Atherton Township

Atherton is a prosperous and bustling town servicing a thriving agricultural region. It was the first town settled in the area, and is now the major town of the central and southern Tablelands.

All the services you need can be found here: restaurants, accommodation ranging from caravan parks to motels, pubs and clubs, and even galleries. A large shopping centre is located in the middle of town, and pretty parks are scattered throughout.

There are plenty of attractions to visit in and around the town. On Herberton Road you will find the Platypus Park and the historic Hou Wang Miau temple, as well as the Upper Barron School Museum and the Wongable Botanical Walk, with its 2.6 kilometre interpretative rainforest trail.

Crystal Caves is one of Australia’s best mineralogical museums that display its natural crystals, real fossils and mineral specimens in a fantasy land cave. Cave visitors are fitted with helmets that are equipped with lights and a catalogue of the crystals to be seen in the underground cave.

From Atherton, a historic steam train carries passengers on a 44-kilometre journey to Herberton, travelling through wetlands and mountain ranges. The steam train stops for lunch in Herberton, where the first tin was discovered in 1880, before returning.

Natural attractions include Hallorans Hill lookout, which offers great views of the agricultural landscape and volcanic ranges beyond. The several small hills you can see from here are known as the ‘Seven Sisters’.
Picnic and barbeque facilities and available here, as well as children’s play areas and walking tracks.

People interested in birdspotting can visit the Nyleta Wetland birdhide, which is located in Hasties Swamp National Park, just a few kilometers out of town. Here you will find extensive signage where you can identify some of the 230 bird species found in the wetland area.

Atherton’s central location means that most other Tableland attractions are within an hour’s driving time.