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Daintree Rainforest
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Wikipedia: Daintree Rainforest is a rainforest near Daintree, Queensland, named after Richard Daintree. It is one of the oldest rainforests on the planet and is the home of the poisonous Idiot fruit or ribbonwood tree. Part of the forest is protected by the Daintree National Park and drained by the Daintree River. The Daintree Rainforest lies on the coast, north of Cairns in tropical far north of Australia. This patch of forest is one of the most diverse and beautiful examples of nature in the world. It is home to the largest range of plants and animals on earth, and all are found within the largest chunk of rainforest in Australia - an area spanning approximately 1200 square kilometers. This World Heritage listed area contains the highest number of plant and animal species that are rare, or threatened with extinction, anywhere in the world. The Daintree Rainforest is a unique area, precariously balanced between the advances of development and the environmentalists wanting to preserve the forest's exceptional qualities. "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 be found in this area. All of this diversity is contained within an area that takes up 0.2% of the landmass of Australia." Cairns Attractions: The Daintree Rainforest in Australia is one of the most diverse and beautiful examples of Mother Nature in the world. It is home to the most diverse range of plants and animals on earth, and all are found within an area of approximately 1200 square kilometres – the largest chunk of tropical rainforest in Australia. This World Heritage Listed area contains the highest number of plant and animal species that are rare, or threatened with extinction, anywhere in the world. The Daintree Rainforest is a unique area, precariously balanced between the advances of development and the warnings of environmentalists. Daintree Rainforest: The Daintree Rainforest north of Cairns in Tropical Far North Queensland Australia is one of the most diverse and beautiful examples of Mother Nature in the world. It is home to the largest range of plants and animals on earth, and all are found within the largest chunk of rainforest in Australia - an area spanning approximately 1200 square kilometres. This World Heritage Listed area contains the highest number of plant and animal species that are rare, or threatened with extinction, anywhere in the world. The Daintree Rainforest is a unique area, precariously balanced between the advances of development and the warnings of environmentalists. 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 be found in this area. And it all lives in an area that takes up 0.2% of the landmass of Australia.
Daintree Discovery Centre: The Daintree Discovery Centre is an award-winning world class interpretive facility that allows visitors easy access to this unique rainforest wilderness via boardwalk tours, a 23 metre high Canopy Tower, Aerial Walkway and comprehensive Display Centre. Established in 1989 the Centre is widely recognised as a leader in the field of eco-tourism and provides an excellent introduction to the wonders of the Daintree Rainforest. The region referred to as 'The Daintree Rainforest' encompasses an area of approximately 1,200 square kilometres, from the Daintree River north to Cooktown and west to the Great Divide, representing the single largest block of tropical rainforest in Australia. The area protected under World Heritage listing covers an area of approximately 12,000 square kilometres, stretching from Townsville to Cooktown 75 per cent of which is tropical rainforest, an area equivalent to about the size of Sydney.
Rainforestation Nature Park: A 40 hectare tourist attraction set in a midst of World Heritage Rainforest only five minutes drive from Kuranda Village and half an hour from Cairns in Tropical North Queensland. Operating since 1976, the locally owned and operated Rainforestation offers an experience for the whole family with three main attractions, two restaurants and a Tropical Treats Juice Bar. In addition Rainforestation is available for exclusive offsite dinners and outings with a difference. Port Douglas and Daintree: Winding along a spectacular 200 kilometre sweep of coastline beside the Coral Sea will leave your worries behind. The region offers stunning ocean views, deserted coastlines, beachside activities, laidback villages, sugar cane fields, reef and rainforest. You will find limitless opportunities to leave everyday life behind. Here you’ll discover the Coast’s diverse natural treasures from the magnificent underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef to the lush tropical Daintree and Cape Tribulation rainforests that cloak the mountains and plains – two world Heritage ecosystems existing side by side. Classic palm fringed beaches tempt you to just relax and unwind or you can choose from a host of tours, or action packed adventure. Explore the reef diving or snorkelling, take a rainforest walk or a 4WD safari, play a round of golf, go fishing or set off on a crocodile spotting cruise. Tropical
