Windin Falls – Waterfall and Hiking Guide (Cairns/Tablelands)

Windin Falls – Waterfall and Hiking Guide (Cairns/Tablelands)

Windin Falls is one of the most beautiful waterfalls near Cairns. After approximately 1.5 hours of hiking through the incredible Wooroonooran National Park, visitors are rewarded with some of the most spectacular views in Far North Queensland atop an incredible infinity pool with a waterfall.

Windin Falls is easily one of the most impressive waterfalls near Cairns and perhaps in all of Far North Queensland. Although Windin Falls has become quite a popular place to visit, it still seems a little confusing as to how to get here and what to expect on the hike.

This is because there is now a new “official” trailhead for the Windin Falls hike. Other than this blog, there isn't much information about hiking to this epic infinity pool waterfall on the new route.

So in this blog post I want to detail everything you need to know about getting to Windin Falls, including directions and hiking information for both routes. Here you will also find some great photos that I hope will inspire your visit to this incredible waterfall.

Enjoy!

More: 5 Day Cairns Itinerary – Epic Adventures in Cairns

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Where is Windin Falls?

Windin Falls is located in Wooroonooran National Park at the end of an approximately 1-1.5 hour or 5.5km track, accessible from nearby Malanda in the Atherton Tablelands.

Windin Falls car park is approximately 85km or 1.5 hours drive from Cairns CBD.
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Featured in: 25 Things to Do in the Atherton Tablelands

Is there an organized trip to Windin Falls?

Unfortunately, if you don't have your own transportation, you're out of luck. There are no tour options or public transport leading to its remote part of the Atherton Tablelands.

However, if you are in Cairns, Australia and want to experience the incredible nature of the rainforest and surrounding waterfalls, there are a few options for you.

Below I have linked what I think is the best full day waterfall tour from Cairns. Again, while you'll miss Windin Falls, you'll experience some of Cairns/Atherton's best waterfalls and swimming spots, including Josephine Falls and Millaa Millaa Falls.

Book the best price: Atherton Tablelands Waterfall Tour

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How to Get to Windin Falls (Self-Drive)

I mentioned at the beginning of this article that there are two Windin Falls hiking trails.

This guide focuses primarily on the new 'official' Windin Falls start point, which is located next to a large car park at the end of the 'Gourka-Gourka Road' just off the Old Cairns Track Road.

Since this parking lot and trailhead is relatively new, there is no official pin on Google Maps yet.

I've included the GPS coordinates and pinned the exact location on the map below if you'd rather just follow Google's directions. These work well, so it's best to copy and paste the coordinates below into Google Maps.

If you prefer detailed directions to Windin Falls, don't worry, I've got you covered below too.

Note: If you type “Windin Falls Car Park” into Google Maps you will get directions to the old walking path on the Old Cairns Track. Although both tracks are still accessible, I would recommend taking the official track with the GPS coordinates below. This way you avoid the forest road and can park in the designated parking lot.

GPS coordinates: 17°21’50.6″S 145°44’59.6″E

Directions to Windin Falls car park from Cairns

Note: Either paste the GPS coordinates below into Google Maps or try Lamins Hill Lookout, the nearest named pin.

To get from Cairns to Windin Falls you will need a car. Head south on the Bruce Highway (A1) toward Gordonvale, where you turn right onto Riverstone Road (State Route 52). Go through the roundabout and follow the winding Gillies Range Road up to the Tablelands.

Near Lake Eacham, turn left onto Lake Barrine Road and follow for 4 miles where you will need to turn left onto Topaz Road. This street is very narrow, so be careful to avoid oncoming traffic.

After 6 miles you will reach a junction near Lamins Hill Lookout. Turn left here onto the “Old Cairns Track”.

Find the new car park from the Old Cairns Track

Just after the first bend on the Old Cairns Track you will reach a junction where you can turn right or continue straight. If you continue straight, you'll have to follow a 3-mile (4.6 km) bumpy road to the old Windin Falls trailhead.

I would recommend following the newly placed sign by turning right at this intersection instead. Now continue on this road past picturesque rainforest farmland for about 4 miles until you see a very clear signpost saying “WINDIN FALLS” next to a large parking lot.

Park your car here and continue straight to the Windin Falls trailhead. Continuing on this road (Gourka-Gourka) you will reach the western trailhead of Mount Bartle Frere (marked on the QLD Parks map below).

This car park is also the starting point for the West Mulgrave Falls Track (more difficult).

The road gets a little bumpy from the junction near Lamins Hill Lookout, so go slowly. There's also no reception out here, so be sure to bookmark this blog or take a screenshot just in case.
alt=“Windin Falls hiking map, Wooroonooran National Park”>Original source: QLD Parks

NEARBY: DINNER FALLS | NANDROYA FALLS

Windin Falls Hike – What to Expect

Hiking distance: 11.5 km there and back
Duration: 2.5-3 hours there and back
Altitude: ~350 meters (most on the way back)
Difficulty level: Medium

The details above refer to the slightly longer “official” Windin Falls Trail, which I provided instructions for above.

Both routes are very easy to walk and can be tried out by anyone with average fitness. However, after heavy rain both routes become muddy and possibly flooded.

While both route options start from different parking areas, they both lead to the same point on Windin Falls, where the famous infinity pool is located.

