Destination Atherton Tableland Rainforest by day
Duration Day Tour
Departing Cairns Daily 8:00am
Returning Cairns 5.30pm
The Tour
Experience North Queensland from a different perspective with this eco sensitive 4WD safari. Taking you away from the mass marketed areas to one of the north's last wilderness frontiers, where there are no ‘touristy crowds’, no other vehicles and no sealed roads, just pristine ‘World Heritage Listed Rainforest’. This area is little known and not often promoted; this tour offers a non-commercial look at the Cairns Hinterland & Tablelands World Heritage Rainforest, Outback and the Australian bush in a customized 4 Wheel Drive Vehicle. With no set schedules or timetables, you will enjoy the pace of your day at leisure.
Begin the day by ascending the Hinterland Mountain region and into the first World Heritage National Parks at 2400 feet above sea-level (800M). Enjoy morning tea in the tranquility of the rainforest on the edge of an extinct Volcanic Crater Lake. Here is a chance of a morning swim in the crystal waters, and a nature walk to spot wildlife such as the Jurassic aged Eastern Water Dragons, Bearded Dragons and Saw Shell Snapper Turtles.
Then it’s time to head off-road, entering the ‘Land of the Giants’ Rainforest Trees. This is the only area where true ancient living giants live. One with a height of 53 Meters (160 feet) and a circumference of 43 Meters (130 feet) this massive natural structure is spectacular. Rainforest species and local ‘bush tucker’ are revealed by your experienced Naturalist Guide.
Enjoy lunch in the rainforest including freshly BBQ’d marinated Chicken or Steak with salads, wine and soft drink on the edge of a great lake frequented by few to no others..
This ‘Eco Adventure’ continues in the afternoon as you ascend higher mountain peaks on ‘restricted access’ narrow 4WD trails into areas used for scientific research and wildlife studies. The rainforest in this area so immense it is hard to imagine explorers back in 1882 once rode their horses blazing the first trails.
This area is also a regular habitat for the rare native Cassowary. As you pass from jungle to open woodlands, descending down the north side of the mountain into the Australian Bush there is the chance of being able to spot some of our unique marsupials such as the Pretty Face & Agile Wallabies, Wallaroos & Eastern Greys. Here it is also possible to glimpse on occasion the rare, "White Kangaroo".
Appearing almost in the middle of nowhere is the local fruit vendor. You will have the opportunity to taste local fruits before heading into the mighty Clohesy River area with real 4WD river crossings (platypus habitat) and back into another rainforest National Park. See other impressive giant rainforest trees, unique birds nests and one of our most dangerous plants the "stinging tree". A look is all you need for this one, as touching this plane will have you feeling as though you've just been stung by a dozen bees.
The 4WD rainforest track continues over higher mountain peaks into further restricted access areas (under permanent lock and key) offering views from the top of the ‘Lambs Head Range’ and onto the Whitfield Range. Traverse slowly down a steep track towards the Lake Morris Ranger Station, offering amazing views over ‘The Lake’ and the mountains just conquered. The final decent from here to the edge of cairns offers you a view of the city from above before finally arriving in the civilization of Cairns at approximately 5.30pm
Rates
*An AU$2.00 per person fuel levy applies and is payable directly to the operator on the day of travel