If you’re looking for the perfect picnic spot, you’ve found it. Lake Eacham is surrounded by lush rainforests and filled with crystal blue water, perfect for swimming. My tour guide brought us here while we explored the Atherton Tablelands, and I never expected to find a lake so stunning. We had just visited the Curtain Fig Tree as part of a three-day waterfall tour by G Adventures, but now was our time to relax and cool off in the water.

Lake Eacham is a volcanic crater and was formed by massive explosions from the superheating of groundwater. Over time this crater has filled with water and created a lake that is 65m deep. The lake and the surrounding rainforest are now home to over 180 species of birds, schools of fish, and turtles. If you’re lucky you may even be joined by a rat-kangaroo during the day (a small and adorable animal and despite the image the title Rat conjures).

Lake Eacham also has its very own resident crocodile. Despite what you see on the internet or in David Attenborough documentaries, Freshwater crocodiles are timid and not life-threatening. It’s saltwater crocodiles you have to be scared of.

There are very few incidents reported involving people and freshwater crocs. They will generally only become aggressive if they are disturbed, so as long as you respect them and don’t try and antagonise them you will be fine. 

For those who like to explore, there is a 3km long track surrounding the lake, giving you incredible views of the lake. Lake Eacham itself is approximately 64ha (hectares) in size, so even with the crowds, there’s plenty of space to find your own spot in the sun. To this day I regret not spending more time here. I would have loved to explore those tracks and see the lake from every angle, but unfortunately, having to keep to a schedule is the curse of an organised tour. Still, a short visit here is certainly a memorable one.

My travel companions didn’t want to risk it despite signs saying it was safe to do so, so I decided to try and swim from the jetty to the main steps, thinking myself brave. However, this newfound bravery quickly dissipated as something slimy brushed against my side.

Now I have never timed my 100-metre swim, so I can’t say for sure I didn’t break the Olympic record, but second I felt what turned out to be a harmless plant against my skin. I swam at speeds I did not know I was capable of. 

One of the things I love most about Australian parks is the barbecues. These are available to the public; you only have to provide food and utensils. To keep them clean they rely on an honour system, you used it? You clean it. Back in Britain, I doubted how this system would work, but within a week, filth and graffiti would cover them.

But in Australia, the scheme works really well. I saw them as I travelled all across Australia and not a single one was dirty or uncared for. If I could go back then I would pack a cooler full of food and have a picnic here. 

With nothing packed, some of us opted to lie on the grass and soak up the sun. I decided to float near the steps leading down to the water. Small fish would approach and circle me in the water whilst I relaxed. I even forgot I was potentially sharing the space with a crocodile. But all too soon I was being ordered out of the water to dry off. Time was burning so I was to return to the bus for the next stop along the waterfall circuit.