Five Reasons to See the Daintree Rainforest

The Daintree is a wonderland of biodiversity. A small piece of the planet that contains species that you won’t find anywhere else. Join the Daintree rainforest tours to experience what the world heritage gem has to offer people of all ages from all walks of life.

Here are five awesome things that await you in the oldest rainforest in Australia:

Cassowaries

Photo by: www.kurandaconservation.org

These flightless birds are attention grabbers when it comes to animals in the Daintree. They are the second heaviest birds next to the ostrich and can grow taller than five feet. Cassowaries are the resident gardeners of the rainforest. They distribute the seeds they eat through their excrement. These beautiful but dangerous creatures when provoked, are an endangered species.

Ancient fauna and flora

Photo by: www.wettropics.gov.au

Scientists believe the rainforest has been there since the time of the dinosaurs. Some of the species and fruits from that time period can still be spotted today. An example would be the Idiot fruit, something that can be considered as the ancient forest’s relic.

Daintree Discovery Centre

Travelling with the kids can be challenging sometimes especially if the destination is in the wilderness. Luckily, Daintree Discovery Centre exists. DDC is an eco-park that lets visitors experience part of the rainforest with boundaries. The park has aerial walkways that allow guests to take in a view of the scenery from a different perspective. Children are provided with audio tour devices that will keep them busy throughout the walk. 

Four-wheel drive SUV

Photo by: www.travel-australia-bible.com

Visiting the world’s oldest rainforest gives you the chance to hire a 4WD vehicle. Tourists will expect a lot of dirt roads, bumpy roads and National Geographic scenery. These vehicles are made for surviving the tough dirt roads while exploring the rainforest.

Exercise

Photo by: www.capetribbeach.com.au

The visit will demand a lot of walking, trekking, and exploring. Touring the Daintree is a way to burn calories. The great part is that the ancient rainforest is the ‘gym’ for this workout. What better way burning calories as you explore the biodiversity of the Daintree.

Getting closer to nature is getting closer to Earth’s origins. Visiting the Daintree, for some, is a once in a lifetime experience. Give one of these activities a try when you come and visit the Daintree.

photo credit: Daintree Rainforest via photopin (license)

Daintree Rainforest Travel Essentials

Gigantic trees, fascinating animals and the surreal feeling of walking in a forest straight out of a fairy-tale. Hearing about the wonders that the world’s oldest rainforest has to offer will make you want to book a Daintree accommodation. Like in any other holiday, fun and safety and preparedness go hand in hand on a trip to the Daintree.

Here are four things you should remember to pack when visiting one of Australia’s natural wonders:

Loose cotton clothes

Leave your fashion sense at the inn or villa. The Daintree is ‘tropical’ making it humid and warm with high temperatures reaching 27-33ºC. Visitors are advised to wear loose fitting cotton clothes to stay cool and comfortable. Tight fitted clothes allow mosquitoes and creepy crawlies to bite through the thin stretchy fabric. Wear any colour except black because it attracts mosquitoes.

Important chemicals

Alcohol, insecticide and insect repellent are three things you may need. Before roaming the rainforest, apply insect repellent as there are insects of different sorts. One of the insects, visitors should watch out for are ticks. They can hide on plants and logs while carrying diseases like Lyme disease. If ever you get bitten by a tick, apply alcohol or insecticide on it to kill it. Remove it from your skin using tweezers. When you get back to the city, see a doctor immediately.

Water bottle

Temperatures in the rainforest can climb up to 33ºC which makes it easy to get sweaty and dehydrated. March through April is still the wet season so high temperatures are possible. Tour guides bring drinking water in large containers so tourists can refill their bottles.

A container for rubbish

Never leave waste in the rainforest. Whether biodegradable or non-biodegradable, all rubbish should be taken home. Fruit scraps shouldn’t be left behind because they may contain seeds that can germinate. To help keep the Daintree environment clean remember to take your rubbish with you when leaving the rainforest.  

The Daintree is a great place to visit because of its biodiversity and breath-taking views. However, it also requires preparation from its guests. As some travel guides say, you are most likely to be the only danger that you will be facing when you get there. Make sure you’re are properly prepared for your next trip to the Daintree.

Why You Need to Visit Cape Tribulation Again

When was the last time you were at Cape Tribulation? If you have never visited or it’s been a few years, it’s definitely time to visit Far North Queensland. 

 

Summer is coming to an end but the party isn’t stopping yet. Join one of the Cape Tribulation tours to see the paradise of Queensland if not the whole of Australia. 

