Where the Forest Meets the Sea

The story is set in the Daintree Rainforest.

The Daintree Rainforest

The Daintree Rainforest is the oldest tropical rainforest in the world.

The Daintree Coast is located 160 kilometres north of Cairns, between the Bloomfield River in the north and the Daintree River to the south.

The Daintree Rainforest

In the book the author refers to ‘the reef’. This is referring to the Great Barrier Reef.

The Great Barrier Reef is also found in the northern part of Queensland.

The Reef

‘Cockatoos rise from the forest in a squawking cloud’

Cockatoos are a large bird that is found in Australia. It can be found in the north and east, ranging as far south as Tasmania, but they avoid arid inland areas with few trees.

Cockatoos

There are a large variety of animals in the rainforest.

The Wet Tropics rainforests are home to some truly unique animals. From kangaroos that live in trees to 6-foot tall prehistoric birds,

the amount of different animals found in the Daintree are the best in the country.

A half of Australia's bird species, a third of its mammals and frogs, a quarter of its reptiles

and over 12000 insects have been found here so far.

Animals in the Rainforest

Creek - a narrow channel/small stream between islands

Vines – a plant that climbs and runsCreepers – types of plants or vines that need

support. Trees provide their support in rainforests.

Trees – hollow, tall, short, thick and thinRoots - the root is the organ of the plant that

typically lies below the surface. In older trees it is common for some of the root system to be above ground.

Features in a Rainforest

The first human inhabitants of the Daintree rainforest, in north Queensland, were Aboriginal peoples. They were known as the Kuku Yalanji people. 

The rainforest was, and still is, very important to these groups. The Aboriginal peoples that live in the rainforest rely on it for their spirituality, religion, food and medicine. Different aspects of the land, like the mountains and rivers, are important in the creation stories. They are often referred to as the 'Dreaming'.

Aboriginal peoples did not have a written language. The important information that Aboriginal peoples had to pass on to the younger generations was done in several ways. Information about medicine, food, shelter and other things was passed on through stories and dance.

Aboriginal life followed the seasons. During the wet seasons Aboriginal peoples would move towards the drier areas and during the drier season back to the areas that could supply water. Food was also gathered according to the seasons. This meant that they had an intimate knowledge of what could be eaten and when it was best eaten.

Aboriginals living in the Daintree

Today, the Aboriginal peoples that live in the rainforest play a very important part in the protection and maintenance of the Daintree. They care for the forest in the same way they always have. They also continue to pass on their culture in the same ways.

Aboriginals living in the Daintree

There a number of organisations and groups that raise money and awareness so that the rainforest remains protected.

Will the forest always be here?