North Queensland, Australia travel guide: Visit David Attenborough’s ‘favourite place’

In Australia’s Cairns airport, David Attenborough regarded down on us as we acquire our baggage. His acquainted smiling face is on an enormous billboard, with a few of his equally enormous quotes. They adore Sir David on this a part of the world and it’s not exhausting to see why. He has described tropical North Queensland as his favorite place on the earth.

“It has for a naturalist, all the pieces” he mentioned. “An incredible rainforest, which is sort of not like another rainforest on the earth”. Not solely that, he added, “down on the coast it has the Nice Barrier Reef”.

I concluded that if it’s adequate for one of many world’s most travelled males, then it’s greater than adequate for my spouse, two youngsters and me.

We have been determined to discover each reef and rainforest, two Unesco World Heritage websites facet by facet, nevertheless it was on the river the place our Attenborough journey started.

“Guys, don’t ever go within the water,” mentioned Marc as he guided us up the Daintree River in his solar-powered boat. We have been on the hunt for Scarface, infamous king of the crocs, 5 metres lengthy, with half a dozen girlfriends and totally cold-blooded (actually).

Immediately there he was, his big physique slipping via the water with a sluggish flick of the tail, no ripples, no noise, simply menacing eyes. “He’s wonderful with us being right here,” mentioned Marc, “so long as we keep out of the water”.

With these phrases ringing in our ears, the very subsequent day we did the unthinkable. We received within the water.

North of Cairns, within the coronary heart of the Daintree Nationwide Park, is Mossman Gorge. Its magnificence is as exhausting to understand as its historical origins – as much as 180 million years previous.

Learn extra: Why you need to e book a vacation to Ningaloo, Australia’s ‘different reef’

Below the rainforest cover, electrical blue Ulysses butterflies flit previous and camouflaged Boyd’s forest dragon reptiles (that are solely discovered right here) cling to the bark of historical timber that pressure, stretch and compete for the daylight.

We have been fairly merely in awe as we ran our fingers via smooth moss and gazed up at strangler figs wrapped round pink tulip oaks. The vegetation was a juicy hundred shades of inexperienced after a very moist interval. There are 3,000 species of flora right here, 700 of them distinctive to the Daintree, and 1000’s of birds, mammals and reptiles.

However no crocs; the water on this shady paradise is simply too chilly.

On inflatable rafts – assume industrial-strength lilo – we drifted downstream, via dappled daylight, a lazy river journey like no different. We couldn’t cease grinning, enveloped by this pure marvel, each exhilarating and supremely enjoyable in equal measure.

The Daintree Rainforest stretches 60 miles earlier than giving strategy to golden seashores and the Nice Barrier Reef. Seen from area, it’s 1,400 miles lengthy and made up of two,900 particular person reefs and 900 islands.

In line with our naturalist theme, we signed up to a “be a marine biologist for the day” programme with Passions of Paradise, the one regionally owned firm providing excursions of the reef.

We have been joined by our information, the infectiously enthusiastic and educated Corinda de Mooij. As we headed out to sea on a formidable crusing catamaran with round 70 different vacationers, she defined how the crew help with the Australian Authorities’s Eye on the Reef programme: “Vacationer companies work with scientists to collect knowledge. The extra individuals who go to the reef and acquire knowledge, the extra info might be gathered to get a greater image of the reef’s situation”.

Learn extra: How travellers are in search of out Australia’s scorching springs on the Mornington Peninsula

Snorkelling among the many vibrant coral and fish usually seen in an aquarium is actually mesmerising. Nothing prepares you for the color, selection and otherworldliness of all of it. With our waterproof pens and clipboards, we famous rainbow fish and clownfish, clams and sea cucumbers, parrot fish and even white-tipped sharks. Removed from a gimmick, all the data collected day by day from our boat, and lots of others, is added into an enormous database to, fairly actually, get a deeper understanding of the well being of this pure marvel going through local weather change stress.

In addition to his enthusiasm for North Queensland, David Attenborough additionally as soon as mentioned “dwelling” is his different favorite spot on the globe. And once we received again to our dwelling and mirrored on our journey, we determined, like him, we share precisely the identical ideas on the 2 finest areas on the earth to spend our time.

What to do

Stroll via the rainforest then drift down the Mossman River after a conventional Kuku Yalanji smoking ceremony the place you’ll be cleansed of dangerous spirits. From A$270 (£140) per grownup

See the Daintree from the air on the Sky Rail. The cable automotive offers you an incredible view, particularly if you happen to select one with a glass backside. Go to the ‘hippy’ mountain city of Kuranda then take the Scenic Railway again down. Costs begin from A$68 (£35).

Snorkel, dive and sail across the reef with multi-award-winning Passions of Paradise. Costs begin at A$260 (£170) and embrace a improbable lunch, refreshments and tools.

The place to remain

Mantra PortSea Resort in Port Douglas is a superb worth. It’s simply moments from the seaside and a 15-minute stroll to the city centre.

For a central location in Cairns, we predict Crystalbrook Bailey would win an approving nod from Sir David with wood key playing cards, waste-free bogs and an EarthCheck silver-level certification.

Sir David additionally mentioned North Queensland has “terrific wine and meals”, and he’s not improper. After driving via whispering sugarcane fields, we had a surprising lunch within the open-air restaurant at luxurious bolthole Silky Oaks Lodge overlooking the Mossman River.

How one can get there 

There are day by day flights to Cairns from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. Or if you’re feeling adventurous, take the Bruce Freeway coast highway from Brisbane to Cairns, protecting 1,000 miles. A quantity or airways fly from the UK to Australia, together with British Airways, Singapore Airways, Emirates, Delta Air Strains, Virgin Atlantic and American Airways.

Learn extra: Australia journey information: The whole lot you want to know earlier than you go