Don’t let the rain stop you
Wet days actually best days
IT’S a universal truth that you cannot have a rainforest without a little rain.
At approximately 180 million years old, the Daintree Rainforest has seen its fair share of showers, and it has thrived on regular inundation.
Yet when there is a cloud on the horizon, many people tend to stay well away.
But there is a heap of reasons why you should not worry about getting wet when visiting the region’s rainforests.
IT’S A FEAST FOR THE SENSES
In the dry season, it’s easy to walk through the rainforest and go “oh, it’s just a bunch of trees and vines”. But when it’s raining, the forest springs to life. The first difference you notice is the smell: the damp soil, the rotting leaves, and even the mating sprays from peppermint bugs. There’s also the colours. The brown bark on large trees can become marbled with all the colours of the rainbow. Flowers that were previously hidden become vibrant with reds and yellows. The rain may also reveal wildlife you may never have seen before, like the normally shy Boyd’s Forest Dragon.
THE WATERFALLS
When the rain falls, the creeks and rivers start flowing. All of a sudden, the tiniest of trickles becomes a solid curtain of raging whitewater. During the wet season, there is a waterfall usually within easy driving distance of most major population centres across the Far North, and these falls become even more spectacular in monsoonal weather – just don’t go swimming!
YOU MAY NOT GET THAT WET
Driving from the Daintree ferry through to Cape Tribulation, there are whole sections of the road that are completely enveloped by greenery, creating vegetative tunnels.
It’s the same when you’re walking. It can be pouring, but the dense canopy becomes an umbrella of sorts. Just remember to pack a towel and a change of clothes for when you return to the car.
THERE ARE FEWER TOURISTS
Peak tourist season in the Far North is during winter, and it’s not uncommon to climb a peak and find half a dozen people after your two-hour-plus hike all crowding around up there, trying to get the best selfie. You don’t have that problem during the wet season, particularly when it is raining. The boardwalks at Cape Tribulation, that are usually bustling with tourists, are more or less empty. And afterwards, there’s nothing better than being able to enjoy a drink at a local cafe or bar where there’s no wait.
THE RAIN IS REFRESHING
One of the best things about living in the tropics is that when it rains, it’s not cold. After hiking up a steep hill, a natural shower can actually be one of the greatest sensations in the world.