Mamu Tropical Skywalk is in the Palmerston section of Wooroonooran National Park on the Palmerston Highway, around 90 minutes south of Cairns and 30 minutes from Innisfail. The attraction offers a 2.5 km return walk through World Heritage rainforest, rising from the forest floor via a 40-metre cantilever and 350-metre elevated skywalk to a 37-metre observation tower with uninterrupted views across the North Johnstone River Valley.
This guide was updated in June 2026. The current adult admission is A$33.50 — many aggregators and travel blogs still cite “around $30–31”; the correct figure is higher. One key advantage absent from most listings: your ticket is valid for two years with unlimited return visits. The Skywalk is also closed on Christmas Day, which most aggregators do not mention. You can book through GetYourGuide in advance.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Palmerston Highway, Wooroonooran National Park, Queensland |
| Hours | 9:30 am – 4:30 pm daily; last entry 3:30 pm |
| Closed | Christmas Day; also closes during severe weather — check park alerts |
| Adult | A$33.50 |
| Child (5–14 years) | A$19.50 |
| Under 5 | Free |
| Family (2 adults + 2 children) | A$100 |
| Family (2 adults + 3 children) | A$102 |
| Concession | A$29.00 |
| Ticket validity | 2 years, unlimited returns |
| Parking | Free on site, suitable for caravans and large vehicles (lower car park level) |
| Managed by | Paronella Park operators Mark and Judy Evans |
| Typical visit | 1–1.5 hours |
Mamu Tropical Skywalk opening hours
Mamu Tropical Skywalk is open daily from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, with last entry at 3:30 pm. The Skywalk is closed on Christmas Day. It also closes temporarily during severe weather conditions — the rainforest receives more than four metres of rain a year, and safety closures do occur. Before travelling in wet season (November–April), check for park alerts or phone the manager directly.
The best time to visit is from April to October (cooler and drier), with August and September typically the driest months. Morning visits are generally quieter and cooler.
Mamu Tropical Skywalk admission prices
Prices below are taken from the official website. Several aggregators still list the adult price as approximately A$30–31; the correct current price is A$33.50. Prices include GST.
| Category | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | A$33.50 |
| Child (5–14 years) | A$19.50 |
| Under 5 | Free |
| Family (2 adults + 2 children) | A$100 |
| Family (2 adults + 3 children) | A$102 |
| Concession | A$29.00 |
The ticket is valid for two years with unlimited return visits — confirmed on the official site and not reflected in any aggregator listing checked. A free audio guide app is available in 9 languages (download before arrival, as rainforest internet is unreliable). A free botanical guide is provided on entry. Book in advance through GetYourGuide.
Why visit Mamu Tropical Skywalk?
- 🌿 Walk through World Heritage rainforest canopy: The 350-metre elevated skywalk passes through one of the largest continuous stands of complex vine forest on basalt soils remaining in the Wet Tropics — a habitat type found nowhere else on Earth.
- 🎟️ Your ticket is valid for two years: Unlimited return visits on the same ticket — not mentioned on any major aggregator — make this exceptional value for Queensland residents and repeat visitors.
- 🦜 The 37-metre observation tower: At the top of the tower, 37 metres above ground level, 360-degree views span the North Johnstone River Valley, World Heritage mountain ranges, and dense rainforest canopy stretching to the horizon.
- 📜 Free audio guide in 9 languages: The Mamu app provides an audio tour of the facility, covering rainforest ecology, Indigenous history, and early European settler stories. Download before arrival — on-site connectivity is unreliable.
- 💰 Open in wet and dry season alike: Unlike many outdoor rainforest experiences, Mamu operates year-round (weather permitting) and umbrellas are provided if it rains. Wet-season visits offer a different but equally striking experience.
How to get to Mamu Tropical Skywalk
By car from Cairns (90 minutes), drive south on the Bruce Highway for approximately 82 km, then turn right onto the Palmerston Highway. The Skywalk is approximately 27 km along the Palmerston Highway from the Bruce Highway turnoff, and 1 km east of Crawford’s Lookout. Follow signs through the rainforest — the road is fully sealed but winding.
