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Once upon a time, in a pocket of Australia that feels worlds away, a castle rose from the rainforest floor. This hidden kingdom was the handiwork of Spanish immigrant José Paronella, who fell in love with Tropical North Queensland and dedicated his life to building a five-hectare fairytale playground. Today, Paronella Park is one of Australia’s most enchanting hidden gems, where moss-covered castle ruins, grand stone staircases and cascading waterfalls prove that fairytales don't just belong in medieval Europe.
Paronella Park’s history is just as fascinating as the estate itself. After immigrating from Catalonia to Innisfail in 1913, José spent the next 11 years toughing it out as a sugarcane farmer. During his travels across the region, he stumbled upon an untouched five-hectare pocket of scrub beside the roaring Mena Creek Falls. Convinced it was “the most beautiful place on Earth,” José bought the land in 1929 for a modest £120.
Over the next six years, he transformed this virgin wilderness into a sprawling Catalan-inspired pleasure garden and reception centre. It featured a 47-step grand staircase, an open-air cinema, a ballroom with a 1,270-piece mirrored ball, private tearooms, tennis courts, a swimming pool and a towering avenue of more than 7,000 hand-planted kauri trees.
In 1933, José even installed Queensland’s first private hydroelectric plant, harnessing the power of Mena Creek Falls to illuminate the entire park and cinema long before mains electricity reached the district.
Paronella Park officially opened to the public in 1935 and was an instant hit with the locals. Queenslanders travelled up north to picnic beside the falls, swim in the freshwater pool, attend dances in the ballroom and watch movies projected onto castle walls.
The estate thrived for many years, but slowly slipped into neglect after José’s death in 1948, followed by a series of floods, cyclones and fires. Eventually, the rainforest closed in, covering its stone bridges and battlements in a thick emerald canopy. Yet, as with any good fairytale, the story did not end there.
In 1993, Mark and Judy Evans purchased Paronella Park and restored its legacy as an eco-certified sanctuary. By day, visitors can now roam the heritage-listed castle ruins and discover five hectares of tropical gardens, teeming with native wildlife and tumbling waterfalls.
By night, the grand estate comes alive with an incredible light and sound display, powered entirely by the restored hydro turbine. Admission even includes a free night at the on-site caravan and camping grounds, meaning you can tick off both experiences in the one trip. Sounds like Paronella Park did get its happily ever after. You can find out more here.