Lake Barrine
Located on the Gillies Highway towards the edge of Yidinji Country 6 kilometres east-northeast of Yungaburra, 17 kilometres east of Atherton, 22 kilometres southwest of Gordonvale and 39 kilometres south-southwest of Cairns within the Crater Lakes National Park, Lake Barrine is the largest of the Atherton Tablelands' volcanic lakes.
The lake — around a kilometre in diameter, with a 4.5 kilometre shoreline — was formed over 17,000 years ago when a series of explosions caused by magma coming into contact with groundwater blasted the volcano's central core, producing a huge crater that filled with rainwater. The Yidinji people called the lake Barany or Barrang.
While the lake is entirely filled by rainwater — no streams or springs flow in — a small seasonal creek drains some of the contents away, joining Toohey Creek which flows into the Mulgrave River.
As a significant tourist attraction, the lake has picnic facilities, walking tracks, a kiosk and a tea house built in 1926 used by the Australian Army as a convalescent home during World War II.]
