Josephine Falls

Josephine Creek runs off Bartle Frere, at 1,622 metres the highest mountain in Queensland, and drops through a series of falls and smooth granite chutes in rainforest at the foot of the range. The lowest pool is the one most people come for: water slides down a natural rock ramp worn glass-smooth and drops swimmers into deep water, a slide that works when the creek is at moderate level. A boardwalk of about six hundred metres runs from the car park past viewing platforms to the pools, and the track to the Bartle Frere summit, a demanding two-day climb, starts here. Water levels change fast after rain, and the falls close when the creek runs high.

What you actually see

• The rock slide - the smooth granite chute into the lower pool.
• The falls sequence - cascades stepping down through rainforest.
• The boardwalk - a short walk from the car park to the viewing platforms.
• The Bartle Frere trailhead - the start of the climb to Queensland's highest peak.

When to go

May to October for safer water levels; after wet season rain the creek runs dangerously fast and the site is closed. Early morning avoids the crowds. The water is cold and clear year-round.

Honest expectations

The slide has caused injuries and the falls close regularly on high water, with closures enforced. Rocks are extremely slippery. The car park fills at weekends, and there are no facilities beyond toilets. The Bartle Frere climb is a serious two-day undertaking, not a day walk.

Nearby

Babinda Boulders lies north; Innisfail and the Tablelands are close.