RELATED POST: Cairns Hikes: 36 Best Hikes

Option 1: Official Trail

Alright, now that you've arrived at the Windin Falls parking lot, it's time to lace up and hit the road. The official hike to Windin Falls is approximately 7.1 miles long and takes between 2.5 and 3 hours to return.

This track is very wide, almost 2 meters along its entire length. It is a permanent route that is always clear and cannot be overlooked. Much of the route is red clay, which can become a bit slippery when wet.

The new starting point of Windin Falls is actually about 200 meters higher than the waterfall itself, meaning most of the route is a steady descent to the waterfall. Therefore the way back is a little more difficult as you have to climb back up.
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Just after half way you will notice a fork in the road. This is blocked by a large tree trunk that was intentionally placed here. Avoid it and instead continue straight (slightly to the right).

After about 3.2 miles, you'll reach a wide clearing with a sign that says "Windin Falls" and some obligatory warnings.

Follow the sign down the narrow path to the right. This final section is steep for about 300m before you reach the top of Windin Falls.
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Option 2: Old Waterfall Trail

If you took the Google Maps pin to the old parking lot, then you can expect a slightly shorter hike of about 45 minutes to 1 hour. This starting point begins directly at the cleared parking lot. Here you will notice an unofficial sign on a tree and two steel gates. Jump over the right gate.

This old track is also wide but appears to have been built as a 4WD track.

This route is also a little bumpier and slippery in places, but not more difficult. However, after about 40 minutes, look for a “Windin Falls” sign on a tree near a fork. Turn right and follow this trail for 15 minutes down to Windin Falls.
alt="Hiking trail in Wooroonooran National Park">

Windin Falls Hiking Map (GPX)

Below is a GPX map showing the track I took, recorded on my Garmin GPS watch. You can download the file by clicking the link below to upload it to your phone or GPS watch. However, the Windin Falls trail is very wide and easy to follow, so don't worry.

GPX file: Download

My Strava: Visit
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What to Expect at Windin Falls

Windin Falls has become very popular due to the epic views of Jurassic Valley looking downstream from Windin Creek.

Unfortunately, it's difficult to get a scale view of the waterfall unless you bring a drone since you're sitting above the actual waterfall. However, trust me when I say that the views are totally worth it.

It's definitely best to be careful around the waterfall, stream and ledge as the rocks can be very slippery. After heavy rain, Windin Falls can literally cascade down the edge of the cliff. Make sure you use your own judgment and probably avoid doing this after heavy rain.
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ALSO NEARBY: BIG MILLSTREAM AND SMALL MILLSTREAM FALLS

How high is Windin Falls?

Although there is no officially recorded elevation of Windin Falls, based on contour lines and a rough estimate, I would say that Windin Falls is somewhere in the ballpark of 100 to 120 meters elevation.
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Windin Falls infinity pool

The infinity pool at the edge of the waterfall is a swimming pool that is sure to leave you a little dizzy. The pool is deep enough to swim in, but when I visited the current was far too strong to even enter the water.

Update 2021: Tragically, there was a recent death at Windin Falls. The person was said to be a very experienced hiker, which reminds many, myself included, that conditions can change and accidents can happen to anyone. Please be careful out there.
alt="Infinity Pool Waterfall in Far North Queensland">
However, if you follow the bank about 100 meters upstream of the waterfall, you will find a quiet and wide swimming area that is usually fairly safe. It was fine on our first visit, but you'll have to make your own judgment about where to swim at these remote waterfalls.
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Tips for visiting Windin Falls from Cairns

• Vermeiden Sie es, Windin Falls nach starken Regenfällen zu besuchen
• Machen Sie einen Screenshot oder ein Lesezeichen für diesen Blog, da es in der Nähe des Parkplatzes keine Rezeption gibt
• Tanken Sie vor der Gillies Range Road auf, es ist lang und bis Malanda gibt es keine Tankstellen
• Sonnenaufgang ist besser als Sonnenuntergang, da die Sonne am Ende des Tals aufgeht
• Tragen Sie anständige Wanderschuhe/Stiefel oder Läufer
• Deet-Sprays wie Bushmans oder Aerogard helfen, Blutegel und Zecken zu verhindern
• Halten Sie Ausschau nach Kasuaren, die gelegentlich den Windin Falls Track besuchen

More photos of Windin Falls

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Discover more waterfalls around Cairns and the Tablelands

If you enjoyed this guide to hiking Windin Falls Cairns, why not check out some of my other posts for more waterfalls below. I highly recommend Nandroya Falls and Josephine Falls, also located in Wooroonooran National Park.

Otherwise, for quick recaps and photos, check out this complete guide to the absolute best waterfalls in Cairns and surrounding areas.

MY CAMERA AND PHOTO EQUIPMENT

• Spiegellose Kamera: Canon R5
• Drohne: DJI Mavic Pro 2
• 360-Grad-Action-Kamera: Insta360 One X2
• Landschaftsobjektiv: Canon RF 15-35 mm f/2.8L
• Allround-Objektiv: Canon RF 24–105 mm f/4L
• Teleobjektiv: Canon RF 100–500 mm f/f/4,5–7,1 L
• Lange Aktionsstange: Insta360 Invisible Pole (BulletTime)
• Landschaftslinsenfilter: Hoya Circular Polarizer
• Kamerarucksack: F-Stop Tilopa
• Lieblingsfotozubehör: Peak Design Capture Clip

For a list of my recommended photography gear (including what I use and why), check out my Travel Camera Gear Guide.

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