For those who have an interest in walking holidays, the scenery is one of the most important factors to consider when it comes to choosing where to walk. Australia can offer as great a range of landscapes as any country on the planet. With a country as vast as Australia, it’s unsurprising, but it also throws up the problem that visitors can only see so much during their time in the southern hemisphere. One of the places that really brings together many of the best things the country has to offer is the area known as Cape Tribulation, in North Queensland. It is a fantastic destination for those who want to walk Australia’s stunning landscapes.

Cape Tribulation

The Cape was named after an episode involving James Cook in the middle of 1770. Cook’s ship struck a reef off the coast of the area, causing a great deal of problems and the risk of a mammoth catastrophe so far from Britain. Once disaster had been averted Cook’s crew gave the area the name by which is still known today.

The region is home to ancient rainforests, providing a wealth of diversity of both animal and plant life. During the 1980s and 1990s, the area grew in popularity as backpackers began to spread the word about the beauty of the Cape. There has been a shift in focus over the past 20 years to appeal to the much more upmarket tourists – for this reason there is a great spread of both luxury and budget accommodation.

Access has become much more straight-forward thanks to improvements in the infrastructure and road network. The general level of development in the region does mean that, while accessible, it nonetheless retains the strong feel of being remote and off the beaten track – helping to boost its popularity for those wanting to walk Australia’s stunning rainforest trails.

Contrasting landscapes

Cape Tribulation is located within the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage site. Famously, the rainforests are home to the highest concentration of primitive flowering plant families in the world. There are also lots of brilliant sights for those enjoying a local walk: Australia’s highest waterfall can be found in the area – the Wallaman Falls. With a single drop of 268 metres, it is a must-see for those walking in the area.

As well as the many plant species in the area, the Wet Tropics are also home to some very rare animals, including the southern cassowary and the spotted-tailed quoll. Other unique species in the area include the musky rat-kangaroo – a kind of miniature kangaroo.