The Daintree Rainforest in Northern Queensland is the oldest tropical rainforest in the world. It is home to many hundreds of species of animals and plants, some of which exist only here. As a result it is one of the most complex rainforest ecosystems in the world.
Just a two hour drive from Cairns, or one hour from Port Douglas, you pass field upon field of sugar cane before you arrive in a world that is far, far removed from the hustle and bustle of modern life. You really are stepping back in time, estimates put its age at 180 million years, compare that with the Amazonian Rainforest which is a mere 55 million years old. Its hot and humid but you kind of expect that in a tropical rainforest. Its green, deep, concentrated green, there an awful lot of photosynthesis going on here. The rainforest has a damp, earthy, musty smell there is a sweetness and perfume to it. Together there is an assault on the senses.
The age of the rainforest can be seen from some of the plants that grow here. The Idiot Fruit, or Idiospermum australiense to give it its scientific name, is sometimes referred to as the green dinosaur because of its age. Rediscovered in the Daintree in only the 1970s this tree grows nowhere else in the world. Fossil evidence indicates that it has been around for 120 million years with its flowers little changed over that time. Its fruit, which is highly poisonous, is large and contains the single largest seed found anywhere in Australia. A true living fossil and a good example of the kind rare plant found here.
The Daintree River rises in the rainforest and flows for 140Km before reaching the Coral Sea. The river has become a tourist attraction with cruises (Daintree River Cruises) to see the plants and animals living there. The number one on the list to see is the saltwater crocodile, the most aggressive of all crocodile species.
At the time of our visit the river had been in flood following a tropical cyclone. This brings a lot of cold water into the river system and the crocodiles don’t really like cold water as they need to maintain their body temperature at around 30 degrees Celsius. As a consequence they spend more time basking on the banks among the mangroves where they’re incredibly well camouflaged and difficult to spot. This is where the guide comes in as they have so much experience, while they cannot guarantee you a spot they will do their very best.
The crocodile above is well hidden (centre) and blends with the muddy bank. it was completely unfazed by our presence as it warmed itself in the morning sun. It was the largest we saw at about 4 feet in length.
This crocodile is a juvenile about 3-4 years old and probably still close to its mother and under her protection. Here it is basking on a fallen branch and not very active.
The mangroves in the Daintree are diverse with over 30 species found in the area. Many are salt tolerant and can either filter the salt out or have special salt glands.
There are no bridges across the Daintree River. If you want to head north further into the rainforest and visit Cape Tribulation then you must use the Daintree ferry. It is a cable operated ferry and the crossing takes only 5 minutes but there is a toll to be paid which varies depending on the size of the vehicle but is currently $28 return for a car.
Cape Tribulation is the point where the tropical rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef. The headland was named by James Cook when his ship The Endeavour ran aground on the Barrier Reef and needed to be repaired. The headland encloses a superb beach. the area has probably not changed very much since Cook and his crew were here in 1770.
