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The Daintree Rainforest is a world-heritage-listed rainforest in Tropical Far North Queensland. In actual fact, it’s the oldest rainforest on the planet.
We first visited The Daintree throughout our 18-month highway journey round Australia with our youngsters, and that have left us eager for extra.
Though many individuals cross by the Daintree as they journey from Cairns to Cape Tribulation, a go to to this historic rainforest mustn’t go amiss. With snaking vines and wealthy, inexperienced canopies, the sounds of birds and bugs thriving and the trickle of waterfalls and rivers flowing, that is actually a nature lover’s dream come true.
I’ve no hesitation in itemizing this historic and magical rainforest in Tropical North Queensland in our prime three locations in Australia.
There isn’t a place prefer it in Australia, presumably the world. However should you’re unsure how one can go to the Daintree or what issues there are to do, then learn on to seek out out!
What Is the Daintree Rainforest?
The Daintree is estimated to be over 180 million years outdated and is the biggest steady space of tropical rainforest (1,200 sq. kilometres to be precise) on the Australian continent and the oldest dwelling rainforest on earth – even pre-dating the Amazon Rainforest.
Its conventional house owners are the Kuku Yalanji folks, an aboriginal folks tribe, and it resides within the Moist Tropics World Heritage Space in North Queensland.
What else makes it distinctive? It’s the one place on the planet the place two World Heritage websites collide, the Daintree Rainforest and the Nice Barrier Reef.
It’s additionally house to an enormous variety of wildlife, together with 12,000 species of insect, 30% of Australia’s frog inhabitants, and 65% of butterfly species and bats.
Additionally, you will discover a whole bunch of chook species, reptiles reminiscent of boyd’s forest dragon, and different marsupial species reminiscent of Koalas and ring-tailed possums, and naturally, saltwater crocodiles.
It additionally has a wealthy inhabitants of plant species. Australia has 36 mangrove species, and 28 are discovered within the Daintree area. To not point out the numerous flowering vegetation.
I’ve stated it earlier than, and I’ll say it once more, how can one thing so outdated be so stunning?
The great thing about the Daintree Nationwide Park not solely lies with its wildlife, its thriller and historical past, but it surely’s a spot you may escape to, the place you will get again to nature and unplug from the chaos of life on a digital detox.
All of us want a while out on occasion, to get away from the routines and normalcy of life, and the Daintree gives you and your loved ones the possibility to current your self and one another in one of the crucial magical locations on the planet.
When is the Finest Time to go to the Daintree Rainforest?
All year long, you may count on lots of rain within the Daintree (what do you count on from a rainforest?).
However the greatest time of yr to go to is the dry season, which runs from Might to September. That is when the climate is greatest fitted to mountaineering and exploring the out of doors sights of the nationwide park.
The moist season runs from December to April and brings with it excessive humidity and lots of rain. Generally as a lot as 6 metres per yr.
Though the wet season makes the waterfalls beautiful and full, it additionally brings with it highway closures and flooding.
The preferred months to go to are Might to September. That is while you see essentially the most quantity of vacationers. Unsurprisingly, the moist season is the off-season and sees the least quantity of vacationers.
Issues to Do In The Daintree Rainforest
Whereas it’s potential to do a day journey to the Daintree from Port Douglas, I consider that’s manner too rushed, and it deserves extra time.
For those who’re pondering you’d like to go to the Daintree Rainforest, listed below are among the prime issues to do and locations to go to…
1. Driving to the Daintree Rainforest
You understand you’re again in Tropical North Queensland and heading for the Daintree when stunning lush rainforest surroundings surrounds you on the facet of the highway.
For those who’re going to go to the oldest rainforest on the planet, you would possibly as nicely sleep within the rainforest and permit your self time to immerse your self and uncover every little thing it has to supply.
The Daintree Rainforest is definitely accessible to self-drive from Port Douglas. The highway is totally sealed all the best way to Cape Tribulation (85 kilometres) and a 4WD isn’t vital.
