Volcanic freshwater lakes in a rainforest.
To the south of Cairns, Lake Eacham and Lake Barrine are the center pieces the Crater Lakes National Park.
Both are long inactive volcanic craters or maars sitting in the middle of the rainforest.
Both lakes consist of clear, fresh water.
Lake Barrine
About an hours drive from Cairns, south along the Gilles Highway is Lake Barrine.
The Lake Barrine has a tea house on the site of the homestead of the original European settlers in the area.
In addition to a walking path around the lake, the tea house also offers boat cruises.
The crater has been measured at 65 meters deep.
Lake Eacham
About eight kilometers further along the Gilles Highway is Lake Eacham, the second of the crater lakes.
The lake has a visitor center and picnic tables. The lake used by the locals as well as tourists, including swimming canoeing and kayaking.
This crater has been measured as 66 meters deep.
The stories of the local indigenous people refer to the volcanic explosions that formed both lakes and describe the plain of the volcano as scrub land, which has been confirmed by geological studies. The rain forest surrounding the lake was a more recent addition, some 7,600 years ago.
