Rainforest Research Facility

Our Rainforest Research Facility is available free of charge for genuine research

Elevation 600-700m Rainfall 4000mm/year Variety of ecotones in diverse geology

spring lines, seepages, large permanent creek, fully forested with mature rainforest, young rainforest and cyclone affected rainforest

high biodiversity ancient Gondwanan refugia bordering the Wet Tropics World Heritage Rainforest

1324 species identified within walking distance 2219 species identified within local area (as of December 2017)

Latitude 17°25'09.5"South --- Longitude 145°43'43.4"East

Overview and How to Contact

  • secure basic accommodation facilities with electricity, gas cooking, external shower

  • all weather 24/7 access, 75 minute drive from Cairns International Airport (CNS)

  • internal trail system for day and night access to your chosen study areas

  • safe and secure, equipment can be left in the bush for long periods

  • satellite internet available

  • access to accredited World Heritage Guide / pool of local expert knowledge / traditional owners

  • private land, minimising permits required, catch and release approved

  • local and regional species lists and wildlife library

  • free use is "at your own risk" - within this beautiful location are hazardous creatures, toxic plants, extreme terrain and weather

  • Contact us, after you have done some preliminary thinking, using the email provided in the image at the bottom of the page. You will need to type the address into your email program

About Us

  • 15 years of observation of this rainforest

  • our motivation is to increase the knowledge and understanding of this rainforest region

  • we are currently unaffiliated but would consider functioning under an umbrella organisation

  • our current wishlist includes:

  1. a thermal imaging device for locating mammals at night,

  2. a waterproof GPS,

  3. a couple more of LED spotlights,

  4. a couple more motion sensing trail cameras,

  5. a robust waterproof digital camera,

  6. a good recording device for frog calls

  • research results must be at some stage become Open Knowledge and available to all

  • we suggest data be uploaded to the Atlas of Living Australia http://ala.org.au or similar

Welcome to the Wood Wide Web

In the rainforest, you use different senses.

Sight is diminished, you can see a hint of movement, the flick of leaves or the out of pattern oscillation of a leaf but rarely the creature responsible.

Sound and smell are the senses that predominate.

Sound takes on dimensionality, calls given, distant replies receding into infinity.

Smell is musty, complex with nuanced changes as you traverse you way through. You can smell areas peaty wet and flinty dry, logs sweetly rotting, the fragrance of flowers out of sight high in the canopy, recent and not so recent kills.

Sound and smell are senses closer to your soul, primeval senses harking back to ancient primate ancestral lines.