From Innisfail (30 minutes), take the Palmerston Highway west from town. The route climbs into the rainforest of the Atherton Tablelands — allow extra time in wet season when the road can be slow.
From Paronella Park (25–30 minutes), take the Palmerston Highway east — making this a natural same-day pairing with Mamu’s sister attraction, managed by the same operators.
There is no public transport to Mamu Tropical Skywalk. A private vehicle, hire car, or tour is the only practical option for most visitors.
Five great things to do in Cairns
- 🐠 See marine wonders at two Outer Reef hotspots – on a Great Barrier Reef snorkelling cruise.
- 🌿 On a day trip – explore Mossman Gorge, Cape Tribulation and the Daintree Rainforest.
- 🚞 Combine the Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail Rainforest Cableway – on a day trip to Kuranda.
- 🚣 On a full day rafting adventure – tackle the white water of the Tully River.
- 🌄 See giant trees, rainforest waterfalls and crater lakes – on an Atherton Tablelands day tour.
Parking at Mamu Tropical Skywalk
Parking is free and ample on site, with space for even the largest vehicles, campervans, and caravans. The official site specifically directs larger vehicles to the lower level of the car park. No time limits apply. There is no charge and no booking required for parking.
How long to spend at Mamu Tropical Skywalk
The full circuit — forest walk, cantilever, elevated skywalk, and observation tower — is 2.5 km return and takes a minimum of one hour. The official site recommends one and a half hours to allow for rest stops and time to enjoy the scenery. Visitors who engage closely with the audio guide, birdwatch, or linger at the tower typically take two hours. The walk involves no steep inclines apart from the tower staircase.
Accessibility at Mamu Tropical Skywalk
The Skywalk is described on the official site as wheelchair and stroller friendly, and this is broadly accurate for most of the route. All facilities and walking tracks — except the top viewing deck of the observation tower (staircase only) — are accessible for wheelchairs with assistance. Alternative wheelchair-friendly routes are signposted on the forest walk. Tap rails form a continuous shoreline on the left side of all tracks, and tactile directional signs assist visitors with vision impairment. Braille information is available on site.
The free audio guide app in 9 languages is compatible with headphones and useful for visitors with hearing impairments as a visual supplement. Staff cannot provide pet-sitting during all sessions — arrange pet care in advance by phoning 4064 5294 if needed, as domestic animals are not permitted in Wooroonooran National Park.
What to see at Mamu Tropical Skywalk
The Forest Walk is the access track to all elevated structures, offering more than 1 km of hardened paths through the rainforest at ground level. Seats are spaced along the route. The track passes through vine forest on basalt — a distinctive and threatened rainforest type characterised by canopy species including wait-a-while palms, strangler figs, and giant stinging trees. Numbered stations correspond to entries in the free botanical guide provided on arrival.
The Cantilever is the first elevated section encountered — a 40-metre walkway that rises as the ground drops steeply below. The platform at the end extends 10 metres over the river gorge and gives the first genuine sense of being suspended above the forest. Victoria’s Riflebird has been regularly reported feeding on fruit near the cantilever — carry binoculars.
The Elevated Skywalk extends for 350 metres at canopy height, meandering through the forest with two small shelters along the way. Visitors pass within arm’s reach of epiphytes, climbing palms, and flowering trees that are inaccessible from the ground. The gaps between trees offer intermittent glimpses of the river valley far below. The Pacific Baza (crested hawk) is frequently seen from this section.
The Observation Tower rises 37 metres above ground level via an enclosed staircase (not wheelchair accessible). The top deck offers uninterrupted 360-degree views across the North Johnstone River Valley, World Heritage-listed rainforest ridges, and — on clear days — the coast beyond Innisfail. This is widely described by visitors as the highlight of the experience.
