Cape Tribulation is a section of the Daintree National Park, which is on the Queensland coast, 150 kilometres north of Cairns. The Cape is included in the World Heritage Area as it is one of the most biological diverse areas on earth. It is part of the Wet Tropics Rainforest, the oldest (estimated 110 million years), and second largest tropical rainforest in the world. Cape Tribulation is the only point on earth where two World Heritage Areas meet, being the Wet Tropics Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
At the Cape, the rainforest runs down the steep slopes, and joins kilometres of endless, deserted, sandy beaches. In the bays, sea grass meadows attracts Dugongs, and fringing reefs hug the coastline, and in the rainforest Australia’s second largest bird, the Cassowary, quietly forages for food. There is an easy walking path to the top of the Cape, from where you can experience fantastic views. There are also many other walking trails in the rainforest, some of which follow old Aboriginal footpaths.
Cape Tribulation was named by Captain Cook in 1770, as he saw the headland after his ship, the Endeavour, hit a coral reef, which he named, Endeavour Reef. Feeling rather dejected after his mishap, he named the mountain behind the Cape, Mount Sorrow. It was from this point in his voyage that he cautiously sailed north, looking for a suitable landing to do repairs, and found the Endeavour River, at Cook Town.
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