cairns rainforest tours: wilderness eco safaris
Experience North Queensland from a different perspective as Wilderness Eco Safaris takes you away from the usual mass market touristy areas into a spectacular and ancient wilderness wonderland. This spectacular tour arrives at your doorstep at around 8am and after introductions all round it’s off headed toward the high mountain ranges. On the way, Steve, the guide and owner, explains all about the sugar cane industry, and then it’s off inland as you enter the World Heritage-listed tropical rainforest.
Not long after you arrive at an almost deserted volcano Crater Lake for morning tea of fresh baked muffins and a choice of hot chocolate, tea and coffee. While stopped here you have the choice of going for a stroll down to the lake’s edge where you might sight one of the resident snapping turtles or one of the local water dragons. There’s also a small bridge close by that is a great spot for sighting the very shy platypus.
After morning tea it’s off-road time where your trip drops to a slower pace avoiding big holes in the track and a few water crossings. Then it’s time to get out and stretch your legs for a more in-depth walk down to a smaller volcanic lake where Steve explains how the ecosystem works and then he gives details of a whole range of plant and tree species.
One of them is a Banyan Fig Tree which is over 150 feet tall with a 135 foot circumference around the base. You also learn what plants can supply you with food and how to collect water.
A short way down the track you arrive at a huge lake the size of Sydney Harbour; here you back the 4WD up under a shady tree near the water’s edge and Steve lays out a picnic of roast chicken pieces, different hams, salamis and corned beef with salads and a huge tropical fruit platter from all the local growers. You are even supplied with soft drinks, bottled water and chocolate mints to go with your billy tea.
When lunch is over and your tummies are full it’s off the beaten track into the dense rainforest with a steep hill climb, along the way you get to do a few small walks on which you can see the oldest plant living and one of the most dangerous plants, the stinging tree.
Once at the top of Lamb Range you will reach 4000 feet above sea level and feel the temperature drop as the crisp fresh air adds a little chill. From here you will slowly decline down into a drier area where you will see lots of kangaroos, but be sure to look hard as they tend to blend in relatively well.
Getting towards the end of your day you will stop in at the local fruit vendor where you will to try some of the amazing fruits grown out there including the dragon fruit. On your way home you will enter some locked gates as Steve has the only permits for a lot of the areas he goes which you are guaranteed to be isolated from civilisation. Then it’s back up to the very top of Lambs Head range where the views are spectacular and from here you can see the exact path you have just driven.
The Tour Specialists Tip
AnnaIf your after something a bit more personalized and away from the rest of the tour companies this is the trip. This trip is all about you!!!
