Jungle Surfing the Daintree Rainforest
Ever wondered what Tarzan and Jane felt like swinging through the jungle?
Imagine hanging from a cable some 78m above the ground or flying along at up to 40km/h through the canopy of the world-renowned Daintree Rainforest.
The guides at Jungle Surfing Canopy Tours at Cape Tribulation make it easy for anyone.
When they say a three-year-old can do it they’re not joking – with the pictures to prove it.
And my 72-year-old dad had a great time too.
Safety is a big priority as the guides fit you out in the harness that will carry you across the void between five tree-hugging platforms sitting up to 19.5m high up some 500-year-old rainforest giants.
But there’s humour too as you are assigned your safety helmet persona – are you a Spiderman or a Sponge Bob Squarepants? All kitted out it’s a quick hike up the hillside to the first flying fox station with our team of four guides.
These guys have the agility of monkeys as they scoot along the wire to the first tree station some 12.5m up a spur mahogany. We’re then winched up the 30m to join them.
It’s great there’s no massive staircase to climb, but that first shuffle off the deck and into thin air can test your nerves.
The 25m stretch to platform 2, situated 19.5m up a milky pine, is done in pairs.
It’s a gentle introduction to calm any nerves and get the “hang” of things.
From our canopy perch we have a fantastic view across the treetops to the glistening Coral Sea, with Mt Sorrow towering beside us.
Our guide fills us in about the rainforest and its critters as we wait for enough people to cross the gap before launching off on the next jungle ride.
This is the highest and longest stretch – a breathtaking 78m crossing with a whopping 22m drop to Mason Creek below. If that doesn’t get a whoop of excitement the next stretch will as you fly along at up to 40km/h.
The final leg offers the chance to hang upside down if you’re game.
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