It’s exhausting to get misplaced, however seize a map from one of many data centres as when you cross the Daintree River, telephone reception is non-existent and the maps are useful for factors of curiosity alongside the best way.
About 20 minutes after departing Port Douglas, you’ll attain the city of Mossman, which is house to Mossman Gorge on the southernmost finish of the Daintree Rainforest. Take time to do the Dreamtime Gorge Stroll and take a look at the Mossman River for a little bit of standup paddle boarding.
What you may’t miss as you drive by the city of Mossman are these unimaginable timber int he picture above by the facet of the highway.
2. Go Barra Fishing
Fancy a spot of fishing? We went spearfishing in Cooya Seashore, which was a extremely enjoyable expertise, however have you ever ever tried barra fishing? That is one thing slightly extra distinctive to the Daintree.
We stopped in at Hook-A-Barra in Wonga Seashore, about 35 minutes drive from Port Douglas, to strive our hand at touchdown a barra.
We’re not sometimes a fishing household however they like it up in Tropical North Queensland and barramundi is an area favorite.
Barramundi is an Australian native species and is beloved of anglers worldwide, not just for its struggle however its scrumptious flavour.
Hook-a-barra is the leisure facet of Daintree Saltwater Barramundi Fish Farms, which has been producing Australia’s greatest hand-reared Barramundi for over a decade. Their ponds are stocked with over 1,500 Barramundi (together with albinos) and Mangrove Jack and vary in dimension from 1-12kg.
We grabbed a rod every and began off with a fast casting lesson from the pleasant assistant. A couple of tangled traces later and we have been like professionals, even little Savannah was casting and reeling her line in like she’s been watching fishing reveals for the previous 5 years, not cartoons.
The bites acquired extra frequent after which, to our pleasure, bam, Savannah hooked one.
I shortly grabbed the online and Caz the digicam, and with slightly assist from the assistant, Savannah landed this good 3kg barra that put a smile on her face a metre vast.
We determined to catch and launch. However relaxation assured, even should you select to buy your fish, you aren’t depleting Australia’s wild inventory.
It’s not wild fishing, however a enjoyable introduction and gives anglers of all skills the possibility to apply their lure and land methods towards an idyllic rainforest backdrop.
3. Seize Lunch at Daintree Village Resort
It was solely one other quarter-hour drive, and we arrived within the Daintree Village, a captivating and peaceable little village that borders the Daintree Rainforest and sits on the southern banks of the Daintree River.
The village was found by Europeans in 1873 by Scottish geologist George Elphinstone Dalrymple who named the river and the primary settlement, Daintree Village. It was named after Queensland’s British Agent-Common, Richard Daintree.
Right here you may try the native retailers and artwork galleries or simply sit again and chill out and benefit from the village environment.
We labored up fairly an urge for food with all that pleasure of fishing, so lunch was so as on the Daintree Village Resort.
Caz and I loved a mackerel burger within the quiet backyard setting, after which Kalyra challenged me to a sport of pool.
4. Go Croc Recognizing on a Daintree River Cruise
You received’t simply discover the locals hanging out within the pub; the opposite locals reside within the Daintree River.
Okay, if there’s one factor that makes us slightly nervous with our younger youngsters within the northern a part of Australia, it’s the crocs. However in actuality, you don’t have anything to worry. Nearly all croc-related incidents are as a result of plain stupidity and never displaying due respect.
The most secure option to stand up shut and educated about these historic creatures is on a croc tour.
Our afternoon exercise was an hour spent on Crocodile Specific, the primary wildlife cruise operator on the Daintree River in 1979. Led by an area larrikin as our information we loved studying concerning the significance of this wonderful World Heritage location.
Our information, who grew up on a property throughout the river, was an skilled on crocs, knew all of them by title and their favorite resting spots inside the mangroves or the place they beloved to solar themselves on the sandy river banks.
