The story of earth’s evolutionary history continues to unfold in the world’s oldest continuously surviving rainforest: the Wet Tropics of North Queensland, Australia. Nature’s true masterpiece, a living exhibition, the Wet Tropics tells the story of how plants and animals have evolved across time. Situated on the north east coast of Queensland, the Wet Tropics is a mega diverse environment with the greatest variety of plants and animals found anywhere in Australia, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. It is also a significant meeting point, with the two World Heritage Areas of the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics meeting alongthe Daintree coast.The rainforests of the Daintree contain outstanding examples of flora and fauna that represent eight major stages in the earth’s evolutionary history.

WORLD HERITAGE WET TROPICS: LIVING EXHIBITION OF ANCIENT TIMES

Crowned with World Heritage status in 1988, the Wet Tropics is a place that links past and present. It is a major evolutionary centre for the world's rainforest flora and fauna, offering a living record of the ecological and evolutionary processes that have shaped Australia's fauna overthe past 415 million years. Continental drift, fragmentation and the cycles of climatic change have driven the processes of speciation, extinction and adaptation. The rainforests of the Wet Tropics, in particularthe Daintree region, have more plants and animals with primitive characteristics than anywhere else on earth. Hometo half of Australia's bird species, one third of the continent's mammals and over 3,000 plant species, it is also a crucial habitat for rare and threatened species including the spectacular, flightless Southern Cassowary and the elusive tree kangaroo. The Wet Tropics is an area of captivating natural beauty, described by Sir David Attenborough as "the most extraordinary place on earth".

DISCOVER THE OLDEST RAINFOREST CULTURE IN THE WORLD

The human story of the Wet Tropics can be seen through the eyes of the local Indigenous people. Within the boundaries of the World Heritage Area there are eighteen Rainforest Aboriginal tribal groups who have ongoingtraditional connectionstothe landscape dating back60,000years.This incredible cultural timeline reaching backthrough hundreds of generations means Wet Tropics Rainforest Aboriginal people are the oldest rainforest culture in the world. Today, the Wet Tropics continues to evolve as a 'living' cultural landscape, created duringthe ancestral creation period known as the ‘Dreamtime.' Natural features are interwoven with Rainforest Aboriginal people's religion, spirituality, economies and social and moral organisation to createthis rich cultural landscape, which is an essential resource forfood, medicine, culture and tools.

HIGHEST RAINFALL IN AUSTRALIA

During summer months, the Wet Tropics experiences the highest rainfall in Australia. This is the best time to witness the majesticthundering waterfalls plummeting down deep rainforest gorges on the Waterfall Circuit that encompasses the dramatic Millaa Millaa Falls and captivating Josephine Falls. Waterfalls are often biodiversity hotspots and lucky visitors may glimpse a dazzling blue Ulysses butterfly, brilliant rainbow lorikeet or scaly breasted lorikeet. Less vividly coloured, but equally as interesting are the little musky rat kangaroos, the smallest and most primitive of macropods and of considerable evolutionary significance.

THE DINOSAUR BIRD

The Southern Cassowary is an icon of the Wet Tropics. When one appears,you might beforgiven forthinkingyou've come face-to-face with a dinosaur! The vivid purple blue neck, drooping red wattles and amber eyes of this large flightless bird dramatically contrast with its glossy black plumage. Cassowaries also have a tall brown casque (helmet) on their heads, which scientists believe helpsthem hear low-frequency sounds over long distances, an ability shared with elephants and some dinosaurs. These birds are endangered and there is still much we don't know about cassowary populations.

GO BATTY!

Bats playa critical role in helpingto pollinate plants and spread seeds, and are vital to the health of the Wet Tropics rainforest and neighbouring ecosystems.