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Show H2 The Salt Lake Tribune TRAVEL Sunday, April 7, 2002 Relaxed Daintree Offers Ancient, Pristine Rain Forest in Australia BY BARNINI CHAKRABORTY or THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MOSSMAN, Australia The 116-million year-old Daintreerain forest of North Queen There: Quantas Airways has Sland. the second-largest virgin tract in the world after South America’s Amazon, beckons travelers its mystique and history. daily flights to Cairns International Airport. Daintree is a 9-minute drive north of the airport. It takes about 40 minutes from Port Douglas and is accessible by seaplanes that land on the Daintier River, travelers first viet the in Gorge. Sor 9 magic of the Mo the mist-topped mountainsc them along the one-hour scenic om the airport to Mossman. a picturesque township at the foot of the mountains towering above bright green fields of sugar cane At the gorge, nature provides an o Trade of tree-clad mountainsthatrise sh | heliport nearby Lodging: Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa omly has 15 villas. Many visitors opt to at nearby towns such as Port Douglas or Mossman. The Daintree offers pickup | | | service from the hotels in Cairns, Port from the river banks. Douglas and Mossman The Mossman River weaves around granite boulders that line the gorge, creating cool, clear freshwater swimming holes The gorge is home to the adjacent to the rain forest. There isalsoa Ku Ku Yalanji peo- ple, the area's traditional landowners. Guided bushwalk tours are availablethat give vis glimpseintothe untouched worid of the | Room rates at the Daintree through | ; Millie Ball The Assoctated Press March 31, 2003 are about $106 per person, | per night inatwin room. Aminimumstay may be required. Dining: The Baaru House restaurant offers traditional Australian food, using | Cottages of Daintree Eco Lodge and Spa sit on stilts in rain forest north of Caims, Australia. ingredients indigenous tothe area. nes, their traditional dances and artwork, such Ai Activities: Activities range from cul- as bark painting. tural walks to fullday pampering treatments at the spa. Favorites include cook- Just north of Mossman is the tiny town of Daintree, where the of incense burned by : can't hide the acrid humidity of the nforest. Once a bustling town, Daintree painstakingly tries to keep its aboriginalties intact. This easy going village town on the Daintree River offers a | ing classes, fishing, a morning birdwatching river cruise, rain forest walks, | aboriginal art and culture workshops. | Information: www. daintree-ecolodge | com.aw wildlife spectacie. Therain Leh is home to about 430 species of ‘ igh wildlif habitats here — billabong, open grass- land, mangroves, riverine, lowland rain forest, Spa is able to bring an indigenous aboriginalex perience tovisitors. The Ku Ku Yalanji people offer cultural and educational interaction through art. history culture, ic, dance and interpretive walks. The natives tell guests that their forefathers used the land as a meeting place with a constant supply of water, an abundance of rain forest I miracle is the a well-rounded offer a ions, indigenous ff nature, fruits, medicinal plants and other foods, inciuding fish and crustaceans. The guided walks involve a pilgrimage to the property's private waterfall — a place where the unique ambi The lodge’s 15 villas are nestled high eS rain forest canopy — virtual treehouses — makevisitors feel as if they cae ats forest. