Mareeba

Visited: all year round

Recommendation: Mareeba is one of my favourite places to return to for wildlife. It offers great access to Cairns, the Outback, Daintree and Cape York. But there is also lots to see around the town itself. With some research or local knowledge, you can see a lot here.

For as long as I have been visiting Australia, I have loved Mareeba. It is in such a great location with temperate rainforest to the south at Malanda and Millaa Millaa, dry country to the north at Mount Carbine, tropical rainforest to the north west in Julatten and Cairns to the east. Mareeba itself has everything you need in a small town on the edge of the Outback especially sunshine and warm, dry air. 

There are many hotspots around Mareeba that are great for wildlife spotting. Just driving the roads around the surrounding countryside can yield anything from Frill-necked Lizards to eagles. The environment here is rich and varied, providing habitat for these wonderful animals. I have separate posts for the wetlands, lakes and a local caravan park. Some of the spots here are on private property but they give an indication of what you might find here.

Private property on a banana plantation.

On the roads around Mareeba.

My friend Louise lives in Mareeba and has created the most wonderful environment for birds. A regular visitor and breeder there is the White-browed Robin and it has been one of the highlights of visiting Mareeba trip to be able to sit and watch them come and go in her garden. Thanks Louise!

White-browed Robin (Poecilodryas superciliosa)