Here are four things you can experience the next time you’re at Cape Tribulation:  

Black Sapote

Harvest time for this exotic fruit in Cape Tribulation is from autumn to winter. March is here so you might want to book your flight to taste this rich and sweet fruit. Black Sapote grows in Cape Tribulation even though it is native to Central and South. Its flesh is dark chocolate brown with a sweet taste which is enhanced when eaten with ice cream, cream, vanilla or rum.

Summer Rain

Come March, locals welcome what they call curtain rain or summer rain when the rains usually come at night. Just imagine exploring the Daintree when it is wet with summer rain. This is the perfect time to book a rainforest tour and accommodation. 

Daintree Discovery Centre (DDC)

When visiting Cape Tribulation, the Daintree Rainforest is a staple for the itinerary. One way to visit the Daintree without worrying about the kids getting bitten by insects is by visiting the DDC. Visitors are allowed to experience the unexploited piece of the rainforest in a specific area with boundaries. Guests can enjoy aerial walkways and a 23-metre high canopy tower. 

Ocean Safari

Some people say that this award-winning tour should be on everyone’s bucket list. From Cape Tribulation, a high-powered boat takes tourists on a 25-minute fast boat ride to see parts of the Great Barrier Reef. The boat will stop at Mackay and Undine Reef where the tourists can snorkel. Under these waters lie a myriad of captivating marine life.

There are so many activities at Cape Tribulation there are more than enough reasons to visit. If you have visited before, return to Cape Tribulation for new experiences and to make even more memories.

photo credit: via photopin (license)

Four Animals of the Daintree Rainforest

The Daintree Rainforest shelters plants and animals that aren’t found anywhere else in the world. S of the species are said to have been present since the time of the dinosaurs. There are gigantic trees as tall as the Statue of Liberty and animals nearing the brink of extinction. If you are visiting the region, going on Daintree rainforest tours will allow you to see some of these creatures first-hand.

To have a better appreciation for the Daintree Rainforest, one must get to know the lives that thrive within it.


Here are four special residents of this ancient rainforest:

1. Cairns Birdwing Butterfly

Photo by: zoo.org.au

This is Australia’s largest endemic butterfly with a wingspan up to 18 cm. This gorgeous winged species is dressed in a vibrant emerald green colour. There was a time when Cairns birdwings were labeled endangered after their native habitats were wiped out. However, thanks to efforts that prevented their extinction, the emerald green butterflies are no longer endangered. 

2. Giant Burrowing Cockroach

Photo by: csmonitor.com

How giant is a giant burrowing cockroach? This insect can weigh up to 35 grams and grow up to 7.6 cm long, or about the same size of a person’s palm. Surprisingly, these cockroaches are kept as pets by some who buy them online or from pet stores. Like many dogs, they can live up to 10 years. 

Cassowary

Photo by: mygreenaustrali.com

Meet the resident gardener of the Daintree. These big flightless birds that stand as high as 1.75 metres are the ones responsible for spreading the seeds of over 150 large fruit-bearing trees all over the rainforest. They are normally shy but can attack any human or animal with their claws if they feel threatened or become agitated. Unfortunately, cassowary population is affected by vehicle collisions and dog attacks every year.

Jabiru

Photo by: survival.org.au

The Jabiru, or the black-necked stork has distinct features from other birds in Australia. They have black and white plumage and a prominent black bill. The Jabiru is the sole stork species found in Australia and can grow as tall as a cassowary. Unlike the cassowary, these birds can fly. Once a jabiru finds a partner, that companionship will last for several years if not for life. 

These four animals are just some to the creatures you can spot in the Daintree Rainforest. Why not book a tour now and see them for yourself?

Top Four Scuba Destinations in Australia

Visiting the Land Down Under to swim underwater is one of the most memorable things an adventurer can do. While the Great Barrier Reef is a beauty to behold, it isn’t the only gem that Australia has to offer when it comes to the splendour of marine wildlife.  

After staying in a relaxing Daintree accommodation before taking a dive trip to the Great Barrier Reef, it’s worth stopping by these four underwater wonderlands as well.

• Ningaloo Reef

You’ll find this fringing coral reef stretching 260 km in Western Australia. Some divers even say they like this site more than the Great Barrier Reef. Ningaloo isn’t as famous as the Great Barrier Reef but you’ll spot lots of marine, including the world’s largest fish, the whale shark. The best season to see Whale Sharks in action is from March to June.

