Meet Australia’s Daintree National Park, the oldest rainforest in the world.
Oh , you think the Amazon was the largest rainforest in the humans ?
Well , it is . But the Daintree in Queensland is the biggest rain forest inAustralia , theoldestrainforest in the earthly concern , and more significantly , David Attenborough ’s favorite . The all - knowing 96 - yr - old naturalist — bless him — once deemed this wild piece of northeast Oz " the most extraordinary lieu on Earth . "
Though it ’s perpetually overshadowed by its more - noted conjoined twin , the Great Barrier Reef , Daintree National Parkis evenly astonishing with its sprawling tangle of loom palms , ancient ferns , moss - covered bowlder , and trickle creeks stretching all the path to the Coral Sea .
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Imagine following a boardwalk through heavy , 180 - million - year - honest-to-goodness hobo camp and hit on a secluded swimming mess , vitreous silica - clear and croc - devoid . easily yet , the pool ride under a roar waterfall semi - obliterate by luxuriant canopy . Predating theAmazonby an abysmal 160 million twelvemonth , the Daintree once accommodated dinosaurs — and if you ’re prosperous enough to spoil route with any of its modern - day dweller , you ’ll discover that not much has changed over the millennia .
Crocs can be seen take their lung on the control surface of the Daintree River and enormous , prehistorical - look cassowary pole in the thick leaf , munching on fungi and fruit . There ’s more to see than nonnatural animals and obscure falls , too , if you may believe it . Here ’s how to have one epic , Attenborough - suitable experience in the absolutely " sinful " Daintree Rainforest .
The best time to visit Daintree National Park
The Daintree does n’t stick by to the Gregorian four - time of year pattern ; it knows only two . The teetotal time of year , April to November , is its gamey time of year . Peak tourism occurs during July and August , when the Aussies take their winter school holiday . The wet time of year begin in December and persists through April . The perfumed topographic point is perhaps October through early December or former April through June , between the most crowded sentence and the wettest period . few tourer signify quieter trails , more wildlife sighting , and off - season rates for circuit and accommodation .
Take in jaw-dropping scenery along Great Barrier Reef Drive
play fact : The stretch of far - compass north Queensland where the rainforest border the sea is the only place where twoUNESCO World Heritage Sites(the Daintree and Great Barrier Reef ) run into . Cutting a enormously scenic route between the two is Great Barrier Reef Drive , aka Captain Cook Highway . Think thePacific Coast Highway in California , but flanked by one of the Seven Natural Wonders and theworld ’s oldest tropical rainforest .
Start in Cairns , where rental cars bristle , and drive northward into the rain forest for the best potential first impression . The head trip takes about an hour and 15 minutes one way , but rest assured you ’ll want to spend a whole sidereal day make interminable stop to search tramp trails and slump your toe in the white Baroness Dudevant .
route - tripper would be neglectful not to hang a leftfield towards Kuranda , 30 minutes from Cairns , to peruse the famousHeritage market place , where XII of eclectic stalls sell everything from didgeridoos to Australian opal rings radiate bohemian flair deep inside the thick wild . To look up to them just by strolling through the labyrinth of bunting - adorned pedestrian alleyways is an experience deserving the unforesightful detour .
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Gawk along jungle boardwalks
Hiking in the Daintree is pretty " cruisy , " to quote Aussie lingo . That ’s because the course are predominantly short , easy , and flat , with the exclusion of a few uphill slogs : Mount Sorrow and Devils Thumb . For the most part , trekker are tuck under rain forest canopy where it ’s cool and shaded . Long , meandering ( and approachable ) boardwalks even make it potential to search swamps and mangrove Creek without get your bang stiff .
Some of the skilful walk are concentrated near Cape Tribulation , far-famed for its distant beach . The Dubuji Boardwalk includes two loops — one about 20 minutes to walk , the other 40 — either of which you could follow to Myall Beach . endeavor to arrive at low lunar time period for amazing rockpooling .
Just to the south of that , near moo-cow Bay and theDaintree Discovery Centre , the Jindalba Boardwalk electric circuit beckons a slightly longer , roughly hour - long mosey amid top executive fern , fig trees , and other Wet Tropics wonders , all key on information signs along the route .
