Best Ways to See Queensland's Rainforest
16th November 2018
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The Wet Tropics rainforest is a 500km long World Heritage Site, a staggering 80 million years older than the Amazon. Situated along Queensland’s coastline, the rainforest is home to countless species of wildlife and plantlife , and well worth the hike it can take to reach the heart of it.
But hiking isn’t the only way to see what the Wet Tropics have to offer. There are loads of amazing ways to experience one of the oldest forests in the world - here are just a few.
The Skyrail Rainforest Cableway in Cairns covers a mere 7.5km of the swathe of greenery, but the sight from one of its 125 gondolas is a spectacular one. It feels very strange indeed to be suspended above trees which can reach up to 60 metres in a six-seater gondola. Even though heights usually make me a bit wobbly, the ride is so smooth you barely notice you’re soaring over 500 metres above sea level.
2010, and prides itself on offering an immersive rainforest experience while preserving and protecting the area’s natural splendour . A round trip costs $79 (approx. £37) per adult.
Kuranda is also well worth the visit once you reach the top. Nestled deep in the forest, the village is a gorgeous example of rural life in Australia, and counts a butterfly sanctuary and koala gardens among its top attractions. If you don’t fancy sailing back down on Skyrail, you can take the Kuranda Scenic Railway, which was unfortunately closed during my visit, but winds through the forest closer to ground-level for an insider’s point of view.
Unfortunately I missed out on seeing one of these beasts myself (or fortunately, when you realise they can kick a human to death without much effort), but our tour guide explained the proper protocol if you do come into contact with one of the prehistoric-looking birds. Remain calm and back away slowly - cassowaries are faster than most humans, so it’s not a good idea to run!
behind, and offered a lovely spot to dip our toes in the water and feel the sun on our faces.
Billy Tea Safaris’ Daintree, Cape Trib and Bloomfield tour costs $205 (approx. £103) per adult.
Tourism is an integral part of keeping the Australian rainforest alive and thriving, and helps prevent deforestation while providing suitably breathtaking vistas. For more information on the Wet Tropics, visit tropicalnorthqueensland.org.au/wet-tropics-rainforest/


Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, in Barron Gorge National Park // Credit:

Kuranda Scenic Railway // Credit: Ed-Ni-Photo
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Daintree River // Credit: FiledIMAGE
Billy Tea Safaris took us deep into the forest on a walking tour next, exploring the land where Southern Cassowaries roam free.
Credit: Jess Philips
The ratites are still endangered, but thanks to the rainforest’s World Heritage Site status and the conservation efforts of residents, their numbers are back up from around 900 to over 3,000. Our tour culminated in a short stopover at Cape Tribulation, the site where Captain Cook allegedly first landed in Australia - so named because of his shipwreck upon reaching this stretch of coastline. The beach is beautiful to behold with the backdrop of the forest.png)
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