Rainforest: There are tropical rainforests in many parts of the
world but Daintree is the one closest to my own home in Australia. Daintree/Cape
Tribulation is situated on the east coast of Far North Queensland in
an area also known as the Wet Tropics. This area (900,000 hectares)
was granted international protection through its addition in 1988 to
the World Heritage list, an agreement
Holiday Company Descriptions Port Douglas and Daintree Tourism: A visit to the spectacular Great Barrier Reef or perhaps along the Daintree River is a must; choose a cruise to suit the adventure you are looking for. Drift over coral gardens and dive to the depths through darting schools of impossibly coloured fish. Explore the best places of the Great Barrier Reef day and night with expert dive masters and superbly equipped vessels. See Daintree on a 4WD safari and have the beauty of this World Heritage listed treasure revealed by an eco-accredited nature guide. Breakfast with the Birds within a wetlands environment at the Rainforest Habitat. Take a rainforest walk through the Daintree, visit the Bloomfield Falls, amble along Four Mile Beach, hike up to Flagstaff Hill, or stroll through the Sunday markets. Daintree Discovery Tours: A day with Daintree Discovery Tours is like no other. Be a part of a small group of 8 maximum, involving adventure, no crowds and experienced interpretive guides. Your adventure will begin with a pick up from your Port Douglas accommodation at 7.45am. Travelling in a luxury Mercedes Benz Vito Van, enjoy plenty of leg room and air conditioning for every person. From here journey through passing Cane Fields and the township of Mossman to the Daintree River, where you will cross the ferry and enter the Daintree National Park area. Enjoy morning tea and lamingtons looking out over the Coral Sea. Viator: You will be picked up from your accommodation and commence the drive north along one of the most renowned scenic coastal roads in Australia, towards the World Heritage Listed Cape Tribulation and Daintree National Parks. Enjoy a brief tour of Port Douglas and Four Mile Beach before travelling onto the award winning Rainforest Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary for "Morning tea with the Birds". The Rainforest Habitat provides the only opportunity to observe up close, a huge range of unique Australian animals, birds, fauna and flora in three different environments. There is also an opportunity to cuddle a Koala and pat a Kangaroo. Leaving the Rainforest Habitat behind, your journey continues along the Captain Cook Highway to the majestic Daintree River, that you will cross over by Cable Ferry. Enjoy a spectacular drive over rainforest-clad mountains stopping at Alexandra lookout with views looking out to the Coral Sea and the mouth of the Daintree River - the perfect photo opportunity. Deep into the national park take time to visit one of the specially constructed rainforest and mangrove walks. Your guide will enlighten you to the secrets of the rainforest with their informative interpretation of the rainforest, its foods, medicines and history during your guided walk. Mason's Tours: Experience the Daintree at a relaxed pace away from the crowds with this half day interpretive walk along real jungle tracks. Mason's Tours have guides who can take you to the best areas on real jungle trails, on private land. They do not use boardwalks or concrete paths, they are typical jungle trails perhaps resembling an Aboriginal Road that would have existed here before the arrival of Europeans. The rainforest at Cape Tribulation is incredibly interesting and beautiful. There are strange, ancient and dangerous plants, as well as rare birds and wildlife. The walking tracks are located on Mason's own 170ha property - bounded by the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area and Daintree National Park to the west and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park to the east. The 1/2 Day Walk is an easy paced tour through breathtaking rainforest. The guides literally know the forest like the back of their hands! They won't confuse you with scientific jargon, as they pride themselves on explaining things in simple, understandable English. Australian Natural History Safari: This is a Port Douglas based, four-wheel drive, rainforest and outback tour. It is owned and operated by local naturalists and wildlife enthusiasts David & Diane Armbrust. Our highly personalised excursions are limited to a maximum sized group of four to provide you with a quality experience observing the wildlife of the wet tropical Daintree rainforest and the outback of Northern Australia. We provide only one tour per day with a choice of a full day rainforest and outback safari or a half day rainforest tour. On both tours morning tea with the wildlife is provided in our bush shelter hidden in the rainforest.
