Located in the verdant heart of tropical North Queensland, Tully and Babinda are famous for their status as the wettest towns in Australia. Receiving an impressive annual rainfall of more than 4,000mm each, these towns showcase Australia’s tropical side with their lush rainforests, exotic wildlife, and roaring rivers. For visitors seeking a unique and authentic Australian experience, a visit to Tully and Babinda should be on your list.
Tully The Rainiest Town in OZ!
Tully, located in northern Queensland, is 1,547 km north of Brisbane, 208 km north of Townsville, and 141 km south of Cairns. Its name is derived from the Tully River, named after William Alcock Tully, a prominent Queensland figure in the late 19th century.
It has an average annual rainfall of 4.27 meters (4270 mm). The town experiences strong exposure to the southeasterly trade winds, contributing to its high rainfall.
Visitors to Tully can explore the Tully Heritage Trail, which consists of 20 history boards showcasing important town landmarks. Of note are Violet Smith Park, Art Deco buildings in Butler Street, and the Golden Gumboot monument. Tully is known as the “wettest town in Australia,” inspiring the creation of the iconic Golden Gumboot, standing at 7.9 meters to represent the town’s highest annual rainfall of 7.9 meters in 1950. Inside the gumboot, there’s a rain gauge, a spiral staircase to a viewing platform, and flood-related photos. The town hosts the Golden Gumboot Festival annually.
Near the Golden Gumboot is the Hearts Full of Hope Statue, dedicated to Tully’s pioneers, especially Italian immigrants who played a vital role in the region’s sugar and banana industries. The Tully Sugar Mill, processing around 2 million tonnes of cane yearly, offers tours during the crushing season (June to November), providing insights into sugar production.
For tour bookings and more information, visitors can contact the Tully Visitor & Heritage Centre at (07) 4068 2288 or visit the Tully Sugar Mill’s website.
Thanks to the Tully River’s fast-flowing water, the town offers some of the best white-water rafting experiences in the country. Companies such as Raging Thunder and Wildside Adventures provide tours that promise an adrenaline-fueled journey through World Heritage-listed rainforest landscapes.
Babinda: Also The Rainiest Town in OZ!
Babinda, a charming sugar town, sits just off the Bruce Highway, 60 kilometers south of Cairns. Situated beneath Queensland’s tallest peaks, Mt Bartle Frere (1622m) and Mt Bellenden Ker (1593m), which are part of the World Heritage-listed Wooroonooran National Park, Babinda offers a picturesque setting. With crystal-clear mountain streams, pristine rainforests, and breathtaking waterfalls, it is strange that it it is often overlooked by travelers as just another North Queensland town.
It has an average annual rainfall of 4,279.4 mm or approximately 4.28 meters. Babinda experiences a significant amount of rainfall throughout the year, contributing to its reputation as one of the wettest places in the country.
We attended the Babinda Harvest Festival way back in 2012 and include the video below about the Harvest Queen competition, for your enjoyment -we were a bit younger then that’s for sure!
The Babinda Boulders and Josephine Falls, our main attractions, are undeniably among the Far North’s most stunning sights. Beyond its natural beauty, Babinda boasts Art Deco Heritage-listed buildings, captivating Aboriginal legends, beautiful beaches, excellent fishing opportunities, natural wetlands, and close proximity to the spectacular Frankland Island group and the Great Barrier Reef. There are also free camping areas and well-equipped caravan parks.
