The Daintree Rainforest: Daintree Village nestles in a bend of the Daintree River where cruise boats glide between the jungle homes of birds, animals and reptiles including large crocodiles and pythons. This region teeming with wildlife is a naturalist’s paradise. Eco-tourism operators provide you with great itineraries and this region attracts nature lovers and backpackers seeking the perfect holiday escape.

The Daintree Rainforest is one of the most diverse and beautiful examples of nature with30% of frog, marsupial and reptile species in Australia, and 65% of Australia’s bat and butterfly species, 20% of bird species in the country all within 0.2% of the landmass of Australia.

Between the Daintree and Bloomfield Rivers, the forest slopes of Cape Tribulation National Park plunge to the waters of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, where fringing reefs grow almost to the seashore.

The Daintree Rainforest is over one hundred and thirty-five million years old and approximately 430 species of birds live among the trees, including 13 species that are found nowhere else in the world.

Daintree offers a unique outdoor experience to the wilderness lover, everything from hiking trails, scenic lookouts, camping sites, picnic tables and swimming holes.

The Atherton Tablelands is 90kms south-west of Cairns. Covering 620sqkms the Cairns Highlands range from 500m to 1280m above sea level. With cool summer nights and mild, sunny winter days the highlands offer scenic drives, rainforest walks, giant trees, boat cruises and plenty of wildlife.

Lake Eacham and Lake Barrine have circuit walks around the lakes edge, an opportunity to experience remnant Tablelands rainforest and see some wildlife such as the musky rat-kangaroo and more than 100 bird species. Malanda Falls tumbling over basalt lava flow, filling the historic Malanda swimming pool has a recreation area where you can enjoy a swim, a picnic and a walk in the rainforest.

Mungalli Falls is the highest waterfall on the Tablelands, approximately 90M high, lies 13km from Millaa Millaa along the Palmerston Highway. Mt Hypipamee National Park boasts a crater formed as a result of escaping gases blasting a vent hole clean through solid granite, some 120 metres deep with a 70 meter pool of still water.

Cairns and its surrounding area are best experienced by car, preferably a 4wd. Car rental options in Cairns include Avis, Europcar, Redspot, Thrifty, Hertz and Budget.

car-rentals.com

One Response to “Around Cairns”