Practical tips for visiting Mamu Tropical Skywalk
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Download the app before you leave | The free Mamu Tropical Skywalk app is available in 9 languages and provides an audio tour. Rainforest phone reception is unreliable — download it and the language file before setting off. |
| Last entry is 3:30 pm, not 4:30 pm | The Skywalk closes at 4:30 pm but stops admitting visitors at 3:30 pm. Many guides only list the closing time. Arriving after 3:30 pm means no entry. |
| Check weather alerts in wet season | The Skywalk closes during severe weather. Cyclone season runs November to April. Check park alerts or phone ahead during this period. |
| Your ticket lasts two years | The ticket permits unlimited return visits for two years. Keep your ticket if you plan to return — it is valid as-is without rebooking. |
| Book in advance | While walk-ups are accepted when open, booking confirms your visit and is especially useful if combining Mamu with Paronella Park on the same day. |
Mamu Tropical Skywalk FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is it closed on Christmas Day? | Yes. Christmas Day is the only confirmed annual closure. The Skywalk also closes during severe weather — check before travelling in wet season. |
| What is the adult admission? | A$33.50. Several aggregators still list approximately A$30–31 — the correct price is higher. |
| How long does the ticket last? | Two years with unlimited return visits. This is confirmed on the official site and not reflected in any aggregator listing checked for this guide. |
| Is there public transport? | No. A private car, hire car, or organised tour is the only practical way to reach the Skywalk. |
| Can I use a wheelchair? | Yes for most of the route — all tracks except the observation tower’s top deck are accessible with assistance. The top deck is stairs only. |
Things to do near Mamu Tropical Skywalk
Paronella Park is 25–30 minutes west along the Palmerston Highway and is managed by the same operators as Mamu. It is a Spanish-style castle and gardens built in the 1930s on the banks of Mena Creek, and has been voted Queensland’s Number 1 Must-Do by the RACQ. Day and night tours run daily.
Millaa Millaa Falls is around 20 minutes west of the Skywalk and is one of the most photogenic waterfalls in Australia — an 18-metre drop into a circular pool surrounded by dense rainforest. It is the start point of the Waterfall Circuit (also including Zillie and Ellinjaa Falls). Free access; short walk from the car park.
Tchupala Falls and Nandroya Falls are accessed from a parking area just off the Palmerston Highway a few kilometres from Mamu. A short walk leads to Tchupala; a longer track continues to Nandroya, which has a 45-metre drop and a large plunge pool. Both are free.
Josephine Falls (Wooroonooran National Park) is around 35 minutes east of Mamu, off the Bruce Highway south of Babinda. A natural granite waterslide leads into a clear pool — one of the most popular swimming spots in Far North Queensland. Free access.
Crawford’s Lookout is 1 km west of the Skywalk along the Palmerston Highway and provides a dramatic view across the rainforest-covered gorge of the North Johnstone River. It is a free stop lasting around 10 minutes and is worth making as a companion to the Mamu visit.
Similar rainforest walks to visit in Queensland
Daintree Rainforest, Cape Tribulation is around 3.5 hours north of Cairns and is the world’s oldest continuously surviving tropical rainforest. The Boardwalk at Cape Tribulation and the Marrdja Botanical Walk near Noah Beach are both free; tours and guided experiences are widely available.
Curtain Fig Tree, Yungaburra is a remarkable strangler fig on the Atherton Tablelands, around 1.5 hours from Mamu via the Gillies Highway. The fig’s aerial roots form a 15-metre curtain and the short boardwalk is free.
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, Cairns takes visitors in gondola cabins over 7.5 km of World Heritage rainforest from Cairns to Kuranda, with a stop at the Red Peak station for a forest floor boardwalk. A separate experience to Mamu but comparable in scope.
Rainforestation Nature Park, Kuranda combines a World Heritage rainforest tour, Army Duck rides through river terrain, and an Aboriginal cultural experience into a ticketed half-day package. Around 30 km north-west of Cairns.
Eungella National Park, near Proserpine is around 4 hours south of Cairns and is the best location in Queensland to see platypuses in the wild, particularly at dawn and dusk from the Broken River platypus viewing platform. Several rainforest walks are free.
More Far North Queensland travel
Other Far North Queensland travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Kuranda attraction guides: Barron Falls, Birdworld Kuranda, Kuranda Koala Gardens, the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary and Rainforestation Nature Park.
- What to expect on the Kuranda Scenic Railway.
- Plan your visit to the Cairns Botanic Gardens.
- A guide to Cairns for first-time visitors – including the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon, Cairns Aquarium and Cairns Night Markets.
- Planning a visit to the Jindalba Boardwalk near Cape Tribulation.
