Head into the accessible outback west of Cairns and discover the underground wonders of the former mining town of Chillagoe. Just 140 kilometres west of Mareeba along the Wheelbarrow Way, Chillagoe was once an ancient coral reef which has been transformed into spectacular limestone bluffs with a network of some 560 caves, while early volcanic activity has created rich marble and mineral deposits.
Wander the town to see the Railway Station, Bank Vault, Court House, Police Museum, Post Office and Post Office Hotel. The tall chimney on the edge of town is part of the former ore smelter which is now a drive-around museum with a viewing platform and story boards.
Join a guided tour of the spectacular caves with a National Parks ranger and learn more about this amazing underground ecosystem. Nearby short walking tracks include Balancing Rock and two Aboriginal rock art galleries.
Quick Facts
Chillagoe is an Urban Location area within the local government area of Mareeba in Queensland, it is located approximately 1441kms from the capital Brisbane and extends over an area of 2206.142 square kilometres. Chillagoe has a recorded population of 251 residents and is within the Australian Eastern Standard Time zone Australia/Brisbane.
If you are planning a visit to Chillagoe we’ve put together some of the things you can see or do while you are here. These include, places to stay, tours and attractions, some upcoming events and places where you can grab a meal. Go ahead, try one of the buttons above. Every destination has something worth seeing so start exploring… If you know Chillagoe and think we’ve missed something, let us know and we’ll share it here.