Visiting Babinda Boulders Devil’s Pool in Queensland

Imagine a place with rushing water that makes its way through granite boulders, lush green rainforest with ferns, and a legend: that’s Babinda Boulders aka the Devil’s Pool. Located 65 km south of Cairns in Queensland, it takes approximately 1 hour to drive there. As both a place with a spiritual significance and a place of natural beauty, these granite boulders and the Devil’s Pool are a must-see in Queensland.

 I added it to my road trip from Cairns to Sydney itinerary after I got a list of great places from a friend of a friend while planning a road trip with a stranger – because that is how I roll. After all, there is nothing like visiting a place with a ghost story-like legend while traveling with a stranger.

I visited the Devil’s Pool on a rainy day just as the wet season was starting, and there was a lot of water, which caused a strong current that rushed through the rocks. Therefore, I would not have wanted to enter the water there, even if it was not strictly forbidden. Be sure to stick to the designated swimming areas.

About Babinda Boulders

Babinda Boulders is named after the boulders found at and in the creek. It is a public recreation reserve and there is no entrance fee. It borders Wooroonooran National Park, so you combine your Devil’s Pool visit with an Australian National Park trip.

The water in the Babinda Creek originates from Queensland’s highest mountain Mt. Bartle Frere. The mountain is mere kilometers away, so the water is still quite cold when it reaches the Devil’s Pool area. Visiting the Babinda Boulders is one of the best outdoor adventures in Queensland, so be sure to add it to your Cairns to Sydney road trip itinerary.

If you want to find out more about Babinda and the Babinda Creek, you should visit the Babinda Visitor Information Center. From Monday to Saturday, it is open from 9 AM to 1 PM. On Sunday it is open from 9 AM to 12:30 PM.

Visiting Babinda Boulders – Devil’s Pool

There is a large car park and amenities. Aside from camping spots, there is a grill, toilets, cold showers, and picnic tables. If you want to buy some food before visiting the Boulders, you can buy everything for your BBQ in the nearby Babinda town.

While not a hidden gem in Australia, this beautiful spot is by no means overrun. In fact, I only saw one other car in the parking area when I visited Babinda Boulders in early November. There are more visitors during the holiday seasons and dry months, but if you arrive early, you might just have the view from the platform at the end of the trail for yourself.

Freshwater Pool

Devil’s Pool

There is no denying that the Devil’s Pool is the highlight of Babinda Boulders. With its waterfalls, granite boulders, and wash pools, it is a stunning sight for visitors of all ages. To get there, you have to walk 700 meters down a rainforest path that has three wooden platforms.

While it was allowed to swim here in the past, ‘no swimming’ signs were added in 2017 as there were several deaths and injuries in the area around the Devil’s Pool. Some people still opt to swim there if the water is calm, but it is dangerous even if the water looks calm. After all, it is at the Devil’s Pool that the river valley becomes more narrow. This in addition to the boulders causes strong currents that might not be visible from the surface.

In addition to that, the rocks near the Devil’s Pool are very slippery, so leaving the fenced-off area can be quite dangerous too.

It is up to you to decide if you want to risk it or not, but I personally do not recommend it. After all, there have been at least 18 deaths since 1959, so the local council has a good reason for banning swimming right at the Devil’s Pool. So just go to the Freshwater Pool area if you want to go for a swim.

The Babinda Boulders Devil’s Pool Legend

According to the legend of the Devil’s Pool, a young woman called ‘Oolana’ was married to an elder ‘Waroonoo’ of her tribe, the ‘Yidinji’. At one point, a new wandering tribe entered the area and a young handsome man called ‘Dyga’ was a member of this new tribe.

Oolana and Dyga met and fell in love. They ran away together as them being together was not allowed. However, their tribes chased them as they escaped into the valley. The elders captured the lovers and their respective tribes tried to separate them from each other.

Oolana managed to break free and jumped into the smooth waters. She called out for her beloved to join her as she fell. The legend goes on to tell that the land shook as she hit the water because her sorrow was grave. The water started to rush, and boulders were thrown up. Oolana disappeared in the floods.

The legend has it, that her spirit still guards the spot, and that her anguished cries call visiting people into the water. It is said that she is still calling for her lover.

Babinda Boulders Trails

There are several trails in the Babinda Boulder area including the walk towards the Devil’s Pool viewpoint.

Babinda Boulders – Devil’s Pool Walk – A rather easy 1.5 km return walk that takes around 30 minutes. There are some stairs and boardwalks along the trail, as well as three viewing platforms that give you a glimpse of the rushing water below.

Wonga Track Rainforest Circuit – A 650 m loop walk that starts at a suspension bridge across the creek close to the parking area.

Goldfield Track – With a length of 19.5 km, the Goldfield Track is by no means a short hike or for those not used to long hikes. But if you want to tackle it, you can use Babinda Boulders as your starting or endpoint. Just ensure that someone will pick you up at the other end of the track and take you back to your car.

How to get to Babinda Boulders Devil’s Pool?

If you want to visit Babinda Boulders, you have to drive there as there is no nearby public transport. The address to enter in your navigation device is: “1 Munro St., Babinda QLD 4861”.

Drive down or up Bruce Highway until you reach Babinda town. There is a brown sign a few kilometers before the town that lets you know that the Babinda Boulders are nearby. Once you reach Babinda, you have to follow Munro Street through the town. As soon as you leave Babinda behind, the road is also known as The Boulders Road. Keep driving down the street for 6 km until you reach the Babinda Boulders parking area.

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Where to stay near Babinda Boulders

Camping at Babinda Boulders

Babinda Boulders Camping Area – There is a free camping site for tents, campervans, and RVs right at the Babinda Boulders parking area. It is possible to stay up to 72 hours or 2 nights. Free camping here is on a first-come, first-serve basis, so try to arrive early.

Babinda Rotary Park Rest Area – ‘Babinda Rotary Park Rest Area’ is another free camping site near the Devil’s Pool. You can stay for 72 hours on a donation basis. The rest area is equipped with a toilet, a shower, a dump point, and a BBQ. Address: Howard Kennedy Drive, Babinda, QLD 4861.

Accommodations near Babinda Boulders

If you do not want to camp, you can opt to stay at Babinda Quarters in Babinda Town. Other great nearby accommodations are Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat in Butchers Creek, the Luxury Holiday House in Bramston Beach, or the Tropical Lodge in Innisfail.

Things to do near Babinda Boulders

Josephine Falls

After visiting the Boulders, you should also visit the nearby Josephine Falls. While they are small, they are a beautiful sight and well worth the drive there. The falls are also the starting point of two hikes: the Broken Nose track and the Bartle Frere track.

Walsh’s Pyramid

As you drive from Cairns to Babinda Boulders, you pass Walsh’s Pyramid. It is cool to see this huge natural pyramid, so be sure to stop there. Just ensure that you find the correct parking spot. If you end up at the wrong one, you will not be able to walk all the way to the Pyramid. Additionally, you might be chased away by a woman and her dogs even though you are not on her private property.

Roundup: Visiting Babinda Boulders in Queensland

The upstream part of Babinda Boulders is an amazing place to cool off from the tropical heat of the day. Meanwhile, the Devil’s Pool is an impressive sight, and an amazing place if you love learning local legends. Be sure to visit the Boulders when you are in the area – you won’t regret it!