What is so special about the Daintree Rainforest?

There are many different reasons why the Daintree Rainforest is special.

The Daintree Rainforest is one of the most unique places in the world and totally different to other rainforests around the world. The Daintree has a complex ecosystem, one of the many reasons why it’s so special.

It’s the oldest rainforest in the world

It’s hard to know exactly how old the Daintree Rainforest is, but it’s at least 135 million years old, but can be as old as 180 million years! The Daintree is even older than the famous Amazon Rainforest.

Daintree is considered the oldest rainforest due to some of the plants that live here. There are some plants that have been inherited from Gondwana. This was the time before Australia, Africa, South America, Antarctica, India, and Madagascar got separated.

Daintree is Australia’s largest rainforest

The Daintree Rainforest is the largest rainforest in Australia. Not only that, but it is also the third largest tropical rainforest in the world! It is about 1200 square kilometres and is 162 times bigger than Sydney Harbour.

You can access Daintree Rainforest from many North Queensland towns like Cairns, Port Douglas, and Cooktown.

The Daintree Rainforest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

There are only 20 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Australia, and the Daintree Rainforest is one of them! The rainforest was listed as a world heritage site in 1988.

Cape Tribulation is a coastal area in the Daintree Rainforest National Park with beautiful beaches. It is also a special area where the rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef meet which are two UNESCO sites.

It is the home to thousands of wildlife

Daintree Rainforest is home to 430 different species of animals. You can expect to see anything from birds, mammals, frogs, fish, reptiles, and insects.

Bird watchers will love the Daintree as there are so many different types of birds to spot like endangered and rare types. The lesser sooty owl, Macleay’s honeyeater, Victoria’s riflebird, and pied monarch can be found in the Daintree.

Other animals in the Daintree are the southern cassowary, saltwater crocodiles, and the local ringtail possum.

Why not spend a day and head up to the Daintree Rainforest for a tour and see for yourself the oldest rainforest in the world? While you are there, keep an eye out for the range of different animals who live there!