Daintree Rainforest facts and introduction

Learn about the beautiful Daintree Rainforest facts and information.  Often referred to as the emerald of Tropical North Queensland, the World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest is the oldest virgin Rainforest in the World.

Located north of Cairns, the Daintree Rainforest stretches 95 kilometres before giving way to beautiful golden beaches and the Great Barrier Reef.

A unique feature of the Daintree is its varied landscape and breathtaking scenery.  It’s so environmentally valuable.  The Daintree National Park was created to protect it from tin mining, logging and major road-building.

Daintree’s beaches are among the World’s most magnificent.  The sultry air and sparkling waters with golden sands are surprisingly secluded and isolated.

Over 3,000 species of flora are in this Rainforest, 700 of them being unique to the Daintree.  This region also hosts at least 90 species of orchid, 40 species of fern and six types of conifer.  The World’s largest conifer is the twin Bull Kauri, towering more than 40 metres above the rainforest floor.

Thousands of birds, mammals and reptiles inhabit the lush vegetation, some very rare, like the endangered Cassowary, a brightly coloured bird in the Rainforest since prehistoric times.

Its gorgeous landscape, beautiful beaches, diverse animal and plant life and ancient Rainforest.  This region is world-famous as where the Rainforest meets the reef.  The Daintree region is an absolute must-see on any tour to Tropical North Queensland.

Daintree Rainforest Facts

  • The Rainforest was named after Richard Daintree, an Australian geologist and photographer (1832-1878)
  • 12,000 square kilometres
  • Listed as a World Heritage Site in 2015
  • 430 species of birds
  • 30% of the frog, reptile and marsupial species in Australia
  • over 12,000 species of insects
  • Three thousand species of plants, 395 of these listed as endangered or rare.
  • Some plants glow in the dark.
  • Sir David Attenborough says it is his favourite place on Earth.
  • The Daintree Rainforest is home to 300 threatened and rare species.

While you are in the Daintree, take one of the great walks or join a tour that includes guided walks.