The Land Down Under is the one of the only places in the world where two UNESCO World Heritage sites meet. It is home to the Great Barrier Reef as well as the Wet Tropics of Queensland, the oldest tropical rainforest on earth. If adventuring in two marvels of biodiversity are on your bucket list, the travel advisors at GetAway Travel are here for you! 

 Queensland rainforest renowned for beauty 

 Wet Tropics of Queensland is 3,453 square miles of rainforest that is 80 million years older than the Amazon rainforest. It is one of the only places on earth where two World Heritage sites sit practically side-by-side. The Great Barrier Reef is visible from the rainforest. 

The rainforest, renowned for its beauty and biodiversity, is home to 2,800 plant species and 380 of those are considered rare or threatened. There are 102 animal species that are also classified as rare or threatened. One-third of Australia’s mammals call the Wet Tropics home and of those, 13 can only be found in the rainforest. Forty percent of the country’s bird species, 58% of the butterfly species and 30% of Australia’s marsupial species are in the rainforest.  

There are actually nine subregions in Wet Tropics with the regional star being the Daintree Rainforest. 

The Daintree Rainforest covers the Northeast coast. It is criss-crossed by rivers and framed by the impressive Mossman Gorge. 

Visitors can see the rainforest, including some of the more spectacular waterfalls, by taking the Kuranda Scenic Railway. Or, take the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. It takes you across the rainforest from the Barron Gorge National Park. There are two stops, at Red Peak and Barron Falls. A viewing platform a short walk from the Barron Falls stop overlooks the gorge and spectacular falls. 

The Great Barrier Reef 

 Nicknamed “rainforest of the sea” coral reefs are some of the world’s most diverse ecosystems. Reefs are created by the biological process when calcium carbonate skeletons of corals bond together. This creates holes, crevices, caves and one of the greatest wonders of the world! 

It extends 1,430 miles down Australia’s Eastern coastline and it is the world’s largest living structure. The Great Barrier Reef is visible from outer space. To get an idea of its size, it’s equal to 70 football fields, or Japan, or Italy. 

Six hundred types of soft and hard coral make up the 2,900 individual reefs of the Great Barrier Reef. 

There’s lots of very cool tenants in and around the reef. More than 1,500 species of fish, 134 kinds of sharks and rays as well as six of the world’s seven endangered species of turtles live in the reef. Tiny tenants abound including 100 species of jellyfish, 3,000 varieties of mollusks and 500 kinds of sea worms. Ten percent of the world’s fish population can be found in the reef and 133 varieties of sharks and 30 kinds of whales and dolphins take advantage of what the reef has to offer. It is an important breeding sanctuary for the whales and dolphins, but it is also home to giant clams, some of whom are more than 100 years old. 

Tropical islands are scattered throughout the reef and they are popular snorkeling and diving drop off spots. The islands that allow camping or let boats moor near them are great star gazing spots since there is no light pollution. 

Lady Elliot Island is in the southern area of the reef and it is known as the home of the manta rays. Rays, called the giant kites of the sea, feed around the island. It is home to some of the world’s largest manta rays with a span of 23 feet. If seeing the giant Manta Rays is on your bucket list, remember they winter elsewhere so plan accordingly! 

Visitors to Queensland, who aren’t swimmers can take advantage of the many glass-bottomed boat tours or take to the air to enjoy the reef.  

 Explore Cairns and Port Douglas 

 Cairns, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, is a charming city with great cafés, markets and beaches. It has been described as having the reef in the front yard and the rainforest in the backyard. 

Being so close to two World Heritage sites has its advantages. The Cairns Aquarium shows off species from the two different sites. The 71 different exhibits showcase 16,000 species across 10 different ecosystems. You can arrange to do diving with sharks or take a behind-the-scenes tour with a personal guide and visit the turtle hospital. 

The Cairns Botanic Gardens, established in 1886, have a fabulous array of tropical plants and gorgeous native birds. The tropical plants are not just from Queensland, species from South America, Africa and Southeast Asia are also represented the gardens. Learn about the Aborigines use of plants in the Aboriginal Plant Use Garden. Other specialized gardens include a Rainforest Boardwalk, Freshwater Lake, Saltwater Lake and the Bamboo Garden. 

Port Douglas is also an option as a jumping off point to either the Great Barrier Reef or the Wet Tropics Rainforest. Port Douglas was formerly the home of the Kuku Yalanj Aboriginal people. The tribe’s relationship to the land and sea goes back thousands of years.  

Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas also visitors the unique opportunity to experience the area’s wildlife in five distinctive habitats. Special lighting in exhibit areas means you can see nocturnal species like the Stripped Possums, Bettongs and Mahogany Gliders during your daytime tour. Other habitat replicas show wildlife in the woodland, wetland, rainforest and Savannah environments.  

The rainforest and Great Barrier Reef are two of the world’s natural wonders that are worth a visit — just to say you’ve been there! Let GetAway Travel arrange to get you there and help with your memorable adventure. We can be reached at:  (262) 538-2140, e-mail: sue@getaway.travel or paul@getaway.travel