I have been to Paronella Park a few times in my life, but for years it was only from the suspension bridge. My parents would never pay the entry fee so I used to peer down at the ruins and imagine what it might be like to walk among them. Recently I was lucky enough to finally step inside on a tour with the owners, Mark and Judy, and it felt like a childhood wish had been granted.
Paronella Park sits beside Mena Creek Falls, just a short drive south of Innisfail in Far North Queensland. You can book tickets and accommodation directly through their website and there are cabins, camping and guided tours that bring the place to life.
José Paronella built the park in the 1930s, carving out his dream with his own hands. He created stone staircases, a ballroom, refreshment rooms, bridges, tunnels and lush gardens. He even installed a hydroelectric plant in 1933, one of the first in Queensland, to power lights, refrigeration and his cinema.
But the detail I love most is the ice cream.
Back when Paronella first opened, this was a remote pocket of Queensland. Families would travel for hours just to buy ice creams, sit by the waterfall and spend a day together. It became a community meeting place where dances, movies and picnics made memories that still echo through the ruins today.
Time and weather have taken their toll. Floods, fires and cyclones all left scars, but somehow the dream survived. Mark and Judy Evans, who own it today, have not only preserved what remains but have built on José’s legacy by bringing back the hydro plant, reviving guest accommodation, improving sustainability and supporting the local community.
Paronella Park is also a place of mystery. Visitors tell stories of ghostly music in the ballroom, cold patches in the rainforest air, and shadows on the staircase. Some believe José himself still walks the grounds, keeping an eye on his dream.
Here is my tip. If you can, visit in the rain. The moss glows brighter, the waterfalls thunder, and the stone walls seem alive. Pack an umbrella and let the rainforest show you a completely different side of Paronella.
So if you are planning a trip north, make time for this place. Take the tour, grab an ice cream, wander the gift shop filled with local crafts and produce, and lose yourself in the story of a man who built a castle in the rainforest.
Paronella Park is history, mystery and community all rolled into one and it is absolutely worth the visit.
| To book head to: paronellapark.com.au |