Best at Australia: Whilst in this region trips to the Reef and Rainforest are a must and we have booked a Reef & Rainforest day tour package, which can be used at anytime during your stay. Today we would suggest you take the rainforest day tour, as the Rail departure point is close to Cairns. Downunder tours will pick you up from your hotel and continue to the Kuranda scenic train for a spectacular journey through the mountains to the village of Kuranda. Once in Kuranda stroll through the village and markets stopping for lunch (own expense). On your return experience the magnificent Skyrail cable car and glide over the canopy’s of the rainforest. The day is complete with a visit to Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park for a fascinating insight into Aboriginal history. Daintree Ecotourism Tours: Cooper Creek Wilderness has a premier position within the heart of the Daintree World Heritage rainforests of the Wet Tropics of Queensland. For more than 135 million years, Cooper Creek lowland rainforest has been the habitat of many species of flora and fauna having ancient lineage. This section of the Daintree is considered to be the world's oldest rainforest - a living museum. Experienced local guides share their enthusiasm and knowledge of this unique rainforest environment on guided, interpreted tours during the day and night in the Daintree. Visitors to the Daintree can experience the natural beauty and complexity of a variety of plant assemblages during the day and then learn about the mysterious creatures of the night. The splendour of the primitive forests of Cooper Creek should only be experienced in small, guided groups where the values can be explained to give a genuine appreciation of the area and an enjoyable experience. Cooktown 4WD Safari: Since 1981 Mason's Tours have provided eco tourism adventures to over 130,000 visitors. Their experienced local guides will give you time to see, touch, smell and even taste the Far North Queensland rainforest. On your tour they will provide amazing information and answer your questions about the tropical rainforest plants and trees, birds, insects, frogs, forest dragons, snakes and crocodiles, to give you a unique wilderness experience and unforgettable memories. The Cooktown 4WD Safari goes off-road to Cooktown via the famous Bloomfield Track. Well known since Council Bulldozers pushed it through the Daintree Rainforest in spite of protesters in 1983, the Bloomfield Track starts just north of Cape Tribulation, which is 36 kilometres north of the Daintree River The four wheel driving ranges from extreme to easy, depending on the season. Mason's Tours carry extensive safety and recovery equipment, and all drivers have completed nationally accredited 4WD Training and First Aid Courses. Holiday Accommodation Heritage Lodge: This accommodation is located at the base of majestic Thornton Peak and consists of 16 acres of pristine Rainforest. It adjoins Cooper Creek with almost 1 kilometre of crystal clear swimming holes which can be accessed by guests. The rear border is the Daintree Cape Tribulation National Park. The Cooper Creek section of the Daintree Rainforest is widely regarded as some of the most important, complex and abundant rainforest in the wet tropics. Many rare & endangered species of both flora & fauna can be found on the property. We are three kilometres from Thornton Beach, one of regions most beautiful beaches. Other, even more private beaches can be found with directions from the hosts. Daintree Rainforest Retreat: The Daintree Rainforest Retreat is a small boutique Motel situated in the heart of the World Heritage listed Daintree/Cape Tribulation National Park. Cow Bay is a small hamlet only 90 minutes north of Cairns, 45 minutes north of Port Douglas and 30 minutes north of Mossman. Our quiet 10 Unit Motel rests on 1 hectare (2.5 acres) of tropical gardens in which lives a wide variety of wildlife that often come to visit our guests whilst they are relaxing or enjoying a barbeque. The tropical gardens hold many botanical wonders such as the many varieties of bromeliads, orchids, king ferns, vanilla trees, huge fig trees, spectacular vines etc etc and is a very inviting relaxing place, to while away some time.
Cape Trib Beach House: Located where the rainforest meets the reef. It makes the perfect base to explore the wonders of reef and rainforest. The Beach House is made up of a number of cabins nestled amongst the tropical rainforest, offering you a truly back-to-nature experience. There are six styles of accommodation to cater for all needs and budget. Most rooms have air-conditioning and ensuites. Cape Tribulation Sanctuary: This is an outstanding house at Cape Tribulation. Set on 26 hectares of world heritage area rainforest and built on one of the highest landmarks in the area this Queensland tree house is set amongst the forest foliage and has commanding views over the Coral Sea. It was designed by the award winning architect Chris Van Dyke. The design emphasis is one of simplicity, quality and comfort. The house has three beautiful and completely private bedrooms with exceptional views. Wake up to see the sun rising over the Great Barrier Reef and drift off to sleep to the sounds of the surf and the smell of the salt air. Shangri-la Hotel: An Australian oasis for vacationers and young professionals, the Shangri-La Hotel - The Marina, acts as a virtual gateway between Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef. Conveniently situated within five minutes walking distance to the Cairns Convention Centre and only a 10 minutes drive from the Cairns International Airport, this hotel is near shopping, entertainment and cultural venues. The hotel puts its' best foot forward in the rainforest lobby, as vaulted ceilings and vast architectural forms create an enchanting space for large intricate Japanese lanterns, modern décor and a stunning Great Barrier Reef aquarium. Cedar
Park Rainforest Resort: This is a romantic and secluded natue retreat
surrounded by the wet tropic world heritage rainforest, offers opportunities
for adventure vacations, unique and romantic wedding and honeymoon experiences,
rainforest bush walks and exiting birding in a tropical rainforest setting.