• Kangaroo Island

About 100 km southwest of Adelaide, on Kangaroo Island, lies a large population of leafy sea dragons. These beautiful photogenic underwater creatures are relatives of sea horses and only live in the western and southern waters of Australia. Divers must be careful not to get too close to leafy sea dragons or they will get stressed.

• Ex-HMAS Brisbane Regional Park

Photo by: prodive.com.au

In 2005, an-ex naval destroyer was sunk on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland to become a new home for marine wildlife. Standing upright in 27 metres of water, the ship is a good spot for beginner divers. The surface of the ex-HMAS Brisbane is entirely covered in barnacles and oysters, giving shelter to tiny sea creatures.

• Fish Rock Cave

Photo by: godive.com.au

Fish Rock Cave is one of Australia’s popular dive sites and a photographer’s paradise. The 125-metre long cave is swarmed by endangered Grey Nurse sharks all year round. The best time to visit is between April to November to see migrating humpback whales and their calves around the ocean cave. Silhouettes of small fishes can also be witnessed here.  

The marine world is just waiting to be explored. Whether a diver is a novice or a master, you’ll enjoy meeting the ocean life in these top scuba paradise locations.

photo credit: IMGP0372 via photopin (license) photo credit: Koh Nang Yuan - Thailand via photopin (license)

Three Cape Tribulation Travel Essentials

You’ve booked your flights to Cairns, your Daintree rainforest accommodation and your boss has approved your leave, now it’s time to pack! You know the basics: clothes, toiletries, sunnies, camera, money. However, depending on your destination, there are other items you might need to bring.

Here are three additional travel essentials for your Cape Tribulation adventure:

• Stinger Suit 

  

  
  

Marine stingers or box jellyfish are in season from November to June. It is best not to swim in the beaches during these months to avoid injury. Take note that the Daintree and Cape Tribulation are remote locations and some places are a long way from the hospital. If you decide you really want to swim in the ocean, make sure to wear a stinger suit. When going on a guided ocean tour, stinger suits are usually provided by the tour guide. Some beaches install stinger nets during the season to prevent the jellyfish from getting near visit.

• First Aid Kit 

  

  
  

Australian summers can bring temperatures up to (and over) a scorching 40°C and some animals, like marine stingers, get a little more exposed than usual. There is more potential for injury in the warmer weather so make sure you come prepared. You might want to include vinegar in your first aid kit, in case of a box jellyfish sting. If you are stung, treat it by pouring vinegar over the stinger before removing it. Note that this remedy works well with jellyfish stings but not with other aquatic animals sting. 

• Knowledge about Animals 

  

  
  

The Daintree Rainforest is home to a variety of fascinating species. As a safety precaution, it is important to know how to deal with them when encountered face to face. For example, the cassowary is a flightless bird that can grow taller than a young child. While this bird is quite shy, it can attack anything or anybody who goes near its nest, if it gets agitated or is backed into a corner. If you encounter a cassowary, remain calm and slowly back away. Don’t run because although this bird doesn’t fly, it can run faster than the average person.

A smart tourist comes to the destination well-informed and prepared. Hopefully, these three Cape Tribulation travel essentials will be included in your holiday preparations. After all, a trouble-free holiday is the best kind of holiday.

Cape Tribulation: Experience the Rainforest

Photo by: daintreegateway.com.au

Did you know you can learn twice as much about rainforests by experiencing them firsthand rather than just about them in reading books? What would be a better way to experience the Daintree Rainforest than to actually staying in it? 

While you can book a room in a comfy posh lodge away from the rugged forest, why not try something new and sleep in the World Heritage-protected Daintree Rainforest itself.

When deciding to stay the night in a Daintree Rainforest accommodation, you can experience the living and breathing forest up close.

The Daintree is actually the oldest surviving rainforest in the world, it’s even older than the Amazon Rainforest. It is where the ancient “idiot fruit” is found,one of the most primitive of the flowering plants on the planet.


You might find it unbelievable but there are no dengue mosquitoes in the Daintree and Great Barrier Reef at night. This is just another reason to book your rainforest accommodation.

The Daintree is the perfect place to relax and unwind. Mobile phone coverage is limited in the Daintree and Cape Tribulation. You won’t feel the hustle and bustle of your urban life when on a holiday in this world heritage site.

For the adrenaline junkies, you can jungle surf in the forest or go snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef. Play in the sands of Cape Tribulation by day and retreat to the Daintree for the night. End the day at your rainforest by falling asleep listening to the sounds of different creatures.

There is nothing like getting up close and personal with the Daintree. Make sure to book accomodation in the rainforest next time you are in Far North Queensland.