What is the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area?
The Wet Tropics of Queensland is a World Heritage Area covering nearly 900,000 hectares of tropical rainforest along the coast and ranges between Townsville and Cooktown. It was listed in 1988.
The area stretches about 450 kilometres and includes the Daintree, Cape Tribulation, Mossman Gorge, the Atherton Tableland and Hinchinbrook Island. It contains some of the oldest continuously surviving tropical rainforests on Earth.
Although it covers less than one percent of Australia, the Wet Tropics holds a large share of the country's plant and animal species, including many found nowhere else, such as the Lumholtz's tree kangaroo and the musky rat-kangaroo.
Living cultural landscape
In 2012, the area's Aboriginal cultural values were formally recognised on the National Heritage List. Around 20 Rainforest Aboriginal groups have connections to the area, and they work with the Wet Tropics Management Authority to care for country.
Highlights for visitors include waterfalls on the Atherton Tableland, crater lakes such as Lake Eacham and Lake Barrine, and the Skyrail cableway near Kuranda.
Threats include climate change, invasive species such as feral pigs and weeds, and clearing on private land. Cassowaries are a flagship species for conservation.
Did You Know?
Mount Bartle Frere, at 1,622 metres, is Queensland's highest mountain and lies within the Wet Tropics.