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.