Paronella Park

We’d heard whispers about this place tucked away in the rainforest near Innisfail, but nothing quite prepares you for the magic of Paronella Park. Built by Spanish immigrant José Paronella in the 1930s, it’s part castle, part botanical garden, and entirely captivating.

The story goes that José arrived in Australia with big dreams and an even bigger vision. After years of cane cutting and saving every penny, he bought 13 hectares of rainforest and set about creating his own slice of paradise. Bloke must have been absolutely mad - or brilliant. Probably both.

The centrepiece is his concrete castle, complete with grand staircase and ballroom where he held dances for the local community. Standing there, you can almost hear the music echoing through the arches. The whole place feels like something out of a fairy tale, which was exactly José’s intention. He wanted to create somewhere magical for his wife Margarita and their family.

What struck us most was how he worked with the landscape rather than against it. The tennis court sits alongside Mena Creek Falls, where you can take a refreshing dip in crystal-clear water after exploring. The sound of cascading water provides a constant soundtrack as you wander through his gardens, now mature and lush after nearly a century of growth.

The park has weathered cyclones, floods, and fires over the decades, but the current owners have lovingly restored what they can while letting nature reclaim other sections. It’s this blend of human ambition and natural resilience that makes the place so compelling.

We did the day tour which includes the museum and a decent walk through the grounds, but they also offer night tours where the ruins are lit up against the rainforest backdrop. Next time we’re up that way, the night tour is definitely on the list.

If you’re doing the Cairns to Mission Beach run, it’s absolutely worth the detour. José’s dream might have been battered by time and weather, but the spirit of the place - that anything’s possible with enough determination and vision - is still very much alive.

Pro tip: wear decent walking shoes and bring your swimmers. The falls are too good to miss, and after walking around in North Queensland humidity, you’ll be grateful for the cool water.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Read more