Mareeba District is a district of contrasts. It encompasses cool highland rainforests in the east to authentic outback cattle country in the west. The eastern extremities include the Atherton Tablelands which are usually lush and green all year round. The district also contains many famous landmarks. It is home to Queensland’s highest mountain, Mount Bartle Frere at 1,622 metres high. It also takes in many of Australia's most picturesque waterfalls. Thousands of tourists visit our attractions each week. One area to visit is Kuranda, a tourist village above Cairns. From Cairns people travel on the famous Kuranda scenic railway, and then often return above lush rainforest on the world renowned Skyrail.

To the north of the district is the town of Mareeba in which the district headquarters is located. Mareeba is a farming community and known for its mangos, coffee works, wetlands, balloon flights and now wineries. To the northwest is Chillagoe which has hundreds of limestone caves full of fossils and spectacular stalactite formations. To the southwest are a number of small towns in what is called Savannah country. Through this area travels one of Australia's unique rail adventures, the Savannahlander which passes by the Undara Lava Tubes.

In size, the district is twice the size of Tasmania and nearly sixty percent the size of Victoria.