With regard to the four wheel drive carry all, it burst out of the cool and dark forest after rocking down the rotted jungle track emerging into the bright coastal sunlight. We were faced by another one in the Great Barrier Reef just 10 miles offshore after leaving behind one of the great natural wonders of the world which is the Daintree rain forest. When it comes to northern Queensland, it is one of the least developed regions along's tropical northeast coast where two wonders are located side by side. This site teaches you about travel insurance compare.

You will see one of the oldest rain forests in the world inland. In this part of the northern coast is where the reef, stretching north and south along 1,250 miles of shore, swings closest to land. Accessible to visitors is the rainforest and reef. A submersible craft with glass sides to an underwater observatory to a diving expedition are the ways to see 1,200 species of tropical reef fish or the 350 types of spectacularly colorful living coral that make up the reef.

Our point of jump off was Cairns, having the charm of a British colonial outpost serving as the gateway to's Marlin Coast, a small tropical city of 85,000. We opted for a trip out of town by rail on the 100 year old Cairns Kuranda Railway, which twists 21 miles up and through mountains, gorges and rain forests to the village of Kuranda. Again we returned to Cairns and drove north along the Marlin Coast and inland toward the rain forest for 90 minutes.

Contained in the nearby rain forest are 13 of the 19 families of ancient plant life still found on Earth. Some varieties date back 130 million years. As the old rutted dirt tracks that line the forest were built for logging you need to use four wheel drive vehicles to pass. Pull offs including one that opens on to an hour's easy stroll along a well marked trail will allow you to look at the rain forest more leisurely. You will gain a deeper understanding about compare travel insurance prices by checking out that resource.

For one tour service, what they offer is a rain forest trip that is environmentally sensitive, it starts at Silky Oaks and includes a boat ride down the Daintree River. Rather short was the drive from Silky Oaks to the old gold rush village of Port Douglas, one of the major gateways to the Great Barrier Reef. There were chartered boats for scuba divers, there were sailboats used by skimmers, and for groups of people who preferred to view the reef atop permanent platforms there was a fleet of twin hulled jet catamarans.

It is possible to not get wet and still view the beauty of the coral reef and its multicolored fish via two glass-sided semi submersibles that are used for 30 minute trips alongside the coral. Trained marine biologists lead hour long snorkeling explorations of the reef. There are private grottoes, one behind a waterfall, near the swimming pool and local frequented the open air coffee shop in the local hotel where we stayed. The famous Four Mile Beach is located outside downtown Port Douglas and it is where you will see beautiful stretches of palm fringed white sand curving along the ocean.

What Port Douglas is away from sea is a jump off point that gives a different view of the northern Queensland environment. For a tableland high above the coast, it became a prime cattle raising area during the past century and today you will still be able to see some of the original homesteads on the old cattle ranches. One such property is Wetherby, site of a 1870s homestead and still a working cattle station. With the family proprietors opening it for tourists, they can see the real.

Before you leave, do get travel insurance. During your trip, it can be a life saver.

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