6 Awe-Inspiring Facts About the Daintree Rainforest

Queensland’s Daintree Rainforest is a lush expanse home to thousands of Australia’s precious flora and fauna.

1. World’s Oldest Rainforest

That’s right! The Daintree Rainforest stands as a testament to time at the ripe old age of around 180 million years, making it the oldest tropical lowland rainforest in the world! Even outliving the dinosaurs, its resilience through the Ice Age and other global events remains a marvel. What we do know though is that Queensland’s consistently humid and warm climate have been critical in helping it prosper.

2. Home to many of Australia’s rare and unique species

Perhaps the most astonishing thing about the Daintree Rainforest is the amount of flora and fauna that it houses, despite covering less than 0.2% of Australia’s total landmass. Thirty percent of Australia’s frogs, reptiles and marsupials, along with ninety percent of the country’s bat and butterfly species live here.

Among the incredibly diverse fauna that inhabit this huge land expanse are the elusive Bennett’s Tree Kangaroo, huge Southern Cassowary, and even the world’s largest frog, the ! Other endemic species that can’t be found anywhere else on Earth include the Spotted-Tailed Quoll and Ulysses Butterfly!

3. Inspiration for the movie “Avatar 2”

Renowned filmmaker James Cameron is said to have drawn inspiration from the Daintree Rainforest after he visited during the making of the blockbuster. We wouldn’t be surprised if that’s the case, as the towering canopies and symphony of wildlife sounds do have a real otherworldly quality that captivates the imagination. 

4. You can find Glowworms and Bioluminescent plants here!

Adding to its charm, the Daintree Rainforest has glow-in-the-dark moss and fungus! You might be lucky enough to spot some of the forest’s enchanting nocturnal life yourself if you’re lucky. You may also spot the bright bursts of light created by fireflies drifting through the trees especially after rain.

5. Size of 25 thousand football fields (four small countries)

It is the largest tropical rainforest in Australia, and four times the size of Malta. Its enormous size means it can be accessed from a handful of different Tropical North Queensland towns – Port Douglas, Cairns, Cape Tribulation and Cooktown.

6. Welcomes more than 400K annual visitors 

It is no surprise that this lush concentration of natural beauty is so popular among tourists. Every year, more than 400 thousand visitors flock there to spend time touring, exploring and camping in the rainforest, hoping to encounter some of its rare species and discover its more than 3000 species of plants.

How to visit Daintree Rainforest

While you can visit the Daintree Rainforest without a tour, guided tours are definitely recommended for those who want to get more out of their time in the forest! Your experienced guide will teach you all about the indigenous significance of the forest and the natural beauty that surrounds you.

Click here to read our ultimate Guide to the Daintree Rainforest.