Travel Guide Daintree National Park

The Daintree National Park is a world apart, both hostile and enchanting, steeped in history and magic. Listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, the Daintree is an invitation to rewilding and a journey back in time: this 135 million year old forest is one of the oldest natural sanctuaries on the planet. Giant trees and their vines form the vaults of these cathedrals where slender palms, giant ferns and purple orchids grow. The thick rainforest invades the bank of the Daintree River where crocodiles watch over the river and can reach up to 9 meters in length. In the heart of this primary forest, the fauna (500 animal species) and flora (3,000 plant species) are fascinating: with its horny crest, its long blue neck and its powerful legs with sharp claws, the cassowary is a bird with the appearance of a dinosaur. You may see a fluorescent green frog with sucker legs, the occasional sugar glider opossum, cat marsupials, and even fluorescent mushrooms growing on tree trunks. Considered the oldest rainforest in the world, the Daintree returned in 2021 to the protection of those who have protected it for generations: the Aborigines. The government handed over this priceless heritage to the Kuku Yalanji people, who are now the official owners and custodians of the park.