Attractions MISTY MOUNTAINS WALKING TRAILS The Misty Mountains Walking Trails are a network of over 130 kilometres of tracks, constructed through an investment of AU$6 million and a partnership between Local Government, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS), Traditional Owners, and volunteers from Conservation Volunteers Australia. The network was officially opened in August 2003.
A 5-10 minute drive from the proposed Wilderness Lodge site provides access to the Misty Mountains Walking Trails. These trails represent Australia’s first network of long distance walking trails in a high altitude rainforest environment. They feature majestic waterfalls, spectacular rainforest, crystal clear creeks and magnificent vistas. Highlights include stunning views of Elizabeth Grant Falls and Cannabullen Falls and walks through some of North Queensland’s most pristine rainforest. | There is an abundance of fauna including birds such as Southern Cassowary, Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfishers, Blue-Wing Kookaburras, and many others. Animals include the shy Platypus and tree kangaroo as well as reptiles such as pythons, lizards and frogs. In fact, many of the species of plants, reptiles and animals found in the area occur nowhere else. The Jirrbal and Ma:mu Aboriginal people are the Traditional Owners of the Misty Mountains. Several of the tracks follow the ridgelines traditionally used to connect ‘yabulmbara’, the coastal plain, to ‘gambilbara’, the rocky country of the Tablelands. These local Traditional Owners are the custodians of a living culture with some 50,000 to 60,000 years of continuous history. |
MA:MU CANOPY WALK
The site could be linked to the $10 million Ma:Mu Rainforest Canopy Walkway which is due to open in March/April 2008 and projected to attract 200,000 visitors per annum. This 1400m of elevated walkway rises between 10m and 25m above the rainforest floor allowing visitors to easily access this world heritage rainforest area at canopy level. There is also a cantilevered viewing platform providing spectacular views of the Johnstone River valley and beyond. OTHER ATTRACTIONS & VISITOR FLOWS The tropical coastal strip and adjacent ranges south of Cairns have world class natural assets, encompassing Coral Sea vistas, tropical islands, waterfalls, lakes and mountain rainforest richer in diversity than the renowned Daintree and Cape Tribulation. The area includes Mission Beach (14 kms of pristine beaches), Dunk Island and Mount Bellenden Kerr, the highest peak in Queensland. Nevertheless visitors seeking a rainforest experience have generally headed north of Cairns. This traffic has built up over the years to become a concern that over-utilisation could degrade the ancient Daintree rainforest and the World Heritage attributes it holds. Government and Management agencies have adopted a policy of supporting development that would divert visitors to |  attractions south of Cairns, which naturally leads to loops and circuits including the southern Atherton Tablelands. There is now active support for this diversification on the part of the regional tourism industry and the policy is being actively supported in marketing initiatives of the regional tourism authority. This body has two portal website, one corporate ( http://corporate.tropicalaustralia.com.au/) and the other for consumers ( www.tropicalaustralia.com.au/) |
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