Lake Eacham

Lake Eacham (known as Yidyam in the local Ngadjon-Jii language) is a volcanic crater lake on the Atherton Tablelands, about 80 kilometres south-west of Cairns. The lake fills a maar crater formed by a volcanic explosion around 10,000 years ago, when rising magma met groundwater and the resulting steam explosion blew out a circular hole in the basalt plateau. The crater has since filled with rainwater to create a lake that is roughly circular, about 65 metres deep and around 800 metres across.

The water clarity is the lake's most striking feature. Because the lake has no inlet or outlet streams and is fed entirely by direct rainfall and groundwater seepage, there is very little sediment or dissolved matter. Visibility can exceed 10 metres, giving the water a deep emerald colour that becomes almost black in the centre. Swimming in the lake is a remarkable experience - the water is warm near the surface (around 24 to 26 degrees year-round), the bottom drops away steeply from the shore, and the surrounding rainforest reflects off the surface.

The Crater Lakes National Park, which protects Lake Eacham and the nearby Lake Barrine, is part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. A 3 kilometre walking circuit runs around the entire lake through dense tropical rainforest, crossing boardwalks over the roots of massive fig trees and passing through stands of kauri pine, red cedar and rose mahogany. The walk takes about an hour and is flat and well maintained. Wildlife along the track includes Boyd's forest dragons (large, cryptic rainforest lizards), Musky rat-kangaroos (the smallest of all kangaroo species), amethystine pythons and dozens of bird species.

The main swimming area has a grassed picnic area, barbecue facilities and a pontoon in the water. It is a popular weekend destination for Tablelands locals and Cairns day-trippers. The water is free of crocodiles and stingers, making it one of the few natural swimming spots in tropical Queensland where you can swim without concern for dangerous wildlife.

Lake Eacham is about 90 minutes drive from Cairns via Gordonvale and the Gillies Highway, or via Kuranda and Mareeba on the Kennedy Highway. The lake is open daily and there is no entry fee. The nearby town of Yungaburra (10 minutes away) is a heritage village with cafes, galleries and platypus viewing on the Petersen Creek boardwalk.