Lake Tinaroo, Cairns

Escape the Cairns City life and visit Lake Tinaroo on your next camping trip.

Lake Tinaroo is in the Atherton region in Queensland and is about an hour and a half drive from Cairns. Lake Tinaroo is Queensland’s first large dam that was built for irrigation in 1958. Lake Tinaroo is a multipurpose dam that provides water to nearby towns, generates power, and much more!

Water activities

Lake Tinaroo has an endless amount of water activities, whether you’re a beginner or an enthusiast, you will love to get involved. You can go swimming, skiing, sailing or even you can go fishing (with a permit).

Picnics

Around Lake Tinaroo there are plenty of picnic spots by the lake with tables and chairs. Some of the picnic tables are covered and there can be a communal BBQ nearby. Bring your own lunch or catch a fish or red claw in the lake and cook it up on the BBQ. After your picnic, go for a relaxing stroll along the lake.

Camping

There are five camping areas around Lake Tinaroo with onsite communal toilets. These camping spots can get busy so it’s best to book in early to secure your spot! The camping areas are great spots for fishing, so bring your fishing gear and get a permit to catch yourself dinner.

Be sure to watch the stunning sunrise or sunset as the colours reflect off the water!

Danbulla National Park and State Forest

Danbulla National Park and State Forest is right by Lake Tinaroo and has so much to do and see. There is a rich and important local history, camping spots by the lake, plenty of rainforest walks, and so much more. You can do some scenic driving and stop by a picnic table and enjoy lunch before heading towards a lookout point.

Cathedral Fig

Close to Lake Tinaroo sits the Cathedral Fig Tree which is a massive 500 year old fig tree! Walk along the boardwalk and see the massive fig tree that’s almost 50 metres tall. You can learn more about this fig tree by reading the sign at the base. From here you can also look into the roots and canopy.