Gordonvale with Mountains behind

Gordonvale Qld 4865 (Pop 5 000)

Gordonvale is a substantial Tropical North sugar milling town 24 km south of Cairns. It is located on the Bruce Hwy 1 657 km n-w of Brisbane and near the Gillies Range and Gillies Hwy leading to the picturesque Atherton Tablelands. Gordonvale is known for its well-preserved historic buildings and was first settled in 1870s. Today Gordonvale is more of an outer Cairns suburb than a separate town. Nearby are Goldsborough Valley State Forest (waterfalls, bushwalks, rainforest) and Ballenden Ker NP comprising the symmetrical Walsh’s Pyramid (922 m - the world’s highest free-standing mountain peak) which offers spectacular views and is the site of a climbing race each Aug. Gordonvale also has the dubious honour of being where cane toads were first released in Australia (1935) in a misguided effort to eradicate sugarcane beetles.

Accommodation:
Gordonvale has a number of heritage ‘Queenslander’ hotels. Visitor Information Centre: Cnr Bruce Hwy & Munro St, Babinda. Tel (07) 4067 1008.