Malanda Travel Guide
Malanda accommodation, Malanda activities and attractions, Malanda maps, transportation to and around Malanda - the ALL NEW Jasons Malanda Destination Travel Guide is your complete visitor guide for Malanda.
Malanda, a quiet town located 25kms southeast of
Atherton in
Tropical North Queensland is at the core of the Atherton Table dairy industry.
Located in the heart of North Queensland’s rainforest country, Malanda is one of the wettest areas of the
Atherton Tablelands. Although much of the original forest around the town was cleared to establish dairy farms during the early part of last century, many large remnant patches remain and are home to a myriad of fauna and flora such as Lumholtz's Tree-Kangaroo and the tiny Musky Rat-kangaroo. Spot-lighting to observe nocturnal rainforest animals, especial the several possum species, is a popular pastime for many visitors and locals. Freshwater creeks wind through the region concluding as waterfalls and waterfalls. The rainforest and dry savannah contain more than 500 species of bird species, existing within 60km radius making Malanda a bird enthusiasts dream.
Malanda also has one of the worlds largest dairy factories, in fact, the primary basis for Malanda’s survival over the years is the Tropical North Queensland dairy industry. Providing the main source of employment and supported by 190 local dairy farmers, Malanda Milk travel along the longest milk run in the world, reaching south to
Townsville, west to
Alice Springs, north to
Darwin and overseas to New Guinea and South East Asia.
It is thought that Malanda is an Aboriginal name meaning ‘waterfalls’. The surrounding rainforest was home for the pygmy-like Ngadjon Jii people whose descendants make up part of the Malanda community. The local Ngadjon Jii dance troupe is an essential part of the Malanda Monsoon Festival.
This area was explored in 1882 with the first settlers arriving in 1907 bringing with them tools to cut down the trees in order to establish pastures for dairy cattle and a butter industry. The local pioneer families developed a thriving dairy and grazing industry and new crops are such as macadamias, avocados and bamboo shoots are being tested today.