When travelling to Queensland, you probably have a dozen must-see spots on your bucket list. One of them might be the ancient Daintree Rainforest — the oldest in Australia and the world — located just above the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef. Daintree is certainly on our list, and now we are off on our first rainforest adventure!

 
On our way to the Daintree, we pass vast sugar cane fields between the Atherton Tablelands and the rainforest. This region produces 95% of Australia’s sugar. Harvesting season runs from June/July to November/December, and you will see cane carriages lined up along the fields, either waiting to be filled or carrying freshly harvested cane to the Mossman Sugar Mill. The transport runs on narrow-gauge tracks, which are common throughout the area.

Photo: Travel In Cuture

Along Captain Cook Highway, you often see sugar cane carriages during the harvesting season | Photo: Travel In Cuture

To reach the Daintree Rainforest, you must cross the Daintree River. There is no bridge, so like everyone else, you will need to take the small single-car ferry. It operates throughout the day, but if you arrive outside office hours, payment must be made in cash. You can check the ferry’s hours and fares at the Daintree River Ferry. Waiting times can be tedious, as everyone visiting the Daintree must use this crossing.

Upon arrival, we are promptly warned of the risk of saltwater crocodiles near the riverbank — so it is best to stay inside your car! Fortunately, no crocs were in sight during our crossing today.

Photo: Travel In Cuture

Crossing the Daintree River, home to crocodiles | Photo: Travel In Cuture

1. Staying in a Rainforest Lodge in Daintree

Without exactly knowing what to expect, we are still a little surprised to find ourselves ascending a winding road to reach our lodge in Cow Bay.

It is a fantastic spot, featuring a rainforest swimming pool — fenced off to keep crocodiles and other wildlife at bay — and a small pond perfect for observing Wet Tropics creatures up close. In the evening, with a spotlight, we get a fascinating glimpse of the pond’s nocturnal life. We also spot a couple of spiders, melomys, lizards, and other reptiles clinging to the walls outside.

Inside the lodge, there is plenty of information about the Daintree Rainforest. What makes staying here truly special is being surrounded by the rainforest and listening to the chorus of animal sounds throughout the night. Despite the noise, we sleep surprisingly well — until suddenly we are jolted awake by an unknown creature bumping against the relatively thin wall! We have no idea what it is, but it must be quite large.

As we start to listen more closely, we hear croaking frogs and flying foxes dropping fruit onto our roof as they pass overhead…

The pond at Daintree Rainforest Retreat teems with micro-wildlife | Photo: Travel In Culture

2. Which Animals Live in Daintree?

Of course, thousands of animals inhabit the rainforest, making the Daintree Rainforest food web quite complex! Here are a few creatures you are likely to spot in this part of the Daintree.

The Amethystine Python (also known as the Scrub Python or Scrubbie) can occasionally be seen crossing roads at night. It can grow up to 7 metres long and is recognised by its distinctive diamond pattern. It preys on warm-blooded animals like birds, but it’s wise not to approach an Amethystine Python.

The Brown or Green Tree Snake is often spotted after dark. The Green Tree Snake frequently visits the pond at the Daintree Rainforest Retreat. Growing up to 1.4 metres, it preys on small mammals, birds, and lizards but poses no danger to humans. While other snakes also inhabit the rainforest, they are generally not among Australia’s most venomous species.

Beautiful rainforest flower | Photo: Travel In Culture

The Long Nosed Bandicoot is a carnivorous marsupial. It digs holes in the rainforest floor with its forefeet, searching for food it finds underground. It can reach 45 cm in size – and is generally harmless to humans.

The Musky Rat Kangaroo is a possum-resembling marsupial living in the dampest parts of the rainforest near the river and creeks. It is only active during the day, mainly in the morning and afternoon.

The Red Legged Paddy Melon looks like a small kangaroo and is most active in the evening, during the night, and at dawn. It feeds on leaves, fruit and berries and can be spotted outside the Retreat.

The Southern Cassowary is a large, flightless bird with a colourful head and solid legs, which it will use in case of a fight or defending itself. They are relatively common in the rainforest. If you encounter a cassowary, do not run, as it will run after you – and may attack. Instead, make yourself ‘big’ and scary!

The White Lipped Tree Frog, the Green Tree Frog and the Cane Toad are some of the 54 species of frogs in the rainforest around the Retreat. The White Lipped Tree Frog is enormous – sometimes over 13 cm!

Photo: Travel In Culture

The Bennett’s Tree Kangaroo also lives in Daintree Rainforest. It is a special kangaroo adapted to life in the tree tops. However, it is not so easy to get a glimpse of.

A Golden Orb Spider is worth mentioning among all the various spider species. It can grow quite voluminous in its web – but poses no danger to humans. So, if you see a giant spider, it may be this one.

The Salt Water Crocodile is one of the reptiles you should fear. There are warnings against it everywhere along rivers and on the beaches here. If you want to see it, you should instead go on one of the organised Daintree River cruises! The closest we come to crocodiles during our stay is to eat them in delicious burgers!

