Emerald Creek, Dinden West Forest Reserve, QLD

The picturesque Emerald Creek Falls forms a series of cascades over smooth granite boulders and contrasts starkly with the surrounding dry, rocky landscape of the forest.

Emerald Creek rushes out of the rainforest-clad heights of the Lamb Range and down into open eucalypt woodland. Here the waters of the creek tumble over granite boulders, forming the picturesque falls that plunge into placid pools.

Bottlebrush trees sprout from between the rocks, their red flowers giving a splash of colour to the scene in season. Smooth-barked water gums lean over the creek, the trunks of some interestingly twisted by the battering of floodwaters.

Picnic in the day-use area among tall gum trees beside Emerald Creek. Follow the 1.9 kilometre Grade 3 track to a lookout over the falls with scenic views, not only of the falls, but also back along the valley and across the northern Atherton Tableland.

You can also tackle the 1.6 kilometre return Grade 4 track to the bottom of falls. Two crossing of Emerald Creek lead to the smooth, sloping (slippery!) granite rock surfaces adjacent to the bottom of the falls area. Near the creek, look for dragonflies and damselflies. You may even see the giant petalurid dragonfly, the largest dragonfly in Australia. Attempting this track during or after wet weather is not recommended as the sloping granite rock surfaces become extremely slippery.