A wonderful tour information is one among information AND humour – he saved our youngsters nicely entertained, and in awe, during our cruise.
Moreover croc recognizing, we realized about different wildlife and flora alongside the foreshore and the river, and the encircling surroundings was stunning, so lush and inexperienced, and added a soothing factor to the cruise.
Crocodile Specific departs from Daintree Village (check-in at Daintree Vacationer Info Centre in Daintree Village) a number of instances day by day.
5. Cross the Daintree River on the Daintree River Ferry
As you cross the Daintree River on the Daintree ferry, you’re about to go deep into the oldest rainforest on the planet. It’s time to unplug from all gadgets (there’s no telephone reception) and be at one with nature.
Hold your eye out on the quick journey throughout; you would possibly spot one other croc watching the motion.
The Daintree River Ferry operates day by day between 6 am and midnight ($26 return per automobile), and you should buy a multi-day ferry cross if you would like extra time to discover like we did. EFTPOS is out there on the ferry between 8.30am-5pm seven days per week.
6. Go to the Mount Alexandra Lookout
Some of the well-known lookout factors within the Daintree Rainforest is at Alexandra Lookout, a brief drive when you cross over the Daintree River within the automobile ferry.
From this lookout, you get expansive views out over the rainforest, Alexandra Vary, and Snapper Island. It’s a fantastic perspective of the place two World Heritage Listed areas collide – rainforest meets the reef.
7. Uncover Extra on the Daintree Discovery Centre
You understand a spot is participating and academic when it’s a must to drag your youngsters out of there.
Our ladies beloved the self-guided tour, going from quantity to quantity, urgent play on their audio guides, and studying all concerning the 110 million-year-old Daintree Rainforest.
Climbing the 23 metre excessive Cover Tower is a should. It has 5 completely different viewing platforms with data on every stage, and glorious views over the cover on the prime.
And take a look at the brand new Dinosaur exhibit.
4 of the seven fashions are believed to be remnants of a choose group of dinosaurs that lived in varied components of Queensland across the Jurassic Interval.
The Daintree Discovery Centre is a “should go to” throughout your time within the Daintree.
8. Have Lunch at Whet Cafe & Bar
The quick pathway by the forest from the automobile park to Whet Cafe & Bar is one other fast reminder you’re deep within the Daintree Rainforest.
And the surface deck retains you immersed within the Daintree offering for a relaxed environment in nature, whereas indoors is extra of a metropolis lounge really feel, and because the locals later informed us, a favourite bar for night drinks.
To our delight, whet caters to all particular diets together with a gluten-free menu and glorious choices for the children.
10. Stroll the Dubuji Boardwalk
We love taking walks with our youngsters. It’s one other nice option to bond as a household and allow them to burn off some vitality.
Once you go to the Daintree, don’t simply drive by it, take each alternative to get out of your automobile and stand up shut and private with the rainforest.
One of many stunning Daintree Rainforest walks you are able to do to expertise the area on foot is the Dubuji Boardwalk.
At only one.2kms it was simple for our youngsters to handle and winds its manner by lowland rainforest swamps and mangroves with some fairly cool timber that supply loads of shade in case you are visiting in heat climate.
The title Dubuji means ‘place of spirits.’ A part of the observe was at present being repaired throughout our go to, however as soon as totally open results in Myall Seashore.
11. Go Jungle Browsing
At solely 5 years outdated Savannah amazes us along with her bravery and adventurous spirit. As does 9-year-old Kalyra. What’s going to they be doing at 15 and 20?
Sure, you may drive by the Daintree Rainforest, stroll by the forest, and climb to the highest of the tower on the Discovery Centre, however essentially the most exhilarating expertise is jungle browsing (zip lining) excessive up amongst the cover.
We had a lot enjoyable zooming between the timber with Jungle Browsing Cover Excursions.
