Hi Everyone,

Trek North Safaris is delighted to let you know that Daintree River Salt Water crocodile sightings are a big highlight of our fantastic tour at this time of the year. The cooler weather means these amazing cold blooded animals are regularly out of the water on the river banks in the warm sun. Our lucky passengers are getting close up looks at these huge and wonderful creatures in their natural habitat - no fences out there! Have your cameras ready!

Trek North Safaris has released its fantastic new brochure for 2010-2011. It is viewable and downloadable from our website or click http://www.treknorth.com.au/Trek%20Nth%20Kuranda%206PP%20A4.pdf for your very own copy!

Crocodile Express has just released it's new brochure for 2010. The brochure now features maps of all the free National Parks boardwalks. Brochures are currently being delivered to all hotels and tour desks or you can download a copy from the downloads section by following the following link....

http://www.daintreerainforest.com/listingDownloads.html?listingId=1046 

Elevation guides and maps for Mt. Sorrow and Devil's Thumb walks can also be picked up from Daintree Tourist Information Centre in the heart of Daintree Village.

Come on out to the Daintree and join our tree planting celebrations. Help Rainforest Rescue plant 1000 trees and create a rainforest. An activity suitable for all ages. Bring the family. Help restore the natural environment.

Where: At Lots 21 & 28 Ironbark Rd, Diwan (off Cape Tribulation Road)

When: Tuesday to Friday 22-26 February 2010

Time: 9.00am - 12 noon

Cost: FREE

The Daintree Rainforest is the most significant tropical rainforest in Australia and sustains a unique range of flora and fauna. over the past 100 years parts of the Daintree hve been cleared to create land for farms that are no longer in operation. Replanting these cleared areas with rainfroest trees provides important habitat for the endangered Cassowary and 100 other rare and threatened species found in the Daintree.

Rainforest Rescue is a not for profit organisation commited to protecting our rainforests forever. For further information, please visit rainforestrescue.org.au or phone 1300 763 611 or email info@rainforestrescue.org.au 

Mason's Cafe is closed for the 'Green Season', Boardwalk Cafe, Cassowary Cafe and Cafe on Sea are still operating. 

After crossing the Daintree Ferry you travel through lowland and tropical rainforest passing road junctions for Cape Kimberley and Cow Bay.

The Daintree River Ferry operates from 6am to midnight each day.

The Daintree Ferry will be operating from 7.30am - 10.30 am and 2.30pm - 5.30pm on Christmas Day 2009.

Published results of a survey conducted in 2007 by Galaxy Research found that nearly $1Billion is spent on unwanted Christmas gifts each year. In a bid to rescue rainforests at the same time as Christmas, not for profit organisation Rainforest Rescue is running a ‘Rescue Christmas Campaign’ offering unique Rainforest Gift Cards, targeting those 'difficult to buy for' friends and loved ones.

Right now, rainforests and their inhabitants are under greater threat than ever.

In the Daintree of far North Queensland, large areas are situated on freehold land and laws and regulations to prevent development are inadequate. Securing and protecting rainforest habitat for the endangered Cassowary — of which only 1,000 remain — is urgent.  Meanwhile, only 1% of the most diverse ecosystem in New South Wales — The Big Scrub — remains. Planting and restoring this area is vital to the survival of over 38 threatened species of flora and 61 species of threatened fauna.

Rainforest Rescue are protecting rainforests with projects that re-establish habitat through planting, maintenance and restoration programs, as well as purchasing and protecting high conservation value rainforest. Amongst other project outcomes, this year Rainforest Rescue successfully planted over 10,000 rainforest trees and acquired their 11th property in the Daintree.

With their 'Rescue Christmas' Campaign, Rainforest Rescue are promoting Rainforest Gift Cards devoted to a range of projects that allow purchasers to nominate number of trees planted, or square metres / hectares protected. For example, $25 will save five square metres of the Daintree Rainforest which Rainforest Rescue will purchase and protect on the Gift Card recipient’s behalf. Each card details the gift with a special front cover photo or exclusive Leunig cartoon along with an inner description of the project outcomes achieved.

“Gift Card sales will make a significant contribution to both our Daintree Buy Back and Protect Forever Project and the Plant a Rainforest campaign. This year more Australians are recognising how we need to make a difference when it comes to our environment.” Said Kelvin Davies, CEO of Rainforest Rescue.

Rainforest Rescue Gift Cards can be sent directly to a recipient anywhere in the world with a personalised message inside or they can be sent to the giver's address for personal delivery.

Critically endangered species like the Daintree's Southern Cassowary and Indonesia's Orangutans are among many who have little to celebrate this Christmas. And with deforestation causing 25% of global emissions, protecting rainforests is really a gift for everyone. Through their 'Rescue Christmas' campaign, Rainforest Rescue urge all those concerned for our planet to consider this easy and affordable way to find the perfect Christmas gift for everyone.

Orders can be placed online at www.rainforestrescue.org.au or by phoning 1300 763 611.

According to our friends at The Wet Tropics News, the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) will be replacing the existing access track at Mossman Gorge with an elevated boardwalk. When completed, the boardwalk will provide a world-class experience, with wheelchair access to the World Heritage listed Mossman Gorge section of Daintree National Park.

Construction will be in two stages. The first phase began on Tuesday 10 November and will take approximately three weeks. The second phase will commence after the wet season and is expected to take seven to nine weeks.

The project is being funded under the Australian Government's Jobs Fund. QPWS will work closely with tourism operators, Cairns Regional Council, and the community to maintain  levels of access. QPWS will advertise closure and disruption details prior to works commencing. Should you have any queries, please contact Senior Ranger Tina Alderson on 4098 2188.

Over the past few weeks, we have had regular sightings of Male Cassowarys on our guided boardwalk tour.  Join us on tour and you to may have a chance of seeing these beautiful rare birds.

The Daintree Discovery Centre has just been awarded a prestigious international award for ecotourism at the 70^th Skal World Congress being held at the Palace of Arts in Budapest, Hungary from 1 – 6 November 2009. The Centre’s tourism submission entitled ‘Sustainable Ecotourism’ was declared the winner of the 8^th Annual Skal International Ecotourism Awards in the category of ‘General Countryside’.

Directors Ron and Pam Birkett were presented with the award during the Opening Ceremony overnight.

Competing against tourism businesses from 48 countries around the world, the local Daintree attraction has now been internationally recognized as leading the world in Ecotourism best practice.

The Centre is being specifically recognized for implementing a rigorous Carbon Offset / Bio-sequestration program as a means of minimizing its carbon footprint.

The Daintree Discovery Centre has been informing and educating visitors to the Daintree for more than 20 years.

According to Director Pam Birkett, to be selected as the world’s leading ecotourism business in this internationally prestigious award is something all Australians should be proud of.

‘It’s wonderful to be recognized on the world stage and to know that our best practice ecotourism business in the Daintree is more than competitive with other projects in the world.’