The region from Port Douglas to Cooktown offers visitors a range of experiences including scenic coastal drives, some of the most spectacular rainforest on earth and a taste of the rugged and remote landscape of Cape York Peninsula. Just north of Palm Cove, the Captain Cook Highway hugs its undulating coastline for the 45km journey to Port Douglas and Mossman. Visitors can explore the rugged mountain backdrops at the Bump Track near Port Douglas and Mossman Gorge.
About 30km north of Mossman is the Daintree Coast, popular among visitors for its perfect reef and rainforest vistas. The Daintree is home to Australia's largest remaining stand of lowland tropical rainforest - a last refuge for unique plants and animals with a history stretching back over many millions of years.
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!
visit the Wildlife Habitat's website.
The Wildlife 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.
Wildlife 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.
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 Daintree Discovery Centre is a multi-faceted, 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.
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.
Open every day (except Christmas Day) from 8:30am to 5pm. Entry fee applies (concessions available).
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-2pm, 7 days a week. Admission by gold coin donation.