As soon as harnessed up by our enthusiastic guides, the journey started with us rotating their human-powered Hamster Wheel that takes you as much as the primary platform.
From there we jungle surfed between six cover platforms deep in essentially the most historic part of the Daintree Rainforest.
Little Savannah and Kalyra have been so courageous, going solo, tandem, and even the other way up.
If the one browsing you’ve executed is on the seaside or in your smartphone, severely give this a go.
12. Take A Journey to Cape Tribulation Seashore
Cape Tribulation is among the most well-known locations on the Daintree, and we headed straight for the seaside to catch the final hour of sunshine and let the children play within the sand.
A day on Cape Tribulation Seashore, with the Daintree Rainforest as your backdrop, is rather a lot like this.
So peaceable and exquisite.
Once you stroll alongside the entry observe from the seaside home and out onto the seaside, flip left and head north for a couple of minutes.
You’ll come to those unimaginable timber our youngsters beloved climbing amongst and which supplied some fairly superior picture alternatives.
Another nice seashores within the Daintree area are Myall Seashore and Cow Bay, that are additionally stunning and tranquil.
For journey lovers, head north of Cape Tribulation for slightly additional to Emmagen Seashore. It is a little, quiet seaside that’s proper earlier than the highway turns to the 4WD-only Bloomfield Monitor, but additionally gives a soothing coastal escape from the forest.
Nevertheless, it’s not a good suggestion to go swimming due to saltwater crocodiles and jellyfish.
Nonetheless the seashores themselves are like paradise.
13. Have Dinner at Cape Trib Seashore Home
Tides Bar and Restaurant is an excellent informal out of doors place for a meal set simply off the seaside and beside the pool at Cape Trib Seashore Home.
There’s all kinds of meals on provide, and we have been impressed with the standard of dimension of the dishes. Caz’s kangaroo was cooked to perfection.
14. Keep In a single day at Cape Trib Seashore Home
We slept in one of many Escape Household Cabins that got here with a double mattress and two singles nestled amongst the rainforest and a brief stroll to the seaside.
Cape Trib Seashore Home is budget-friendly and family-friendly, with a wide range of lodging to go well with all vacationers from {couples}, to solo vacationers, to backpackers and the placement can’t be overwhelmed, particularly for the worth!
15. Get pleasure from Dawn on Cape Tribulation
Once you keep at Cape Trib Seashore, waking as much as dawn is a spectacular option to begin the day and reside the magic of Tropical North Queensland.
The solar is golden because it peeks above the horizon and the morning mild on the rainforest is spectacular.
16. Stroll to Kulki Lookout
After breakfast, stroll south alongside Cape Trib Seashore to Kulki Lookout which gives beautiful views over Cape Tribulation and the Daintree Rainforest.
Or should you’re not up for strolling, soar in your automobile on the seaside home and drive to Cape Trib Seashore automobile park; then it’s solely a 500m stroll to the Kulki viewing platform.
17. Have Lunch at Mason’s Retailer & Cafe
At Mason’s Retailer & Cafe the burgers are legendary. Choose your animal: wild boar, emu, crocodile, or kangaroo. I went with the emu burger.
It’s slightly difficult to get your mouth round their dimension, however the burgers are good sufficient – though I wouldn’t put them into legendary memorable standing.
Moreover burgers, their menu is sort of in depth.
Take a brief stroll from the cafe to the swimming gap within the creek. It’s very pristine and nobody was round once we have been there however will get common within the peak season (gold coin donation) to swim.
18. Stroll the Marrja Boardwalk
One of many prettiest Daintree Rainforest walks is the 1.2km loop Marrja boardwalk.
It follows the creek by a bit of rainforest and previous the eerily twisting roots and vines of the mangroves to a lookout over Noah Creek.
Alongside this interpretive stroll study concerning the plants discovered on this surroundings. Your eyes and thoughts can be fascinated.
