These 10 Daintree Rainforest facts will blow your mind

Why not join the 400,000 others who descend on the Daintree Rainforest each year? The World Heritage-listed wonder stretches up to Cooktown and down to the Great Dividing Range. This is the home of one of the world's oldest surviving rainforests, where ancient king ferns and giant bull kauri pines mingle with cassowary and crocodiles. But that’s not the only reason why this place belongs on every bucket list - as these 10 mind-blowing Daintree Rainforest facts go to show.

1. The Daintree is the world’s oldest surviving tropical rainforest

A part of the Wet Tropics of Queensland which reaches across the Cairns district, the Daintree is one of the oldest continually surviving rainforests in the world. At the ripe old age of 130 million years, this luscious gathering of plant and animal life is millions of years older than the Amazon and has continued to prosper thanks to its continuous rainfall and humid climate.

2. You can straddle two World Heritage-listed wonders at once with a visit to Cape Tribulation

One of the best Daintree Rainforest facts is undoubtedly that it’s the only place in the world where two World Heritage wonders coexist side-by-side. A trip to bushwalking haven Cape Tribulation is a special experience - it’s in this exact location where rainforest meets reef, and you can step straight out from under the canopy onto the sand.

3. The region is home to a thriving food culture

Perhaps a surprising Daintree Rainforest fact is that natural beauty isn’t the only experience on offer. Enjoy an edible adventure with the Daintree Food Trail, the celebration of the produce and people of the Daintree and Douglas Shire. Use the designated map to guide your tastebuds, from the exotic fruit orchard and 2,500 species of Cape Trib Farm, to the unique flavours of the Daintree Ice Cream Company.

4. You can spend the night under the rainforest canopy

The Daintree isn’t scarce of accommodation options. A slew of sleeping spaces for each and every budget can be found scattered among the foliage. Stand-outs include the Daintree Ecolodge, where a chance to reconnect with nature is guaranteed. Special mention goes to the venue’s resident eatery, Julaymba Restaurant, where seriously local produce (palm heart and crocodile included) sits on the menu.

5. The rainforest is home to a celebration of rich Indigenous culture

Immersing yourself in the heritage of Queensland’s Indigenous community is easy in these parts - experience the region through the eyes of the 18 rainforest Aboriginal tribal groups via an ever-growing array of interactive experiences. A visit to the Mossman Gorge Centre and its Dreamtime Walk is a non-negotiable - a meander through ancient sites steeped in heritage. Not to mention Walkabout Cultural Adventures, 100% owned and operated by the Kuku Yalanji in Cape Tribulation.

6. The Daintree is four times the size of a small country

One of the Daintree Rainforest’s best facts is related to its sheer size. The biggest tropical rainforest in Australia, the region stretches across 1,200 square kilometres which is roughly around four times the size of Malta, or Sydney Harbour 162 times over. Because it’s so big, the Daintree Rainforest can be accessed from a handful of different Tropical North Queensland towns - the most popular routes depart from Port Douglas, Cairns, Cape Tribulation and Cooktown.

7. You’ll find 65% of Australia’s bat and butterfly species, and 35% of its frog, marsupial and reptile species here

Not to mention the other unique animal life that call themselves local residents. A hefty majority of Australia’s wildlife resides under the rainforest canopy, 400 rare or threatened species included. Keep an eye out for the likes of the Southern Cassowary, the Tree Kangaroo, and the world’s largest frog, the White Lipped Tree Frog, while you’re visiting.

8. The tree species are equally unique and abundant

Talk about amazing Daintree Rainforest fact - there are more tree species in one hectare of the rainforest than in the entirety of the United Kingdom, with the region home to more than 3,000 different types of plants. You can get a better glimpse of the canopy and its variety of plant life with a visit to the Daintree Discovery Centre, where you can take in the views from the famous 23-metre Rainforest Canopy Tower.

9. 2 metres of rain falls on the rainforest each year

A little rain is no stranger to the Daintree Rainforest, which relies on a consistent downpour to sustain its luscious habitat. The average rainfall sits around 2000 mm per year, but has reached up to 9000 mm per year before. More than 60% of this rain occurs during the wet season, which runs between December and March.

10. The Daintree is home to the highest concentration of primitive plant life globally

The Daintree is awash with ancient plant life, with 12 of the 19 primitive flowering plant families present here - making it the most impressive collection of these species worldwide. This includes Australia’s most impressive botanical find, the idiot fruit. Discovered in 1970, the idiot fruit (or Idiospermum Australiense), is one of the world’s rarest and most primitive of all flowering plants.