The Daintree Discovery Centre is a self-funding eco tourism facility that specialises in providing interpretive information about the Daintree Rainforest and its environs.

The Centre is an accredited Wet Tropics Visitor Centre just 10 kms north of the Daintree River ferry. It attracts visitors from all over the world and is highly regarded as a quality eco-tourism experience providing easy-to-understand information about the surrounding rainforest. With a large indoor display area, the latest touch screen technology, audio visual theatre and sweeping, all-weather verandas, the Centre has something to offer everyone.

Visitors can meander along elevated rainforest boardwalks including the Cassowary Circuit and the Bush Tucker Trail. They can take a self-guided tour using an audio guide, or a pre-booked group tour with an experienced naturalist.

The spectacular Aerial Walkway and the 23m (76ft) Canopy Tower are a 'must see'. The Tower is quite unique as it has 5 viewing platforms that look out over the rainforest canopy and beyond.

Built in 1989, the Centre is a private enterprise. Monies from entry fees are devoted to the ongoing development of the Centre and public support is appreciated. For hours and admission fees, click here.

Far North Queensland's coastal strip of low-land tropical rainforest is a very special place and our aim is to ensure that everyone gets the most out of their visit to the area. And this includes an opportunity to experience the rainforest 'up close and personal' with maximum comfort and safety.

The Vision

Our vision is to ensure that the Centre is the pre-eminent environmental facility in Australia. It will provide a benchmark for eco-tourism and be nationally acknowledged and internationally recognised as the unparalleled leader in the provision of information about all aspects of the low-land tropical environment. The aim is to provide an unforgettable experience for visitors to this unique pocket of rainforest wilderness.

The Mission

DDC is committed to excellence in everything. This includes the provision of:

• a high quality product which ensures an unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages
• immaculately clean, attractive, well designed and well maintained facilities
• warm, friendly service by well informed staff who are dedicated to offering a professional service.

As part of a World Heritage area, DDC fosters the values of the Wet Tropics Management Authority and the Department of the Environment. It strives to ensure that visitors understand and appreciate the fragility and sensitivity of the rainforest by providing information, displays, presentations and promotional material about the area.

The DDC Team

The team comprises two owner-directors and a core of well qualified, permanent staff - all of whom live in the local area.

These staff, along with a number of casual employees are all highly experienced and extremely knowledgeable about the Daintree coastal area. They are committed environmentalists and just bursting to share their knowledge and experience with you.

Our Goal

DDC's prime goal is to provide excellence in every thing we do. Our staff are our greatest advocates and are all committed to providing outstanding customer service. And this means making sure visitors get maximum enjoyment from their rainforest experience.

About the Directors

The Centre was the brain-child of Pam and Ron Birkett. After visiting the area in the mid 1980's they wrote to the government pointing out the need for interpretive information - and more particularly for an environmental centre that would allow controlled access to the rainforest while at the same time protecting the fragility of the environment.

The government was fully supportive of the concept but was not prepared to commit funds to the project at that time. Undaunted, the Birkett's decided to go ahead anyway, investing more than a decade of their lives to the design, development and management of the Centre.

After extensive consultation with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the local Council, the CSIRO, and various educational and rainforest research centres, including local and overseas museums, the Centre was opened in June 1989.

It soon established itself as a leader in the field of eco-tourism, specialising in the provision of environmental interpretive facilities. The Centre caters for both domestic and international visitors. And with the addition of the Aerial Walkway in 2003, the Centre continues to set an Australian benchmark for eco-tourism, both here and overseas.

A Leader In Eco-tourism

The Daintree Discovery Centre soon established itself as a leader in the field of eco-tourism. The Centre specialises in the provision of environmental interpretive facilities and caters for both domestic and international visitors. With the addition of the Aerial Walkway, the Centre is quite unique and continues to gain recognition as a premier eco-tourism facility.

The overall aim of DDC is, to enable visitors to have easy access to the rainforest and to provide up-to-date and accurate information about this very special, coastal strip of low-land tropical rainforest.

In this regard DDC has become a regional benchmark for environmental interpretation in Far North Queensland.

Strategic Goals

As part of a World Heritage area, DDC fosters the values of Wet Tropics Management Authority (WTMA) and the Department of the Environment. It strives to ensure that visitors understand and appreciate the fragility and sensitivity of the rainforest by providing information, displays, and interpretive material about the area.

The History Of The Centre

The Daintree Rainforest Environmental Centre (now known as the Daintree Discovery Centre) was built in 1988-9 and opened by Senator Graham Richardson on 26 June 1989. DDC is a privately funded enterprise.

How did it get started?

The original concept for an environmental centre in the Daintree Rainforest area came about following a visit to the region in December 1986. As a result of this initial visit, the Directors, Pam and Ron Birkett came to realise that the majority of visitors were leaving the area feeling as they did - disappointed and somewhat disillusioned with the lack of information about the rainforest available for visitors.

Damaging the rainforest: There was absolutely no provision for local, interstate or overseas visitors to actually experience the rainforest first hand, explore the fauna and flora, or begin to understand the historical, biological and social context of this unique wilderness. Unfortunately those who were venturing into the forest via commercially motivated, man-made walking trails were creating untold damage to such ancient areas as Noah Creek, desecrating the fragile under-story and disturbing the wildlife.

A personal commitment to eco-tourism: Following this initial foray into the rainforest the Birkett's subsequently contacted the government pointing out the urgent need for interpretive information - and more particularly for an environmental centre that would allow controlled access to the rainforest, while at the same time protecting the fragility of the environment. The government was fully supportive of the concept but was not prepared to commit funds to the project at that time. Undaunted, the Birkett's decided to go ahead and develop the Centre anyway.

The consultation process: After extensive consultation with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the local Council, the CSIRO, and various educational and rainforest research centres, including local and overseas museums, Pam and Ron Birkett purchased two relatively untouched, freehold parcels of low-land rainforest bordering the National Park.

In 1988-9 the development of an educational interpretive centre in the Daintree Rainforest was no mean feat. There was no power, no telephone and limited local labour. However, after extensive consultation regarding the structure and design of the Centre a contract was finally granted to a local builder.

Selecting the location: Great care was taken with the selection of the property. While we wanted people to be able to find us, we wanted to be situated well away from the main road.

After much consideration we finally decided to locate the Centre in an unspoiled pocket of rainforest situated on the lower slopes of the Alexandra Range, just outside the area designated for World Heritage.

While the property has 180 metres of main road frontage along the Cape Tribulation Road, a deliberate decision was made to locate the major buildings (the Interpretive Display Centre itself and the staff residence) approximately 500 metres down Tulip Oak Road, well away from the main road.

This was based on advice received from the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS), the local Council and members of the World Heritage team - the goal being to preserve the aesthetic beauty of the area.

A Leader In Eco-tourism

The Daintree Discovery Centre soon established itself as a leader in the field of eco-tourism. The Centre specialises in the provision of environmental interpretive facilities and caters for both domestic and international visitors.

With the addition of a spectacular 23 metre high Observation Tower in 1998, and the Aerial Walkway in 2003, the Centre is quite unique and continues to gain recognition as a premier eco-tourism facility.