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Anytime you ’re hike through the Daintree , keep your eyes peeled for cassowaries ( blue - headed , electromagnetic unit - sized birds ) , musky rat kangaroos , duck-billed platypus , and even python bake in the canopy . Stroll the boardwalks at nighttime for a chance to see ferine slovenly person , fly George Fox , and possums .
Spot crocs on the Daintree River
One animal the Daintree is well known for is the crocodile — of both the saltwater and freshwater diverseness . There are thought to be about 70 adult in the Daintree River , and you ’re liable to see at least one deadly snoot protruding from the water on a river cruise with the area ’s good croc finder . The ECO - certifiedDaintree River Cruise Centreis one of the most popular operator , offer 60- to 90 - second tour from Mossman .
October to mid - March is crocodile breeding time of year in the Daintree . While the chance of a sighting is less likely this time of year than in the cool month , the probability of view them oppose , courting , mating , or their hatchlings is far high . Come during low lunar time period to increase your chance of a sighting . Some tour operator , likeBruce Belcher ’s Daintree River cruise , offer free return tickets if no crocs are see on your tour .
Swim (safely) at Mossman Gorge
The stunning rainforest - draw beaches of north Queensland may seem take in , but the plethora of signage and acetum station warn of what linger in the azure waters : Stinger . Jellyfish inhabit Australia ’s tropics from November to May and will not hesitate to inject a human swimmer with their potentially deadly venom . A portion of beach in the area have final enclosures for this reason , but the whole ordeal can be avoided by swimming instead at Mossman Gorge , which is arguably even prettier .
Mossman Gorge includes a stinger- and crocodile - free sheltered swimming gob with calm , clean water and big boulders perfect for savor . From theMossman Gorge Cultural Centre , you’re able to take a bird to the jump of a boardwalk . This is , by far , the most democratic walk in Daintree National Park , its principal draw poker being the gorge look out over . The swimming golf hole is about a third of a mi in .
The Cultural Centre does n’t recommend swimming in the river , because water conditions can change rapidly and there ’s no supervision . Keep in mind that December to April is the showery time of year , and flooding is more likely then . If the heat of the Wet Tropics on a summertime mean solar day make it insufferable for you to resist a dip , then just remember your usual common sense . Please , no swimming in monsoon .
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Discover Aboriginal art and culture at Janbal Gallery
The Aboriginal Eastern Kuku Yalanji people , Australia ’s other human resident and carriers of what ’s cerebrate to be the world ’s erstwhile sustenance culture , have lived in the Wet Tropics for 50,000 long time . And since the Daintree was handed back to its original inhabitants in 2021 , they and the nation government activity have jointly managed the home green , under the designation Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal Land ( CYPAL ) .
Visitors can instruct all about the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people ’s culture and customs atJanbal Gallery , a full Aboriginal - owned and -operated art gallery and ethnical centre right on off Great Barrier Reef Drive , three minutes from the Mossman Gorge car park . The hired hand - painted canvases and throwing stick ( an Aboriginal symbolization of endurance ) you ’ll regain here tell ancient stories and make the most unique and meaningful token . you may even sit down down and paint your own at one of Janbal Gallery ’s workshops .
Where to stay in and around Daintree National Park
Cairns is the grownup urban center in far - due north Queensland and the gateway to both the Daintree and Great Barrier Reef . There are 150 - plus hotels and more than 1,000 Airbnbs to opt from . If you do n’t have the cash to splash out on sumptuousness accommodation along the lively esplanade — like at Crystalbrook RileyorWaters Edge Apartments — you may find a playfulness and snug budget option inTravellers Oasis , a colorful hostel with a swimming pool and sack - dotted sundeck .
More immersive rain forest experience can be find out atCairns Rainforest Retreat , a collection of treehouses 15 minute from the city center , or at the higher - endDaintree Ecolodge , perhaps the most popular place to stay in the rain forest ( equipped with a resort hotel and individual falls ) . Located between Mossman and Cape Tribulation , the Ecolodge is dead convenient for multi - day adventures in the Daintree .
Ready to hit the park? Check out our tool kit to get started:
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Janbal Gallery
Daintree Ecolodge
