DAINTREE NATIONAL PARK

DAINTREE NATIONAL PARK

The Daintree is the most famous of the five precincts that make up the Wet Tropics eco-system. In fact, this rainforest is the oldest continuously surviving tropical rainforest in the world, thought to be 165 million years old – trumping even the Amazon when it comes to seniority.

But it’s not just the oldest. The Daintree is the longest on the continent too, running for approximately 450km from its Mossman south to Cooktown north. To put it in perspective, it measures half the distance you’d find between Brisbane and Sydney.

With two distinct sections – Mossman and Cape Tribulation – this is one national park that needs at least four days to truly discover.

THINGS TO DO IN DAINTREE NATIONAL PARK

• • Orient yourself at the Discovery Centre
    Start your Daintree experience at the Daintree Discovery Centre . Here you can learn all about the origins of the ancient rainforest before heading out onto the series of aerial walkways and viewing platforms connected to the centre. This allows you to easily explore all levels of the rainforest up close, from the forest floor to the uppermost reaches of the canopy.

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• • Cruise the Daintree River
    Take a cruise on the Daintree River and look out for saltwater crocodiles. Several operators offer tours of varying length, from one-hour to half-day cruises. This is an excellent way to see and photograph the Daintree’s incredible wildlife at close range, in one of the most beautiful forest environments on the planet.

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• • Explore Mossman Gorge
    Within Daintree National Park lies the magnificent Mossman Gorge, where clear waters cascade over granite boulders in the Mossman River, creating freshwater swimming pools (there are no crocodiles here, but you should check that conditions are safe for swimming beforehand, at the Mossman Gorge Centre). Take a stroll along the boardwalk through the lower rainforest canopy and return along the riverside track. Or, deepen your experience of this ancient landscape on an award-winning guided Dreamtime Walk through Mossman Gorge. Your Aboriginal guide will share with you their Kuku Yalanji culture, walking you through local lore concerning bush foods, sacred ceremonies and connection to the land.

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• • Walk with Aboriginal custodians
    The Aboriginal Kuku Yalanji people of the Daintree region offer authentic guided walking tours of Mossman Gorge that are a must-do for anyone who visits. With Adventure North Australia, you’ll learn traditional techniques that have been passed down for more than 9,000 years, like spearing fish and catching crabs. Walkabout Cultural Adventures will immerse you in Kuku Yalanji traditions. Sample bush foods, learn about medicines utilised from nature and experience first-hand the incredible connection Kuku Yalanji people share with the land beneath their feet.

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• • Stay at a luxury eco lodge
    Stay in a tree house perched high above the rainforest at Silky Oaks Lodge, spectacularly located overlooking the Mossman River. The lodge offers a range of activities from helicopter tours to hot air ballooning, has an award-winning on-site spa that specialises in natural therapies and is a member of the prestigious Luxury Lodges of Australia.

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• • Zip-line through the canopy
    Fly through the trees on an exhilarating guided zip-line tour with Jungle Surfing Canopy Tours. You’ll glide through the different levels of canopy in a harness attached to a cable, with bird’s eye views over the treetops, down to cascading streams and out to the Great Barrier Reef.

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• • Visit the Daintree Village
    Explore the delightful Daintree Village and its unusual stores selling local arts and crafts including handmade pottery, textiles, produce, souvenirs and tropical clothing. Visit an Aboriginal art centre, Janbal Gallery, which features Aboriginal artefacts and art steeped in reef and rainforest culture. Here, you can paint a boomerang or canvas, share stories with artists and observe the many works. You can also purchase a piece of art or jewelry to take with you.

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• Cape Tribulation
  Head to the village of Cape Tribulation, the meeting place of two World Heritage sites (the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef), and explore gorgeous scenery, beautiful beaches and rainforest walks. The journey to get here is part of the experience – you’ll take your car across the river on the Daintree Ferry, and pass through amazing rainforest scenery and wonderful views of the coast. You might also spot an endangered cassowary during your visit. These elusive flightless birds can stand up to two metres (6.5 feet) tall and are arguably Australia’s most spectacular feathered species.

HOW TO GET THERE IN DAINTREE NATIONAL PARK

Its a two-hour drive north of Cairns, or about an hour north of Port Douglas. Day tours by 4WD or coach depart from Cairns and Port Douglas year round, or you can hire a car and drive yourself. For longer visits, stay in a picturesque town or village on the rainforest’s doorstep, such as Mossman or Cape Tribulation.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The cooler, drier months, from May to September, are the best time to visit. The weather is pleasantly warm during this time, with reduced humidity and the maximum temperature averaging 26 degrees Celsius.

Temps in the rainforest are surprisingly mild due to the protective canopy layer of tall trees. The air is often humid but cool.

DAINTREE NATIONAL PARK, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA

WEATHER AVERAGES

Month	High / Low(°C)	Rain
January	31° / 24°	15 days
February	30° / 24°	16 days
March	29° / 23°	17 days
April	28° / 23°	16 days
May	26° / 21°	12 days
June	24° / 20°	7 days
July	24° / 19°	6 days
August	25° / 19°	6 days
September	27° / 20°	5 days
October	29° / 22°	5 days
November	30° / 23°	7 days
December	31° / 24°	11 days