A guide to Australia’s rainforests

By Amy Fraser and Lee Atkinson

From the 180-million-year-old Daintree Rainforest in the north of Queensland to the cool, misty temperate rainforests of Tasmania, Australia’s rainforests can be found right across the country. Encompassing UNESCO World Heritage areas and hundreds of national parks and reserves, these rainforests are home to an extraordinary variety of plants and animals, and are packed with spectacular waterfalls, idyllic swimming holes, breathtaking hiking trails, and much more. They might be wild, but exploring them is easy.

The rainforests of the Wet Tropics

Where: The Daintree Rainforest sits between Cairns and Cooktown in the north of Queensland.

The world’s oldest rainforest, the Daintree is so beautiful and lush that it was the inspiration for the movie Avatar. World Heritage-listed for its biodiversity, it's home to 663 species of animal, 230 butterfly species, and more than 2,800 different types of plants – most of which are not found anywhere else. It's a great place to spot crocodiles as well as elusive species like the flightless cassowary, the tree kangaroo and the stunning Ulysses butterfly. 

The Gondwana Rainforests of Queensland

Where: The Gondwana Rainforests of Queensland spreads across Lamington, Springbrook, Mount Barney and Main Range national parks.

If you’ve ever wondered what life was like 180 million years ago, pack your bags for a trip to the Gondwana Rainforests – you’re in for a treat. This World Heritage-listed rainforest system isn’t just a rainforest, but an ancient supercontinent that once took up around a fifth of the planet. Today, this ancient eco-system is where you’ll find endemic plants and animals dating back millions of years, including lyrebirds and bowerbirds, some of the world’s oldest species.

Barrington Tops National Park 

Where: Barrington Tops National Park is located in the Barrington Coast region. It's about a three-hour drive from Sydney or a 1.5-hour drive from Port Stephens.

There aren’t many places in the world where you can see snow in the rainforest, but that’s just one of the drawcards of New South Wales’ Barrington Tops National Park, one of the 50 national parks comprising the Gondwana Rainforests. Visit this adventure-filled wilderness during June and August and your rainforest walking trail might just become a powdery white track. Well known for its array of bushwalks and with over 50 mammals, 278 birds and 42 reptiles to spot on your way, Barrington Tops makes for a great nature getaway.

Otway Forests on the Great Ocean Road

Where: The Otways are a 2.5-hour drive from Melbourne on Victoria's Great Ocean Road.

Step away from your day-to-day worries and under the lush canopy of some of Australia's tallest rainforest in the dense and diverse Otways Ranges. On one side of this wildlife wonderland you'll find cascading waterfalls, treetop adventures and ancient plant life. But venture towards the sound of the waves and discover limestone cliffs and beautiful blue bays enveloped by green wilderness. It's not just the landscapes that make the Otways special, but the abundance of wildlife that call it home. Typically spotted residents include sleepy koalas, the elusive platypus and during the winter, southern right whales along the coast.

Tasmanian Wilderness

Where: The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area spans across over seven national parks and reserves west of Hobart.

Covering almost a fifth of Tasmania, the wet, wild and largely untouched Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area combines natural beauty with ancient culture. Its cool-climate rainforest is one of three remaining temperate wilderness areas in the Southern Hemisphere, known for its conservation of rare and endangered species of plants and animals – most of which are endemic to the region. Explore this pristine habitat and you'll not only stumble upon iconic wildlife, but ancient Aboriginal artefacts in limestones caves more than 20,000 years old.