Daintree & Wonga

Enter the magical environment of the Daintree, the planet’s oldest tropical rainforest, for a window on an ancient world that has evolved over one hundred and thirty five million years. The biodiversity of this UNESCO World Heritage listed area is such that it is home to the world’s largest range of plants and animals with fabulous opportunities for visitors to discover the secrets of a precious and pristine environment.

Self drive, 4WD and other tours are an excellent way to experience the area and guided walks with the Indigenous Kuku Yalanji people afford an understanding of how very important the rainforests are to our world with their ability to sustain life providing traditional foods and medicines as well as a significant spiritual environment.

The sights and sounds of the rainforest can be mesmerising – there are gorgeous orchids, bright butterflies and the vast rainforest canopy is home to no less than 430 species of birds including the distinctive cassowary, a large, flightless native bird which has to be seen to be believed with its helmet-like head, bright blue neck and long red ‘wattles’. The cassowary and Bennett’s Tree Kangaroo, which really does climb trees, count amongst the rainforest’s many unusual, endangered and endearing characters.

Rare woody vines entwine the shaded, mysterious world beneath the high rainforest canopy and the wonders of the area also include one of the most primitive flowering plants, the Ribbonwood tree, as well as an ancient fern which apparently developed its formidable underground trunk system in self-defence itself against the grazing habits of passing dinosaurs.

You’ll hear, if not see, frogs, discover little turtles in crystal clear streams and, to the north, experience the phenomenon of the rainforest meeting the reef in a unique liaison between two very different World Heritage sites, the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Wonga Beach is located south of the Daintree and just 30 minutes drive from Port Douglas. Here, you will find a selection of luxury holiday homes with private swimming pools and all the mod cons.