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Mena Creek Falls & Paronella Park – Complete Guide
Mena Creek Falls is located next to the Paronella Park tourist attraction in a small rural town on the Cassowary Coast, just 12 miles from Innisfail. Read this complete guide to visiting Mena Creek Falls. When I first heard about Mena Creek Falls, I was under the impression that it was on private property at Paronella Park. However, the truth is that both the base of the waterfall and the viewpoint from above are open to the public for free at all times. Therefore, visiting Mena Creek Falls on a road trip on the Cassowary Coast from Cairns...
Mena Creek Falls & Paronella Park – Complete Guide
Mena Creek Falls is located next to the Paronella Park tourist attraction in a small rural town on the Cassowary Coast, just 12 miles from Innisfail. Read this complete guide to visiting Mena Creek Falls.
When I first heard about Mena Creek Falls, I was under the impression that it was on private property at Paronella Park. However, the truth is that both the base of the waterfall and the viewpoint from above are open to the public for free at all times.
Therefore, visiting Mena Creek Falls on a Cassowary Coast road trip from Cairns is a worthwhile addition to the itinerary, even if you are not prepared to visit Paronella Park.
The waterfall at Mena Creek Falls is a single-tier waterfall that cascades from the 7-million-year-old basalt column into a vast freshwater pool surrounded by rainforest. However, it is not known as a good swimming spot due to the 3 meter crocodile that calls it home!
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About Mena Creek Falls and Paronella Park
Mena Creek Falls gets its fame from the adjacent castle, built in the 1930s by José Paronella. According to the story, José dreamed of building a castle after emigrating from Spain to Australia to work on the sugar cane plantations in the early 1900s.
Apparently José bought 13 acres of bushland next to Mena Creek in 1929 for just £120 and spent the next decade building his castle and planting over 7,500 tropical plants and trees to create the now thriving rainforest. He also built a hydroelectric power station from the Falls River that could provide electricity to the entire park. It was the first of its kind in North Queensland.
He opened his dream castle (Paronella Park) to the public in 1935 and it is still one of the most awarded tourist attractions in Queensland.
There is a suspension bridge that connects the grassy park on the side of the waterfall with Paronella Park. While you must pay an entrance fee to enter the park, anyone can explore Mena Creek Falls from the grass or trail to the base of the falls.
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Where is Mena Creek Falls?
The community of Mena Creek is tucked behind the Basilisk Range, on the west side of the Bruce Highway, approximately 19 kilometers from Innisfail, 46 kilometers from Mission Beach and 110 kilometers from Cairns.
This small country town is known for its namesake waterfall, located just off the main road (Innisfail-Japoon Road). This winding country road is paved and winds through lush sugar cane countryside, connecting two access points on the Bruce Hwy (in Innisfail and Silkwood).
How do I get here?
A vehicle is required to get to Mena Creek Falls as there are no tours or public transportation.
Therefore, this waterfall pit stop is a perfect scenic detour on an East Coast trip, whether you're heading south from Innisfail or north from Mission Beach.
Since there are two access points, directions depend on whether you are coming from the north or south.
From Innisfail, head south on Bruce Hwy and turn right on Boogan Road. Follow this road to a T-junction in the tiny community of South Johnston. Turn left here and follow this road until you reach Mena Creek Falls on the right.
Head north on the Bruce Highway towards Silkwood. Turn left at the petrol station (Silkwood Japoon Road) and follow it to the junction next to Silkwood State School. Turn right here, then cross the bridge and turn left. Follow this road until you reach Mena Creek Falls (there are signs for Paronella Park).
Tip: If you're looking to rent a car in Far North Queensland or the Australian East Coast, I recommend using RentalCars.com to compare the best deals and offers. This works similarly to Skyscanner, only for rental cars and not flights. For long-haul and budget campers, I've had great experiences with Spaceships vans.
What to Expect at Mena Creek Falls
If you'd rather see a roadside waterfall during a pit stop, Mena Creek Falls is perfect. We only spent the better part of an hour exploring the waterfall as warning signs for crocodiles made us not too excited about swimming here.
Still, we enjoyed our time taking a few shots of the top of the waterfall and the suspension bridge. We also took the short rainforest trail found next to the bathrooms across from the grassy parking area next to the waterfall. This leads to a viewing platform below Mena Creek Falls.
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Visit to Paronella Park
Entrance fee: $48
Since I prefer natural hikes and adventures, I didn't seem particularly interested in the castle and rainforest park. In saying that, I understand that many people who visit Mena Cree Falls also want to explore the old castle and gardens.
You can enter the park at the ticket booth just around the curve of Mena Creek Falls. Here you'll get some information about the park before setting off to explore the labyrinth of castles, bridges, tunnels, secret staircases and fountains built by Jose Paronella.
You can pay upon arrival or, for greater convenience, simply book an entry ticket on your phone using this link.
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More things to do near Innisfail and the Cassowary Coast
I hope you enjoyed the guide and photos of Mena Creek Falls and Paronella Park in incredible Far North Queensland. For more ideas about hikes, waterfalls, and other adventures in the area, check out the list below.
Otherwise, for a quick list, check out this guide to the best waterfalls in Cairns and surrounding areas, the best hiking trails or this comprehensive guide to the best things to do in Cairns and the tropical north.
MORE PHOTOS OF MENA CREEK FALLS
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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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