19. Strive Floravilla Ice Cream
We couldn’t go to the Daintree Rainforest with out treating our youngsters to a specialty native ice cream. And particular they’re.
Floravilla Ice Cream sells Biodynamic – Natural Icecream from the Daintree Rainforest utilizing all-natural native elements that create a singular vary of over 26 flavours.
We loved the Daintree Rainforest signature ice cream; it severely tasted like a Thai inexperienced curry. Surprisingly yummy and refreshing! It’s money solely – there’s an ATM a brief drive away on the service station.
20. Thornton Seashore Cafe
The Thornton Seashore Cafe is a beautiful spot to cease for lunch or breakfast proper on Thornton Seashore.
Strive the Thai fish cake burger – scrumptious. The one draw back to this cafe is the bathroom block is at present underneath building so it’s a must to use the porta-loo.
21. Look out for Fool Fruit
No, fool fruit isn’t going to show you into an fool, it’s truly a really uncommon flower that grows within the historic rainforest.
Fool fruit, or Idiospermum australiense, is among the rarest flowering vegetation on the planet and has been on this earth for greater than 110 million years. Because of this it’s typically known as the “inexperienced Dinosaur” due to how outdated it’s.
It’s believed the title “fool fruit” comes from the Latin title “idios” which implies “individuality” or “peculiarity.” So sadly, there are not any humorous tales about the way it was not discovered by the village fool.
The plant is definitely very generic-looking. It grows on an evergreen tree and has small white flowers. Guests hardly ever see it develop by themselves, so if you wish to see it, it’s greatest to go along with a information.
The place to Keep in The Daintree Rainforest
In the case of selecting a spot to remain within the Daintree, a keep at The Daintree Ecolodge is a should. It’s situated within the coronary heart of the rainforest and gives luxurious, eco-friendly, and boutique lodging.
The lodge additionally has 15 bayans (treehouses) that are hanging within the rainforest cover, so you may actually really feel such as you’re staying within the rainforest.
The lodge has its personal sacred, non-public waterfall, a wellness spa, and the onsite Julaymba Restaurant.
Discuss escaping metropolis life and getting again to nature – like I stated, should you’re going to go to the Daintree, it’s possible you’ll as nicely sleep immersed within the rainforest. Serenity at its greatest.
The children and us massive youngsters may hardly comprise our pleasure as we moved into our lodges immersed and surrounded by lush greenery.
We took benefit of an hour of rest. The children performed of their lodge, Caz relaxed on our balcony and I did some mild exploration and walked the trail as much as the waterfall – a waterfall visited over 1000’s of years by generations of Aboriginal girls who got here to the particular place and have been at one with their spirit.
Even should you don’t keep at Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa, the meals within the restaurant are nicely definitely worth the go to, and a favorite eating venue for the locals. The setting by the pond is serene and the meals prime notch.
We totally loved our seared scallops, kangaroo fillet, and desserts.
Once you awaken, breakfast is served by the pond, and also you’re simply across the nook from the Daintree River Ferry that takes you and your automobile deep into the rainforest.
Ultimate Phrase on Visiting The Daintree Rainforest
So there you have got it, that is every little thing it is advisable find out about visiting the Daintree and all of the issues you are able to do within the area.
As you may see, it’s greater than only a rainforest, however is a big space house to improbable seashores and thrilling adventures.
We hope you discovered this information helpful and helped you intend your go to.
Daintree Rainforest Movies
Need extra inspiration on the Daintree Rainforest? Take a look at our YouTube video of us exploring the Daintree Village, the Daintree Rainforest, and staying on Cape Tribulation Seashore. Subscribe to our YouTube channel
Tropical North Queensland Ideas
For those who’re planning on visiting different components of the Tropical North, then you definitely would possibly discover the under sources useful…
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Have you ever visited the Daintree Rainforest? What was your spotlight? Tell us within the feedback!
Supply: Breaking Travel News
