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Crystal CascadesWaterfall Seasons - The Waterfall Guide
From the riverside path, there are elevated views of the water squeezing through narrow passages into deep pools and over rocky outcrops, leading up to the waterfall viewing deck.
Above: The waterfall at the top of Crystal Cascades
(Order this image)
At only twenty minutes from the Cairns City centre, this is one of the most popular and readily accessible inland attractions in Cairns.
Once you get here, you will understand why,
with towering rainforest overhead and cool, energetic and refreshing water as your main companion below, regardless of how many visitors there might be around you.
Above: The viewing platform at Crystal Cascades
(Order this image)
The wide bitumen path from the car park joins the creek after a few hundred metres, with a 1.2 km one way walk all the way to the observation deck overlooking the main waterfall.
There are several access points to the water, where you can wander down a flight of steps to see some of the cascades up close, or hop in for a swim. As you walk further upstream, the path
gets steeper, with a couple of places to catch your breath and take in the stunning views of the water carving a path through the rock. The observation deck juts out over the creek, with
clear views of the falls. There are also steps down to the uneven creek bed to access the edge of the waterfall pool when the creek is not in flood. The walk further along the path, beyond the observation deck,
is very steep, but allows a peek at the top lip of the main waterfall, with no public access beyond this point.
Above: The waterfall at the top of Crystal Cascades
(Order this image)
You can have a picnic at Crystal Cascades, but the lawn areas and barbecues near the car park are narrow, and remote from both the creek and the falls. I feel this spot is best for some light exercise, pausing to take in nature at the rest spots along the way, with the option of a chilly dip in the creek to cool your body down.
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How high are the waterfalls at Crystal Cascades? I estimate that they are around 5 metres high, with drops of 1 to 2 metres at various points along the cascades.
Can I visit Crystal Cascades in the rain? Yes, the path is relatively high above the creek, with a viewing platform that is well above the creek bed. The path is bitumen so you will not get muddy.
If you have any other questions not answered above, leave a comment for me using the comment box below.
Above: The waterfall at the top of Crystal Cascades
(Order this image)
At only twenty minutes from the Cairns City centre, this is one of the most popular and readily accessible inland attractions in Cairns.
Above: The viewing platform at Crystal Cascades
(Order this image)
The wide bitumen path from the car park joins the creek after a few hundred metres, with a 1.2 km one way walk all the way to the observation deck overlooking the main waterfall.
Above: The waterfall at the top of Crystal Cascades
(Order this image)
You can have a picnic at Crystal Cascades, but the lawn areas and barbecues near the car park are narrow, and remote from both the creek and the falls. I feel this spot is best for some light exercise, pausing to take in nature at the rest spots along the way, with the option of a chilly dip in the creek to cool your body down.
Your Seasonal Guide:
| Best Time of Year to Visit: | Best Time of Day to Visit: |
|---|---|
| The creek flows year round, and it can rain at any time, but the rain can be particularly heavy and persistent during the wetter months from November to March | You might want to visit early in the day to avoid a long walk in the heat and to beat other visitors to the car park, with any time of the day good for viewing the cascades and falls. |
Other Information Before You Go:
Location:At the end of Redlynch Intake Road, Redlynch, 19 km (approx. 20 minute drive) west of Cairns.
Latitude:-16.962008 Longitude:145.679664
Getting there: From Cairns, head north along the Cairns Western Arterial Road (route 91) to the Redlynch Connection Road. Turn left at the roundabout onto the Redlynch Intake Road and follow it all the way to the end, where you will find the Crystal Cascades car park. The main falls observation deck is approximately a 1.2 km walk from the car park along a wide, paved path that runs alongside the cascades.
Water source: Freshwater Creek
Approx. height: 5 metres at the top falls
Approx. width: 5-10 metres across different sections of the cascade
Approx. length: The cascades run for several hundred metres
Swimming available at the falls: Yes, in the lower sections of the cascades. Here is more info about my swim
Facilities: Car park, change rooms, toilets, sheltered and unsheltered picnic tables, rubbish bins, drinking fountain, sheltered public bbqs, viewing platform
Entrance fee: None
Opening times: Always open
Sun shade: Partial shade available along most of the track to the falls. Limited to no shade at the viewing platform.
Wheelchair access: The path along the river is wheelchair accessible and there is a wheelchair accessible toilet. The path to the viewing platform is steep in parts, but the viewing platform is wheelchair accessible.
Prohibitions including whether you can bring your dog: No dogs, no littering, no fires, no alcohol, no bikes, no motorbikes, children must be supervised. In the upstream section of the creek (as designated by a sign on site), it is prohibited to swim, dive, or jump the fence.
Managing authority: Cairns Regional Council
Nearby attractions: Fairy Falls, also accessible from the Crystal Cascades car park.
Before you head out, make sure you read the
waterfall safety information and check with the managing authority for any current change of conditions. Specific to this site,
the managing authority warns that there are strong currents, submerged objects, slippery areas, and steep dropoffs in the water, and that children
must be supervised. This site is located downstream of Copperlode Falls Dam, with an emergency flood warning system in place signalling to evacuate to higher ground in the
event of a failure of the dam wall, with instructions provided by signs on site.
Latitude:-16.962008 Longitude:145.679664
Getting there: From Cairns, head north along the Cairns Western Arterial Road (route 91) to the Redlynch Connection Road. Turn left at the roundabout onto the Redlynch Intake Road and follow it all the way to the end, where you will find the Crystal Cascades car park. The main falls observation deck is approximately a 1.2 km walk from the car park along a wide, paved path that runs alongside the cascades.
Water source: Freshwater Creek
Approx. height: 5 metres at the top falls
Approx. width: 5-10 metres across different sections of the cascade
Approx. length: The cascades run for several hundred metres
Swimming available at the falls: Yes, in the lower sections of the cascades. Here is more info about my swim
Facilities: Car park, change rooms, toilets, sheltered and unsheltered picnic tables, rubbish bins, drinking fountain, sheltered public bbqs, viewing platform
Entrance fee: None
Opening times: Always open
Sun shade: Partial shade available along most of the track to the falls. Limited to no shade at the viewing platform.
Wheelchair access: The path along the river is wheelchair accessible and there is a wheelchair accessible toilet. The path to the viewing platform is steep in parts, but the viewing platform is wheelchair accessible.
Prohibitions including whether you can bring your dog: No dogs, no littering, no fires, no alcohol, no bikes, no motorbikes, children must be supervised. In the upstream section of the creek (as designated by a sign on site), it is prohibited to swim, dive, or jump the fence.
Managing authority: Cairns Regional Council
Nearby attractions: Fairy Falls, also accessible from the Crystal Cascades car park.
Locality Map:
The marker indicates the approximate location of the car park at the start of the path to Crystal Cascades. If the map is not zoomed in locally,
as can sometimes occur when loading, simply click or tap on "View Larger Map" below.
View Larger Map
Frequently Asked Questions:
How long is the walk to Crystal Cascades? It is a few hundred metres from the car park to the start of the cascades, and 1.2 km in total one-way to reach the falls.
How high are the waterfalls at Crystal Cascades? I estimate that they are around 5 metres high, with drops of 1 to 2 metres at various points along the cascades.
Can I visit Crystal Cascades in the rain? Yes, the path is relatively high above the creek, with a viewing platform that is well above the creek bed. The path is bitumen so you will not get muddy.
If you have any other questions not answered above, leave a comment for me using the comment box below.
Comments:
If you would like to leave a comment about this waterfall, please fill in the comment box below.
I'm particularly interested in your experiences after visiting, and any changes in conditions, etc.
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