Rainforest Habitat - Port Douglas

The Rainforest Habitat is one of Australia's leading environmental wildlife displays and is an accredited Wet Tropics Visitor Centre. It displays a wide cross-section of Wet Tropics flora and fauna in three extensive environments - rainforest, wetland and grassland. There are 1,200 animals representing 150 species. Most are free-flying, hopping, walking and crawling so that animals and visitors can freely interact - except for the crocodiles which are viewed from a boardwalk above their pond.

Rainforest Habitat offers visitors a range of services including tours with experienced guides and information on what to see and where to go in this magnificent section of the Wet Tropics.

It is a privately owned interpretive centre with an admission charge. Phone them on (07) 4099-3235 or visit the Rainforest Habitat's website.

Daintree Discovery Centre

The Daintree Discovery Centre is an award-winning world class interpretive facility that allows visitors easy access to this unique rainforest wilderness via boardwalk tours, a 23 metre high Canopy Tower, Aerial Walkway and comprehensive Display Centre.

Established in 1989, the Centre is widely recognised as a leader in the field of ecotourism and provides an excellent introduction to the wonders of the Daintree Rainforest.

The Discovery Centre offers visitors an opportunity to learn about and explore one of the few remaining unspoiled pockets of lowland rainforest in Far North Queensland while, at the same time, protecting the fragile environment.

The Daintree Discovery Centre is a multi-faceted venue comprising a:

• Interpretive Display Centre
• Coffee Shop
• Environment Shop
• Audio Visual Theatre
• Elevated Rainforest Boardwalks
• Guided Group Tours
• Self-Guided Audio Tours
• Interpretive Guide Book
• The Canopy Tower
• The Aerial Walkway

The Environmental Centre is open every day (except Christmas Day) from 8:30am to 5:00pm. Entry fee applies (concessions available).

Daintree Discovery Centre
Cnr Cape Tribulation Rd & Tulip Oak Rd,
Cow Bay, Queensland, 4873, Australia
Ph/Fax: 07 4098 9171 (Intl: 61 7 4098 9171) Email: centre@daintree-rec.com.au

Cape Tribulation Environment Centre

This small interpretive centre (formerly known as The Bat House) is an accredited Wet Tropics Visitor Centre staffed by volunteers who talk to visitors about the rainforest, reef and alternative technology. It is the 'shopfront' for the Australian Tropical Research Foundation (AUSTROP) which operates a research station at Cape Tribulation. The station provides educational opportunities to university students through internships but researchers can also make arrangements to use the facilities. Current research includes alternative technology for the tropics, cluster figs, blossom bats and their relatives, and the genetic diversity of the Daintree Coast's rare plants.

The Environment Centre is open from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm daily and charges a small entry fee to fund research activities and the yearly rescue of orphaned spectacled flying foxes. The research station can be contacted on (07) 4098-0063.

Nature's Powerhouse Visitor Centre

Nestled in bushland in Cooktown's historic Botanic Gardens, this centre features displays curated by the Queensland Museum, an art gallery displaying works of acclaimed botanic artist Vera Scarth-Johnson and the Charles Tanner gallery of wildlife of Cape York Peninsula.

The centre is open from 9am-5pm and the café is open from 10am-4pm, 7 days a week. Admission charges apply.

Ph (07) 4069 6004 or check out the website

Attractions

Captain Cook Highway

The stretch of highway which winds along the coast north of Cairns to Port Douglas is one the world's top scenic drives.

Until the 1930s the only way to travel north from Cairns was inland via the Atherton Tableland and down the notorious 'Bump Track' west of Port Douglas. The Cook Highway was built along the rugged northern coastline, with steep mountain ranges providing a stunning backdrop to the coastal beaches and headlands.

In the southern section, the mountains are parallel to the prevailing winds. The result is less cloud formation and less rain, so the main vegetation is open eucalypt forest with an understorey of cycads. Take your time and explore the beaches and opportunistic picnic spots along the way. Watch out for stinging jellyfish in the summer months and remember - crocodiles may be present in streams and estuaries.

Daintree River ferry crossing - gateway to the Daintree Coast

A 21 vehicle car ferry provides transport across the Daintree River, about 8km (5 miles) from where the river flows into the sea. This is crocodile habitat, so do not swim or paddle in the water at the ferry crossing.

The ferry operates from 6am to midnight everyday except Christmas Day.

It takes just a few minutes to cross the river and the ferry averages 140 crossings each day, travelling about 15,000 km (over 9,000 miles) a year along its wire rope. Avoid delays by crossing outside the peak periods of 9-11am and 3:30-6pm. When boarding the ferry, please follow loading instructions from the Traffic Controller. Stay in your car at all times except when you have to pay.

Inland Road to Cooktown

The Peninsula-Cooktown Development Road gives travellers a taste of the Australian outback.

The 340km (211 mile) all-season road is mainly bitumen (paved) with some sections of gravel and is suitable for conventional vehicles. There are roadhouses (food and petrol) at Mt Molloy, Mt Carbine, the Palmer River and Lakeland Downs. Turn west at Lakeland Downs and travel 60km (37 miles) along a gravel road towards Laura to visit one of the world's largest collections of indigenous art.

The region's rocky escarpments has provided Aboriginal people with magnificent canvasses for many thousands of years. Contact the Angnara Aboriginal Corporation on 4060-3214 to organise a local Aboriginal guide.

Cooktown

Captain James Cook spent six weeks here at the Endeavour River inlet repairing the coral-damaged hull of his ship.

One hundred years later, Cooktown was founded as thousands of people were lured north by the promise of gold. The gold ran out by the turn of the 20th Century but, these days, there is a new rush of travellers lured north by the fascinating history and continuing reputation of this frontier town. The town has a small airport with daily flights from Cairns and there is a regular bus service via Coral Coaches.