Where Rainforest Meets the Outback
Your comprehensive community hub for news, events, property information, and everything Mareeba Shire
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The iconic 140km Great Wheelbarrow Race returns May 8-10, running from Mareeba to Chillagoe via Dimbulah, Petford, and Almaden. Since 2007 the event has raised over $2.6 million for charity. Online registrations for new teams are now closed.
Mareeba Shire Council Customer Service Centres and Libraries will be closed over the Easter holiday period from Good Friday through Easter Monday. Normal services resume after the public holiday period.
Residents in the Mount Molloy area may experience low water pressure on April 2-3 due to planned maintenance works on the water supply network.
Council is actively seeking resident input on new waste collection options as part of a comprehensive kerbside waste collection review. Community consultation is now open for all Mareeba Shire residents.
No current alerts.
Dimbulah residents experienced an unplanned water outage due to an urgent water main break. Repair crews were on-site with works expected to take approximately 4 hours.
Scheduled water service interruption for essential water network works affecting Kenneally Estate, Agius Crescent, Shaban areas, Wylandra Estate, and Mareeba Airport.
The Mareeba Local Disaster Management Group confirmed severe weather from Tropical Low 29U has passed. Residents advised to remain cautious around flooded areas and damaged roads.
Heavy rainfall forecast with potential for dangerous flash flooding. Six-hourly totals of 80-160mm likely, with possible 24-hour totals reaching 350mm across the Tablelands.
Maintenance work on Mount Molloy Water Reservoir to repair a leak. Temporary water tanks positioned to serve as interim reservoirs during the repair period.
Mareeba Shire is located in Far North Queensland, approximately 1,800 kilometres north of Brisbane and 60 kilometres west of Cairns. Situated on the Atherton Tablelands, the shire encompasses 53,457 square kilometres of diverse landscapes where rainforest meets the outback.
The region experiences a tropical savanna climate with a distinct wet season from December to March and a dry season from April to November. Average temperatures range from 25C in winter to 32C in summer, with annual rainfall of approximately 876mm.
Agriculture drives the local economy, with the shire being one of Australia's largest fruit-producing areas. Major crops include avocados ($47M annually), mangoes ($40M), coffee (70% of Australia's production), citrus, and various tropical fruits.
Key attractions include the ancient Chillagoe Caves, Kuranda Rainforest Village, coffee plantations, Granite Gorge Nature Park, and the Mareeba Wetlands. The region is also known as the ballooning capital of Australia.
Mareeba Shire anchors one of Queensland's most productive agricultural regions, with the broader Tablelands horticulture sector contributing over $530 million annually to the economy.
$530M+
Horticulture Sector
$45M
Sugar Exports
50,000+
Cattle Yarded/Year
70%
of Australia's Coffee
Agriculture employs the highest proportion of the workforce in the shire. Major industries include sugar cane (MSF Sugar's Tableland Mill generates $45M in export revenue from 6,600 hectares across 75 farms), beef cattle (the Mareeba Saleyards regularly processes record sales exceeding $2.5 million), and tropical horticulture including avocados ($47M), mangoes ($40M), and Australia's largest coffee production. Emerging industries like cotton and renewable energy are adding further diversity to the economic base.
From ancient caves to coffee plantations, rainforest villages to outback adventures - discover everything the Tablelands has to offer.
Mareeba Shire Guide
Complete guide to the shire
Things to Do
Attractions, activities & experiences
Hot Air Ballooning
Dawn flights over the Tablelands
Granite Gorge
Rock wallabies & swimming holes
Lake Tinaroo
World-class barramundi fishing
Coffee Trail
Plantations, tours & tastings
Heritage Museum
6,000+ artefacts, free entry
Mareeba Wetlands
220+ bird species, guided tours
Kuranda Village
Markets, Skyrail, rainforest walks
Chillagoe & Outback
400M-year-old caves & mining
Waterfalls
Swimming holes & gorges
Wildlife & Birds
Wallabies, wetlands, birds
Hot Springs
Natural thermal pools
Mareeba Rodeo
Annual July rodeo event
Day Trips from Cairns
Scenic routes & itineraries
Getting Here
Travel guide from Cairns
Accommodation
Hotels, farm stays & camping
