The four wheel drive carry all rocked down the rutted jungle track, burst out of the cool, dark forest and emerged into the bright coastal sunlight. The Daintree rain forest is one of the great natural wonders of the world and after leaving it just 10 miles offshore we were faced by another one in the Great Barrier Reef. When it comes to northern Queensland, it is one of the least developed regions along Australia's tropical northeast coast where two wonders are located side by side.
What you will find here is one of the oldest rain forests in the world. In this part of the northern coast is where the reef, stretching north and south along 1,250 miles of shore, swings closest to land. Available in the rainforest and reef is easy visitor access.
If you wish to see 1,200 species of tropical reef fish or the 350 types of spectacularly colorful living coral that make up the reef then you should consider watching from an underwater observatory, from a glass sided submersible craft, or by diving.
Jumping off was done in Cairns which was the gateway to Australia's Marlin Coast, it has the charm of a British colonial outpost and is a small tropical city of 85,000. Twisting 21 miles up and through mountains, gorges, and rain forests to the village of Kuranda, we rode the 100 year old Cairns Kuranda Railway during our out of town trip. Before driving north along the Marlin Coast and inland toward the rain forest for 90 minutes, we went back to Cairns.
In the nearby rain forest are 13 of the 19 families of ancient plant life still found on Earth. When it comes to these, some date back to 130 million years.
Originally built for logging, you will pass by old rutted dirt tracks through the forest so you need four wheel drive vehicles. A more leisurely look at the rain forest is possible through pull offs, one that opens on to an hour's easy stroll along a well marked trail.
One tour service offers environmentally sensitive into the rain forest which comes with a boat ride down the Daintree River and starts from Silky Oaks. Taking the old gold rush village of Port Douglas into consideration, we drove a short drive to one of the major gateways to the Great Barrier Reef from Silky Oaks. Scuba divers had charter boats to use, there were sailboats for skimmers, and ferrying groups of people to permanent platforms atop the reef is a fleet of twin hulled jet catamarans.
An option to take so as not to get wet while taking a look at the beauty of the coral reef and its multicolored fish is to ride one of two glass-sided semi submersibles that offer 30 minute trips alongside the coral. Guided by trained marine biologists are the snorkeling trips.
Frequented by the locals is the open air coffee shop in the local hotel where we stayed in and its swimming pool has private grottoes, one of which is behind a waterfall. Located outside downtown Port Douglas is the famous Four Mile Beach with beautiful stretches of palm fringed white sand curving along the ocean.
In terms of Port Douglas, away from sea it is also a jump off point that offers a different view of the northern Queensland environment. A prime cattle raising area during the last century was a tableland high above the coast and there are still several of the original homesteads on the old cattle ranches in existence today.
One such property is Wetherby, site of a 1870s homestead and still a working cattle station. As a result of the family proprietors opening it to tourists, the real Australia can be seen.
Before taking off for your trip, don't forget to buy travel insurance. This is if you want a relaxed trip.
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