Holiday Inn: This hotel is superbly located on the Cairns Esplanade only a five-minute walk from the shopping, entertainment and business center of Cairns. Featuring 237 comfortably appointed guestrooms, Holiday Inn Cairns reflects the ambience of the Tropics with breathtaking views overlooking the Coral Sea and rainforest clad mountains. The unique rainforest Atrium is designed to represent a mini rainforest surrounded by tropical plants, rock pools and Barramundi fish. The hotel also features a relaxing Lobby Bar, bottle shop, swimming pool, heated spa, large sundeck, fitness centre, tour desk, gift shop, 24-hour room service, high-speed internet access, free undercover parking and Atriums Restaurant, famous for its seafood and international cuisine. Cairns B&B: Cairns Reef and Rainforest Bed and Breakfast Accommodation is one of the newest registered B&B in Australia's Far North Queensland. Your holiday accommodation worries are over when you book with us. We are set in a tropical rainforest location yet only minutes from Cairns City. Hilton: Explore the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest from the harborside Hilton Cairns hotel. With Cairns shopping on the doorstep, the hotel offers a pool, well-equipped health club and spa, and 3 excellent restaurants and bars. Set overlooking Trinity Bay and the marina, the hotel is in a great location to visit Cairns attractions like the Great Barrier Reef and the rainforest, or to try local golf courses and beach watersports.
Cairns International Hotel: Fabulous harbour and mountain views, spacious Cairns hotel rooms. Stay in the very heart of all that Cairns, nestled between two World Heritage areas - the Wet Tropics Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. Capturing the casual but stylish lifestyle of Cairns, subtle and silent service and impeccable attention to detail awaits you on your Cairns holiday or business trip. Our Cairns hotel offers you a haven for relaxation where colonial charm meets tropical elegance. Sheridan Plaza: This hotel offers you "Affordable Luxury" in a modern 4½ star, Boutique style hotel. The hotel features three types of excellent accommodation including the superbly appointed deluxe and executive rooms, and expansive suites. All rooms are complimented with the luxury features and facilities you would expect from any 5 star hotel, including; bath tubs, air conditioning, free In House Movies and Cable TV, modem access, 24 hr room service and reception, private balconies, Mini-bar and refrigerators. Hotel security is first class with single point key card entry, double locks, security viewers and exterior surveillance cameras. Also featured in our boutique style hotel is an extensive gymnasium, outdoor pool, guest laundry and undercover parking which makes the Quality Hotel Sheridan Plaza the obvious choice for the business person, holiday maker or travelling family. Tradewinds Esplanade Hotel: Rydges Tradewinds Cairns is a 4.5 Star Hotel for reef and rainforest discovery, ideally located on the Cairns Esplanade overlooking the Coral Sea. Rydges Tradewinds is just a few minutes walk along the Esplanade Boardwalk to the Cairns lagoon precinct, City Centre, Restaurants, shopping and departure points for the Great Barrier Reef. The hotel is just 6kms from the Cairns Domestic and International Airport. The hotel offers a range of accommodation options to suit everyone, from the corporate traveller to families. Dine inside or poolside in the tropical ambience of Latitude 137 Restaurant & Bar. Enjoy a cool drink on the deck of E Bar whilst watching the birdlife and sunset over the Esplanade waterfront. Cascade Gardens: These modern and stylish apartments cater for all guests and have proven popular with visitors to Tropical North Queensland. Here you can enjoy all that Cairns has to offer in convenient, comfortable and quality accommodation. The Esplanade is one block away and the city centre is just a 10 minute walk. Cairns is a sun and thrill seekers paradise and is the gateway to the magnificent Great Barrier Reef. From snorkeling, to white water rafting, four wheel driving to exploring the rainforests, Cairns offers a plethora of attractions and activities. The city boasts a range of shopping areas, restaurants, nightclubs and art galleries. Activities and facilities in Cairns are endless and include exceptional golf courses, the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and for adventure seekers, scuba diving, sailing and safari tours. Kuranda Resort and Spa: Reflecting the essence of the world heritage Barron Gorge National Park, Kuranda Resort and Spa will remind you what it is to truly relax and unwind. Revitalize your soul amidst the tranquil surroundings, rejuvenate your body with luxurious Day Spa treatments and enjoy the tropical ambience of Northern Queensland. Kuranda Resort and Spa combines relaxation with adventure with a range of tour options. Ride the Skyrail, sail out to the Great Barrier Reef, experience the thrill of extreme White Water Rafting, or simply marvel at the beauty of the world's oldest rainforest, the Daintree.
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