Hotel Accommodation

Hotel Accommodation

Daintree RainforestA hotel is an establishment that provides accommodation for paying guests on a short-term basis. The term ‘hotel’ is derived from the French hôtel meaning ‘host’, and was used to refer to a building that had frequent visitors. Traditionally a hotel would offer basic amenities including a bed, cupboard, bedside table and washstand. These days hotels can provide a whole range of features depending on the quality and rating of the accommodation. Modern hotels will often feature air conditioning, en-suite bathrooms, an alarm clock, television, Internet connectivity, mini-bar with snack foods and drinks, as well as facilities for making tea and coffee. In the actual hotel building there can also be restaurant facilities, a gym, bar, swimming pool and spa, conference rooms and more.

In Australia the STAR rating system is used to show the classification of facilities available at different types of accommodation. To achieve a STAR rating a hotel must be clean and acceptably maintained, have a 24 hour contactable representative, room service 7 days a week, private rooms, bedding and bathroom facilities. Five star hotels will have additional amenities including business facilities, cable TV and DVD player, ensuites to all rooms, heating and cooling, housekeeping, licensed restaurant/cafe, porterage and valet parking, 24 hr reception and room service and a mini bar.

Heritage Lodge

Daintree ResortHeritage Lodge offers resort level accommodation at Cape Tribulation, two hours north of Cairns between the Heritage Listed Daintree Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef. Heritage Lodge is a resort offering an experience genuinely in the midst of the world’s oldest rainforest. In fact, Sir David Attenborough stayed there, describing his experience as “one of the most magical in my life”.

Heritage Lodge offers air-conditioned cabins, a licensed restaurant and bar, a day spa offering a range of beauty treatments and massages, and private access to beautiful crystal clear swimming holes. With cabins ranging from honeymoon suites to family packages suitable for up to 5 people, Heritage Lodge offers something for everyone.

Filed in: Daintree Resorts | forestlover | January 6, 2010 | Comments (0)

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Daintree Holiday

Kayaking

Daintree River KayakingKayaking is where you use a paddle-powered boat to move across water. A kayak is different to a canoe is that the paddler faces forward, legs in front, using a double bladed paddle, whereas in a canoe the paddler sits or kneels in the boat and uses a single bladed paddle.

There are different forms of kayaking, from whitewater kayaking, to sea kayaking and river kayaking. There are six main classifications for kayaks depending on their use: polo, slalom, whitewater, touring/expedition, light touring /day tripping, and general recreation. Within these, kayaks can be modified for specific purposes (such as fishing kayak) and can be designed with different levels of performance in mind. They can also be used as a means of transportation for other sports such as snorkeling or diving.

Kayaking Adventures

Cape Tribulation KayakingThere is heaps to do in Far North Queensland where the Daintree Rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef, one of which is to tour the area via a kayak. In fact there are two options when it comes to kayaking around Cape Tribulation, the first is to explore the Daintree River and the second is to explore the coast and surrounding islands with sea kayaking.

The Daintree River runs through the Daintree Rainforest in the Cape Tribulation region of Far North Queensland. It was given a Wet Tropics World Heritage Listing in 1988 in recognition of its outstanding natural universal value as an outstanding example representing the major stages of Earth’s evolutionary history, significant ongoing ecological and biological processes, and containing significant habitats for in situ conservation of biological diversity. The only other way to cross the river is via ferry as there is no bridge. The Daintree River supports an array of tropical life, featuring both saltwater and freshwater marine life. This is because it winds through mangrove swamps where the water remains quite salty, gradually turning fresh as it progresses through the rainforest.

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Rainforest Activities

What is bushwalking?

BushwalkingBushwalking is an Australian term for a long walk or expedition in the bush (land covered with dense vegetation, often remote from human settlements). The term tramping is often used for overnight walks, while bushwhacking is applied to walks through dense forest where the vegetation must be pushed aside to progress forward. In the United States and the United Kingdom, the term hiking is often used to refer to a cross-country walk.

Bushwalking or hiking is a popular outdoor activity because many beautiful places can only be reached on foot, as well as being able to explore nature without the distractions and damage to the environment of motor vehicles. It is often one of the fundamental activities involved in mountaineering, camping, hunting and backpacking. For those bushwalkers following the principles of ecotourism, which aims to improve the natural environment rather than contribute to its deterioration, the Leave No Trace philosophy is applied. This involves stringent practices in regards to food waste and packaging, habitats of endangered species, wood fires, human waste and alterations to the environment.

Hiking Essentials

Rainforest ActivitiesTaking a hike through the mountains or a rainforest can be dangerous, which is why some resorts offer guided tours. For example, at Heritage Lodge in the Daintree Rainforest, guests can explore the rainforest with a guided walk or river cruise. When a guided walk is not available, there are some hiking essentials that bushwalkers should especially carry with them to prevent dangers of dehydration, sun stroke, hypothermia, frostbite, sun burn, attacks by animals, or simply getting lost.

These essentials include a map, compass and GPS, sunglasses and sunscreen, extra food and water, extra clothing, a flashlight and batteries, first aid kit, matches, and a knife. Other items that can be useful when bushwalking include a water treatment device in case you run out of water, an ice axe if travelling through snow, insect repellent, and a communication device (mobile phone, two-way radio, flare, whistle, etc).

Filed in: Australian Ecotourism, rainforest ecotourism | forestlover | January 4, 2010 | Comments (0)

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