Sitting high in Queensland’s north, Daintree National Park covers a lush 1200 square kilometre footprint. It’s a tropical rainforest wilderness and boasts a high concentration of endemic plant and animal species that aren’t found anywhere else on the planet. The biodiverse-rich region has been listed as a national park since 1981 and has even won attention from the likes of Sir David Attenborough himself.
For nature lovers, Daintree National Park is an absolute paradise. There are endless opportunities to explore the park, from 4WD adventures and canopy zip-lines to independent hikes and overnight beach camping. Day trip from Cairns, or dedicate a few days to cruising its rivers, strolling along its beaches and gazing up at the lush rainforest canopy.
Daintree National Park is located 100 kilometres north-west of Cairns, and around 1,500 kilometres from Brisbane. Guided tours are always popular, though it’s also possible to rent a car and explore the park independently. For those wanting to soak up the gorgeous Daintree scenery at their own pace, self-drive tours are a great option.
While it was founded in 1981, Daintree National Park’s roots date back to ancient times. Scientists covet the rainforest as one of the oldest on the planet and maintain that it’s the closest living example of the dense jungles that once covered the supercontinent of Gondwana.