One of the oldest rainforests in the world, the Daintree is an Australian treasure. The 2600-square-kilometre forest contains more than half of the country’s bat and butterfly species, plus mammals and birds – such as the colourful southern cassowary and the portly Bennett’s tree kangaroo – that are found nowhere else on the planet.

You could walk through the forest, of course, or you could glide alongside it in a kayak at the point where the rainforest meets the sea. As you skirt the coastline you can expect to see turtles, dugongs, sea eagles and the occasional whale. When you tire of paddling, land your kayak at empty beaches or trek inland to remote watering holes.

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Paddletrek Kayak Adventures offers trips suitable for everyone, from beginners to experienced kayakers, with half-day tours out of Cape Tribulation, around 90 minutes north of Port Douglas. For something more adventurous, book an overnight tour with Daintree’s Crocodylus Village and sleep in a tent on the lush, uninhabited Snapper Island.

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