Daintree

The second largest state in Australia, Queensland has some of the continent's most breathtaking places. Nicknamed the “Sunshine State” because of its warm weather, a large portion of Queensland is in the tropics. Due to its tropical climate, Queensland boasts of wonderfully diverse flora and fauna. Unlike some of Australian states that cover arid lands, Queensland is blessed with dense rainforests and picturesque coastlines. Queensland has five of Australia's World Heritage preservation areas: the Australian Fossil Mammal Sites, the Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves, Fraser Island, the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics of Queensland.

The Wet Tropics of Queensland is a series of natural parks located in Far North, a region covering the northeastern most part of Queensland. This World Heritage preservation area stretches 450 kilometers from Townsville to Cooktown. Other places that comprise this vast naturalist's paradise include Mossman, Cairns and Daintree.

Daintree

A small yet controversial settlement, Daintree is 54 kilometers and 111 kilometers away from Port Douglas and Cairns, respectively. Blessed with Mother Nature's beauty, Daintree boasts the steep McDowell Ranges and the flowing Daintree River, which are both located close by. The town got its name from Richard Daintree, a well-known British geologist and photographer who migrated to Australia in the mid-19th century.

The first settlers of Daintree came around 1870 to 1880. They were timber workers who came to the place in search of the Toona Australis or the Australian Red Cedar. During that time, the Australian Red Cedar grew abundantly in the nearby rainforest and along the Daintree River. The timber workers cut these trees and transport their logs via the river using rafts. Since the arrival of timber workers, Daintree saw an influx of settlers from various places. Dairy farmers also came to Daintree and were even able to establish a butter factory there in 1924.

At present, Daintree is a thriving town. It has schools, a number of business establishments, a museum and several other significant structures. Even though it had already been a century since the timber workers first came to Daintree, the wood industry did not vanish. In fact, a handful of shops in Daintree are dedicated to woodworking producing some of the most beautiful wooden furniture. In recent years, Daintree has established a strong tourist industry, attracting thousands of backpackers from all over the world every year.

Attractions

A tourist's wonderland, Daintree has some of the most fascinating and magnificent places of interest. Just one of the must-sees in the town is the Daintree National Park, a natural park that belongs to the Wet Tropics of Queensland. Located northwest of Brisbane and Cairns, the Daintree National Park was founded in 1988. The park features a 130-million-year old rainforest, the Mossman Gorge, the Cape Tribulation and the Bouncing Stones Site. Another World Heritage site that can be found near Daintree is the Great Barrier Reef, the largest coral reef system in the world. Stretching for 2,600 kilometers in the Coral Sea, the Great Barrier Reef is hailed as one of the world's best diving destinations because of its diverse underwater biota.

Other things that are worth seeing in Daintree are the Daintree River, the deserted beaches and the mangrove forests. The Daintree River, which was discovered by Dalrymple in 1873, boasts abundant vegetation and astounding riverside scenery. Meanwhile, the deserted beaches provide peaceful surroundings that are perfect for people who want a serene and relaxing sightseeing experience. Daintree also features the cassowary, an endangered species of flightless bird that are native to the place. Another attraction is the Kuku Yulanji Country, a region that has a cultural and spiritual importance to the indigenous Australians.

With so many places to see and things to do in Daintree, no one would even think of it as a small town. Couple big attractions with friendly people and the result is one of the most amazing places in Australia if not, the world.