The Daintree Rainforest
The oldest tropical rainforest on earth - a lush, ancient jungle meeting the reef on the Queensland coast, alive with rare wildlife, where the forest tumbles down to white beaches.
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Illustrative image - a scene in the spirit of the place, not a photograph of it. Real photos are below.
UNESCO World Heritage
The Daintree is the oldest surviving tropical rainforest on earth, an ancient, dense green jungle on the far north Queensland coast that has grown for some 180 million years. A UNESCO site where the rainforest tumbles down to meet white-sand beaches and the Great Barrier Reef at Cape Tribulation, it is alive with rare and ancient species, from the flightless cassowary to primitive plants found nowhere else.
What you actually see
- The ancient rainforest - the dense, primeval jungle of the oldest forest on earth.
- Cape Tribulation - where the rainforest meets the reef and white beaches.
- The wildlife - the cassowary, crocodiles and rare species.
- The boardwalks and river cruise - the walkways and Daintree River wildlife cruise.
When to go
May to October, the dry season, for the most comfortable weather, fewer mosquitoes and safer roads; the wet season from November to April brings heavy rain, flooding and marine stingers. Wildlife cruises run year-round.
Honest expectations
It is remote, reached by a ferry over the Daintree River, with limited services and no phone signal in places, so plan ahead. Saltwater crocodiles make many waterways and beaches unsafe for swimming, so heed the warnings. It is hot, humid and buggy, and the cassowary, though iconic, is rarely seen.
Nearby
The Great Barrier Reef, Port Douglas and Cairns are along the coast to the south.
What to pack for The Daintree Rainforest
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
