Honest feedback for the Daintree Experience

❝ Daintree Experience gave me a wonderful tour. A full day of immersion in rainforest river environment followed by lunch and a small boat tour, all led by a sensitive and passionate guide. I was so glad I had chosen it (I must say, as soon as I saw it online before travelling from home up to FNQ, it ‘spoke’ to me as my sort of adventure).

Allister picked me up right on time (actually, we were both a tad early) exactly as arranged, and then drove the tour minivan northwards out of Port Douglas. His tales and information sharing were terrific. What a delightful and easily likeable guide … Allister has a lovely voice and his warmth and interest in nature and people shines through all the time.

We were privileged to be taken off the beaten track and through private property to park amongst a tropical fruit orchard and then walk for about an hour upriver through the rainforest. I loved being in the quiet, green beauty of wilderness with that beautiful leafy air and the songs of birds. I took rather a lot of photos on both camera and phone … so I hope you’re not overwhelmed with the number I’m going to try and upload!

I really appreciated how Allister quietly pointed out details such as fallen tropical rainforest fruit (toxic to humans but digestible by cassowaries, known as the “rainforest guardians” or “rainforest gardeners”) and a round hole in a termite mound next to our narrow walking track, which is the seasonal nest site of a buff-breasted Paradise kingfisher.

I was also very glad of the well-crafted foot bridges built by Allister and a friend, which now span various steep little side gullies — saving us from scrambling down and up again! He was also solicitous about how we were going and pointed out possible hazards before we reached them. Having said that, it was a pretty easy walk with only a couple of potentially slippery spots.

When we arrived at the secret waterfall pool, it was perfect timing as the sun was high, sky blue, water sparkling and we were so ready to get into that water. I swam right up to the waterfall for a natural spa of spring-fed bubbles.

A spectacular blue Ulysses butterfly flapped against the green trees, while red or blue dragonflies flew close over the water.

After a relaxed time there we retraced our steps through the forest … it seemed quicker to me on the way back. Then Allister drove us to our lunch venue, for a meal including samples of tropical fruits enjoyed in a leafy semi-outdoor building with dappled sunlight surrounding us.

The afternoon was for a wildlife spotting cruise on the Daintree River on the Solar Whisper … which I gathered is the only zero emissions boat there. Again, this pleased me greatly as not only was it silent but there were no noxious fumes! Our skipper is very familiar with the preferred haunts of the area’s birds and of course crocs … so we had close sightings as well as being educated in a friendly manner. (By the way, if you want to see terrific wildlife photos — including a close-up of an ant sucking a water drop — check out Solar Whisper’s arrival area, or their website.)

Allister even indulged my wish for tropical fruits and ice cream by adding in a stop at a local produce store on the drive back, where I bought pineapple, yellow sapote, delicious red pawpaw etc and local vanilla bean ice cream. So, altogether a delicious day. Yum!❞

Sarah, August 2024