The Daintree Rainforest

The Daintree Rainforest is a tropical rainforest on the coast, north of Cairns in the tropical far north of Queensland, Australia. Added to the World Heritage List in 1988, the Daintree Rainforest is the largest continuous area of rainforest on the Australian mainland, 1200 square kilometers in size. Part of the forest is protected by the Daintree National Park.

The Daintree Rainforest contains 30% of frog, marsupial and reptile species in Australia, and 65% of Australia’s bat and butterfly species. 20% of bird species in the country can also be found in this area. All of this diversity is contained within an area that takes up only 0.2% of the land mass of Australia.

In such a delicate natural environment, it is important for any eco-tourism to be extremely sensitive to the environment, and sustainable for future generations of travellers who will want to enjoy the beauty of this wonderful area.

It contains important and significant habitats for conservation of biological diversity. The Daintree Rainforest is over one hundred and thirty-five million years old – the oldest in the world. Approximately 430 species of birds live among the trees, including 13 species that are found nowhere else in the world. 

There are so many things to see and do in the Daintree Rainforest and surroundings. There are hiking trails, scenic lookouts, camping sites, picnic tables and irresistable swimming holes. In addition, visitors to the area can stay in eco-friendly accommodation and eat at cafes and restaurants that specialise in local delicacies.

There are a number of ecolodges and holiday spots in the Daintree area, one of which in particular (Heritage Lodge) combines luxury with environmental awareness and sensitivity to the Daintree Area.

Daintree is a national park in Far North Queensland (Australia), 1,502 km (933 mi) northwest of Brisbane and 100 km (62 mi) northwest of Cairns. It was founded in 1981.[1] In 1988 it was granted listing as a World Heritage List.[1][2] The park consists of two sections, with a settled agricultural area between them which includes the towns of Mossman and Daintree Village. It contains significant habitat for rare species and prolific birdlife.

Mossman Gorge

Much of the national park is covered by rainforest. The Greater Daintree Rainforest has existed continuously for more than 110 million years, making it possibly the oldest existing rainforest. The persistence of this rainforest is believed to be a product of a fortuitous continental drift; after the breakup of its parent supercontinent a portion drifted toward the pole to become antarctica, disturbing ocean currents and so becoming quite cold, while other portions were moved to hotter and drier locations. Of the vast rainforest of the parent continent only this portion was moved in a way that preserved its climate, and so also its original forests. Tree species once thought to be long extinct have only relatively recently been discovered here. The Great Dividing Range is close to the coast in this region. The popular Mossman Gorge is located in the southern part of the park.[2] Cape Tribulation also lies in the park.[2]