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Cairns has long been the ultimate tropical destination within Australia and is world famous as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. However, as breathtaking as the reef is, it’s not the only natural wonder that draws people to this part of the world.
The rainforests surrounding Cairns are the oldest living rainforests on the planet and remain largely unchanged since the time when the dinosaurs roamed the earth. This unique rainforest is home to the most extensive range of rare plant and animal species on earth, some of which have been around for millions of years.
Exploring these ancient forests is a must-do on your visit to Cairns, so here is a list of the best rainforest walks in the Cairns area to help get you started on your rainforest adventure.
Mossman Gorge
Located in the southern part of the World Heritage-Listed Daintree National Park, Mossman Gorge is a breathtakingly beautiful crystal-clear river marked by huge granite boulders and lined by dense tropical rainforest.
The Mossman Gorge Centre is a 2km drive from the town of Mossman, just north of Port Douglas. From here a shuttle bus will take you the rest of the way to the Mossman Gorge carpark where you can set off and soak up the wonders of the national park at your own pace, as you navigate the numerous walking tracks including the popular Rainforest Circuit Track.
Rainforest Circuit Track (from Rex Creek Bridge, 2.4km return, 45 minutes duration)
This track begins on the far side of Rex Creek Bridge. On the left, 80m from the bridge, there is a small lookout that provides stunning views of Manjal Dimbi (Mount Demi). A little way past the lookout, the track divides to form a circuit that meanders through the surrounding rainforest.
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Fitzroy Island
Fitzroy Island is a tropical island just off the coast of Cairns that is 97% national park, covered in lush rainforest. It offers a number of scenic national park bushwalking tracks for all ages and levels of fitness. The 339-hectare island has a rich array of flora and fauna all nestled within the island’s various landscapes.
Some of the walks that will take you through the island’s magical rainforest are:
Nudey Beach Track (1km return, 45 minutes duration)
The Nudey Beach Track is a nice leisurely walk that takes you through tropical rainforest and coastal woodlands before opening onto the stunning award winning white coral beach.
Nudey Beach was voted Australia’s #2 Best Beach and here you’ll find calm blue waters, perfect for swimming, snorkelling or just relaxing on the beach.
Secret Garden Track (1km return, 45 minutes duration)
This track explores the western edge of the jetty, taking in the giant granite boulders and lush tropical rainforest.
Summit Track (2.6km return – 3 hours duration)
This walk is recommended for fit walkers only, as it passes over very steep terrain. Starting by heading up the Boulder Trail from behind the jetty, the Summit Track takes in tropical rainforest and coastal woodlands before opening out to stunning views of the island and surrounding ocean.
Fitzroy Island has a wide range of accommodation options for those who would like to take their time discovering these unique rainforest walks.
Barron Gorge National Park
The Barron Gorge National Park extends from the coastal lowlands at Lake Placid to the elevated regions of the Atherton Tableland near Kuranda and is the centre of a fascinating network of historic trails.
These trails were originally developed by the Djabugai People when they hunted and gathered food in their traditional tribal lands. With the arrival of European settlement, the trails were then used by miners and agriculturalists in their drive to open up the hinterland and connect it with the coast.
There are a number of walks ranging from 30 minutes to 6 hours in length. One of the more popular walks is:
The Douglas Track (7.8km one way, 4 to 6 hours duration)
The Douglas Track is a historic trail that links the Atherton Tablelands with the coastal plains near Cairns. It is an easy to moderate walk, suitable for fit walkers that takes you through dense rainforest.
Image Credit: cairnscityapartments.com.au
Mount Bartle Frere
Mount Bartle Frere is Queensland’s highest mountain and climbing the summit of this mountain offers a challenging way to explore part of the World Heritage-listed rainforest of the Bellenden Ker Range.
The walking track at Mount Bartle Frere can be either accessed from the coast at Josephine Falls or from the west via the Atherton Tablelands and takes 6 to 8 hours for the return trip. There are two main sections to the track, in the rainforest and above the rainforest in the boulder field.
Although the trail is well marked, it is unformed and very steep and can be quite dangerous in the wet weather, so is best attempted in the cooler dryer months. If you want to complete the walk in one day you need to set out quite early, otherwise it is possible to camp on the mountain, but you’ll have to carry all your own gear.
Image Credit: tablelandadventureguides.com.au
Trying to choose the best rainforest walks near Cairns is no easy task, as this unique part of the world is full of amazing walking tracks to discover. However, we believe the walks listed above are definitely amongst the best and a great place to start exploring the amazing ancient rainforest surrounding Cairns.
