Ellinjaa Falls, Millaa Millaa, Queensland – What to Expect

Ellinjaa Falls, Millaa Millaa, Queensland – What to Expect

Ellinjaa Falls Queensland is an easily accessible and spectacular waterfall on the Millaa Millaa Waterfall Circuit on the edge of Wooroonooran National Park. This waterfall requires only a very short walk and offers arguably one of the most impressive waterfalls around Cairns and the tropical north.

Looking for epic waterfalls near Cairns and the Queensland Tablelands? If you plan to go to Millaa Millaa, I highly recommend not skipping Ellinjaa Falls.

In many ways, Ellinjaa Falls is a more impressive waterfall than the more popular Millaa Millaa. For those of you who prefer a more natural atmosphere when exploring waterfalls, you will probably also enjoy Ellinjaa Falls more.

In this guide, I'll detail how to get to Ellinjaa Falls even if you're not on the Waterfall Circuit yet. You will also find some useful tips and recommendations as well as some photos of Ellinjaa Falls to inspire your visit.

Enjoy!

Where is Ellinjaa Falls?

Ellinjaa Falls is located on the 17 kilometer Waterfall Circuit along Theresa Creek Road in the Atherton Tablelands region of Queensland.

You'll find Ellinjaa Falls in a dense rainforest pocket next to Wooroonooran National Park. In addition to the short waterfall route, there are signs and even a large parking lot.

ALSO NEARBY: WINDIN FALLS (INFINITY POOL WATERFALL) & NANDROYA FALLS (EPIC WATERFALL HIKE)

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How to get to Ellinja Falls

Ellinjaa Falls and Millaa Millaa Waterfall Circuit are approximately 104 km (1 hour 40 minutes) drive from Cairns CBD. There are two ways to get here, either drive yourself or book a waterfall tour to Millaa Millaa.

Option 1: Drive from Cairns

In my opinion the best way to experience Cairns and the tropical far north is to have your own car and explore. For easy directions, type “Ellinjaa Falls” or “Theresa Creek Road” into Google Maps.

From Cairns you need to head south on the Bruce Highway towards Gordonvale. As you approach the obvious Walsh’s Pyramid, look out for signs to the Atherton Tablelands above Gillies Range Road.

Follow this winding road to the Tablelands, pass the crater lakes and continue following the signs south to “Millaa Millaa”, just past Malanda. Theresa Creek Road (the Waterfall Circuit Road) is only about a minute from the small community. There are very detailed signs for each waterfall on this road, so you shouldn't have any problems finding Ellinjaa Waterfall.

If you're looking for a cheap car rental deal in Cairns or elsewhere in Queensland, I recommend you visit RentalCars.com. This is a “car rental search engine” that works similarly to Skyscanner, but for cars instead of flights.

Option 2: Waterfall tour from Cairns

I understand that many people would rather get on a tour bus and meet some people instead of driving themselves. Unfortunately, there's only one tour I could find in the entire region that stops at Ellinjaa Falls - and it's a fixed price for groups of up to 10 people.

This could be a good idea if you can meet some friends at the hostel or if you are visiting Cairns with family or in a group.

For solo travelers and couples, you'll either need to rent a car or consider some of these alternative waterfall tours, which include stops at the equally impressive Dinner Falls, Josephine Falls, Millaa Millaa Falls, and more (see below).

What to Expect at Ellinjaa Falls Queensland

Ellinjaa Falls is a 12 meter high waterfall that cascades down a wide, vertical wall at the base of a dense rainforest valley.

Below the waterfall is a blue-tinted pool that's deep enough to swim in, but don't expect to be completely submerged.

The freshwater streams flowing from the waterfall are home to one of Australia's most iconic animals; the platypus. So be sure to remain calm as you approach and see if you can see anyone swimming or sitting on the shore.

There is also a small ledge you can crawl onto behind the waterfall for some of the best viewing spots.
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Keep an eye out for the wandering roosters and chickens roaming the parking lot begging for food.

Ellinjaa waterfall hike

The walk from the car park to Ellinjaa Falls is only about 200m long and only takes a few minutes downhill. The trail is paved the entire way, making it really accessible and easy to get to.
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I would recommend visiting Ellinjaa Falls early in the morning to avoid the inevitable crowds on this popular and easily accessible waterfall trail.

The Millaa Millaa waterfall tour

Ellinjaa Falls is part of the Millaa Millaa Waterfall Circuit. The other two waterfalls are Millaa Millaa and Zillie Falls.

I've written separate instructions with photos for each waterfall so you know what to expect in each case. Alternatively, you can check out my guide to the entire waterfall walk instead.

• alt=“ZILLIE FÄLLE WASSERFALL QUEENSLAND“>Zillie Falls
• alt=“MILLAA MILLAA FÄLLT CAIRNS“>Millaa Millaa-Fälle

Cairns Accommodation Guide – Where to Stay

Are you planning a trip to Cairns and wondering where to base yourself? Below I have listed some of the best options near Cairns Esplanade. I have also written a comprehensive accommodation guide for Cairns as well as a comprehensive accommodation guide for Port Douglas.

Crystalbrook Riley – If you’re looking for luxury and location, Crystalrbook Riley can’t be beat. This is the best 5 star resort in Cairns and offers absolutely everything you would expect from a Crystalbrook resort.

Tip: Be sure to head to Rocco’s Bar at the top of Crystalbrook Riley for great views over Cairns!
alt=”Girls sunbathing at Crystalbrook Riley Resort in Cairns”>
Rydges Resort – This hotel offers great value for an epic stay at a decent price! The location is perfect, close to the Esplanade and has three swimming pools, two tennis courts, a hot tub, a fitness center and even an award-winning restaurant.
alt=“RYDGES ESPLANADE RESORT IN CAIRNS, WHERE TO STAY”>
Fitzroy Island Resort – If you prefer to stay on one of the picturesque islands of the Great Barrier Reef, look no further than Fitzroy Island Resort. While you can do a day trip here, I highly recommend spending the night so you have more time to explore the reef, coral beaches, and rainforest hiking trails.
alt="FITZROY ISLAND RESORT">
Gilligan’s Backpackers – The best backpacker option for a great atmosphere in Cairns is Gilligan’s Backpackers. That's because this one has a swimming pool, air conditioning, a full kitchen and a great common area to meet other travelers.

alt=“GILLIGAN’S BACKPACKER RESORT”>

More Cairns and Tropical North Waterfalls

That concludes this quick guide to visiting Ellinjaa Falls on the Millaa Millaa Waterfall Circuit. For more waterfalls around Cairns and Tropical North Queensland, check out my comprehensive waterfall guide. Otherwise, check out the individual blog posts for some nearby waterfalls in the list below.

If you're also looking for more things to do in Cairns and the surrounding areas, check out this guide to the best things to do in Cairns.

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.

If you would like to use any of the photos on this website, please visit my licensing page to find out how. I also sell professional art prints, visit my Print Store or contact me directly for customs deductions of images on We Seek Travel.
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