what you would like to focus on: a boat cruise of a set duration, views and wildlife spotting along the Lake Barrine circuit track, or the forest experience on the Rainforest walk. Swimming and a visit to the Teahouse add to the options at the lake. These plans can be a starting point when choosing a hotel, while the activities themselves reveal the different sides of Lake Barrine.

Discover more destinations: Mungungo, Boyne Island, Toogoolawah, Abbot Point, Mena Creek, Tinaroo, Julia Creek, Clermont.

Back to the main travel overview: Queensland.