Photo: Travel In Culture

Croc burger | Photo: Travel In Culture

The Wet Tropics are home to more than 4,000 species of plant life. Some unique species include mosses, lichens, basket ferns, orchids, strangler fig trees, and Kauri Pine.

In the rainforest, you can encounter some peculiar plants. If you touch a Stinging Tree, beware — it has large heart-shaped leaves covered with poisonous hairs that cause intense pain and may require medical attention. A common remedy is to apply adhesive tape to the affected area and then peel it off to remove the hairs, or to soothe the skin with boiled cabbage water.

The Daintree Rainforest plants are truly spectacular. Another unique species is the Wait-A-While, also known as the Lawyer Vine. This climbing palm is found throughout the rainforest and is known for its tiny hooks that snag onto hikers, making it tricky and time-consuming to remove.

3. Daintree Rainforest Walks

135 million years old, the Daintree Rainforest is the oldest in the world — dating back to when dinosaurs roamed here! The Amazon Rainforest, by comparison, is just 10 million years old. Unlike many other rainforests, Daintree experiences a dry season from June to October, making this the most pleasant time of year to visit.

One of the beautiful flowers that pops up from the forest floor | Photo: Travel In Culture

Daintree Rainforest boasts the most diverse range of plant and animal species on Earth, with many endemic to the region. In total, more than 3,000 unique species thrive here, including 430 species of birds. It is considered the birthplace of songbirds, Australian kangaroos, and some of the earliest flowering plants in the world. Visiting feels like stepping back in time to experience the sounds, wildlife, and stunning botanical diversity firsthand.

So, how can you explore this incredible environment in just a few days?

The easiest way is to stay at one of the retreats or lodges nestled within the rainforest and take advantage of the excellent hikes and boardwalks. Numerous trails stretch between Mossman and Cape Tribulation, offering a variety of ways to immerse yourself in this ancient natural wonder.

(grade: easy, 9 kilometres) Walk along one of the longest beaches in Daintree. You will be passing mangroves and wetlands. Chances of viewing double-eyed fig parrots, cassowaries and crocodiles (!). Several access roads from Captain Cook Highway.

You feel very protected under the rainforest canopy | Photo: Travel In Culture

(grade: medium, 1 kilometre) Walk along eucalyptus, paperbark, acacias, and climbing ferns, creating a curtain. You may spot bottlebrush orchids as well. Access from Pioneers Park in Daintree Village and turn to the left at Pioneers Park.

(grade: easy, 650 metres) Take the boardwalk through the lush lowland rainforest. The boardwalk passes creeks and swampy areas. With a bit of luck, you may even be able to spot the Bennett’s tree kangaroo or a cassowary. The world’s tallest cycad can also be seen here (20 metres high). Jindalba is the original Kuku Yalanji people’s name for the area (‘Foot of the Mountain’). Access from Daintree Discovery Centre – the end of Tulip Oak Road in Cow Bay.

The rainforest is full of odd little creeks and swamps | Photo: Travel In Culture

(grade: easy, 1.2 kilometre loop) This walk has examples of every stage of the rainforest evolution over 400 million years, including ferns, cycads, ancient pines and flowers. The walk will pass a hollow strangler fig, paperbark, pandanus trees, and mangroves. A host of orchids, such as the golden, pencil and bottlebrush orchids, will also appear. The start location is from Cape Tribulation Road south of Cape Tribulation.

(grade: easy, 1.2 kilometre) The walk passes through lowland rainforest, mangrove swamps and sandy beaches. You will be able to view fan palms, vines and strangler figs. There are chances to spot cassowaries here. From the beach, you may also be lucky to spot a humpback whale during winter and enjoy the views of Cape Tribulation. You may even walk to Cape Tribulation at low tide and reach Kulki lookout. That is where the rainforest meets the reef!

For more trails, see the Daintree Discovery Guide. The best time to visit the rainforest is from May to September when it is less hot and humid than in summer.

The boardwalks in Daintree takes you through stunning rainforest vegetation | Photo: Travel In Culture

4. Skyrail Rainforest Cableway

You can also experience the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway from Cairns, which offers a unique tour gliding over the rainforest canopy at Kuranda before descending to the forest floor at Red Peak and Barron Falls stations just before Kuranda. This provides a different rainforest experience from the Daintree. Along the way, you can join ranger-guided boardwalk tours through the tropical landscape and enjoy views of Barron Gorge and the impressive Barron Falls.

5. Mossman Gorge

Another great experience is Mossman Gorge, located in the southern part of the Daintree Rainforest and just a short distance from Port Douglas. Here, you will enjoy a unique rainforest experience while gaining insight into the culture of Australia’s Aboriginal people and their deep harmony with nature. You can join a guided ‘Dreamtime Walk’ tour to learn about the plants used by the Kuku Yalanji indigenous people.

Alternatively, a self-guided walk lets you soak in the breathtaking rainforest views at your own pace. Be sure to reserve at least half a day for your visit — or even a full day if you can!

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