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Visitor Information - Travel Tips
Take a Local Guide
  There's
no better way to visit the Wet Tropics than with a local guide.
There are dozens of tours available for most areas of interest.
You can bungy jump, ride a cable car through the rainforest canopy,
coast over the landscape in a hot air balloon or a helicopter, go
white water rafting, look for possums during the night, go birdwatching,
do an educational walk or travel further afield on 4-day treks up
to Cape York Peninsula. A knowledgeable guide will enrich your rainforest
experience by taking you to places off the beaten track and telling
you the "inside story" of local history, culture and the
tropical lifestyle. You'll also learn why the Wet Tropics was considered
so important that it was proclaimed a World Heritage Area.
 Some
visitors opt to see the rainforest through indigenous eyes. Aboriginal
guides offer insights into the culture and bush survival skills
of the people of the rainforest. There are stories to tell about
how plants and
animals were used and the place they hold in Aboriginal legends.
Taking a tour is a great opportunity to meet people
from all over the world, and to share your experiences. Many tours
are limited to small numbers of people to keep the experience personal.
There are also sound environmental reasons for taking a tour. Groups
travelling in a single vehicle reduce the threat to wildlife on
the roads, reduce air pollution and feature a knowledgeable guide
to point out features of interest and answer your questions. Taking
a tour also means that you'll never have to worry about getting
lost!
Camping
 Public
camping areas in national parks, state forests and reserves in the
Wet Tropics provide scenic surroundings for a minimal charge. Some sites have self registration and others require you to book online. You can buy credits in advance for self registration sites and online booking sites.
For more information about credits and to make online campsite bookings, visit the EPA website.
If campsites are full, don't be tempted to camp illegally in a side road or other public area. With growing numbers of people on the road, it is no longer safe or hygienic to do so. Instead, opt for one of the many commercial campgrounds or accommodation in nearby towns.
Visiting Remote Areas
Travelling along remote roads and walking tracks
in the World Heritage Area can be both a rewarding and a risky experience.
Sudden and extreme rainfall events can swell creeks into impassable
torrents and wash out roads. Fast growing vines and prickly wait-a-while
can smother trails in a matter of months, and thick rainforest can
make navigation very difficult.
Before you set out on a camping trip or bushwalk,
find out from a ranger or experienced local what items you might
want to have on hand to make your activity more comfortable and
to protect your safety. Ask for recommendations based on where you
plan to go. You might need rain gear, extra batteries or torches
(flashlights), a first aid kit, vinegar (see the marine animals
page), maps, a compass, or perhaps some extra containers of petrol
(gasoline). Don't feel any question is stupid - be prepared and
you'll have a much more enjoyable time.
Due to the difficulty and fragility of some rainforest
walks and drives, visitor numbers are limited in some areas and
you may be required to apply for permit. Most of the walks and drives
described in the travel pages of this website don't require a permit.
However, if you're considering heading off the beaten track, look
up 'Ranger Contacts'
and discuss your plans with the relevant agency to find out about
local conditions and whether you will need a permit.
Two inexpensive paperback books you might want
to buy at a local bookshop are:
- Going Bush by Lawrie and Julie McEnally, Bay
Books
- First Aid in the Bush by Bruce Wilson, 1992,
Wilderness Publications
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