Millaa Millaa to Malanda
24 km
distance
30 min
Contour time
5.3
avg score
Sealed
surface
Scenery
Queensland
The Atherton Tablelands sit at 700 to 900 metres above the Cairns coastal plain. The basalt soil from ancient volcanic...
Road quality
5.3 RQS
Every segment scored on 40+ data signals.
Accessibility
Fully sealed
Best in Sports car. Peak season: Apr-Oct.
7-day forecast
Good for all vehicle types. A rhythm stage on the basalt plateau - EV and touring cars are at home here alongside sports car and motorbike.
Scored 5.3/10 by Contour's road quality algorithm across curviness, surface, elevation and traffic. Best suited for sports car drivers.
The road
A plateau stage through the heart of the Atherton Tablelands, connecting the waterfall country at Millaa Millaa to the dairy town of Malanda via the Malanda-Millaa Millaa Road. The 24-kilometre route runs across the basalt plateau that forms the tablelands, with gentle rolling terrain and good surface the entire way. This is a rhythm stage where the pleasure is in stringing corners together rather than in any single dramatic section. The Targa Great Barrier Reef rally ran a 28.81 km Millaa Millaa stage - longer than this route, extending further in the competitive format. The touring version at 24 km covers the best of the tablelands dairy country. The tablelands dairy country is unlike anything else in tropical Queensland - green, cool and shaped by the volcanic soil. The contrast with the hot coastal plain below is remarkable for anyone who has driven the Palmerston Highway to get here.
A plateau stage through the heart of the Atherton Tablelands, connecting the waterfall country at Millaa Millaa to the dairy town of Malanda via the Malanda-Millaa Millaa Road.
Why this road
The region
The Atherton Tablelands sit at 700 to 900 metres above the Cairns coastal plain. The basalt soil from ancient volcanic activity is extremely fertile and the tablelands produce dairy, maize, coffee, avocados and tropical fruits. Millaa Millaa is the centre of the Tablelands' waterfall circuit and sits near the edge of the escarpment.
Before you go
Fuel in Millaa Millaa or Malanda. The Millaa Millaa waterfall circuit is worth incorporating before or after the stage. Best driven April to October when the wet season is over and the road surface is at its best.
See a routing error?
Flag itWorth stopping for
Millaa Millaa Falls
One of Queensland's most photographed waterfalls, 5 minutes from the stage start.
Malanda Dairy Centre
Interactive exhibition on dairy production in tropical Queensland at the stage end.
Route
Start
Millaa Millaa
End
Malanda
Gallery
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