​The World Heritage Wet Tropics Area

The wet tropics is an area with layers of life intertwining with each other to create overlapping mini ecosystems, within larger ecosystems, rich in diversity and bursting with an extraordinary number of plants and animals that may be viewed day and night.
The Wet Tropics World Heritage area covers just .12%, 894,420ha of Australian land mass stretching from Cooktown to Townsville, much of which, is covered in over 2800 plant species, with unique wildlife including birds, mammals, reptiles, butterfly/moth and frogs.
65 % of Australia's ferns and 21% of cycads,  ancient plants dating back over 200 million years ago may be observed in the region.

Endangered Southern Cassowary
Perhaps the most sought after bird to view here, roaming through the dense rainforest areas and roadsides, a truly magnificent bird species to view.
Click here to got to the Cassowaries information page.

Butterflies, Caterpillars and Moths.
​In Australia there is an estimated 22000 Lepidoptera, an order of insects that includes butterflies and moths 
of which 400 of these species are butterflies,  in tropical Queensland 60 percent of these butterfly species may be observed.
Click here Butterflies and Caterpillars.
Click here for Moths.

Frogs.
The Wet Tropics is home to about 54 species of frogs which represents around 21 percent of Australia's frog species.
Click here to go to Frogs .

Lady Birds
The Wet Tropics is home to a number of ladybird species, for more information and pictures of observed species.
 Click here to go to Lady Birds.

Endangered Spectacled flying fox.
Another keystone species they are in the group of  largest flying mammal in Australia. They are critical in ensuring the survival of eucalypt and rainforest tree species and the overall health of the ecosystem. A keystone pollinator of the Australian bush, pollinating flowers of over 50 native trees and numerous rainforest species. A regular visitor in the area, arriving when eucalypt trees flower or other fruiting trees bear fruit or flowers. Resting in colonies during daylight hours hanging upside down in favorite tree roosts, it is common to see them take flight after sundown, heading for the next food source for the night before returning to the camp again. 

Reptiles
There are over 860 species of reptiles in Australia, with over 130 species being located in the Wet Tropics.
Two species of Crocodiles are the largest in size and weight of all the species while in the snake species the Amethystine python is one of the longest reptiles in the world having been recorded at 8.5 meters long. Venomous and non-venomous snakes also live in the wet tropics, with tree snakes perhaps being the most frequently observed. Freshwater turtle species may be sighted in rivers, streams and lakes. The largest in the lizard species here is the Lace Monitor, while small geckos and skinks are commonly sighted.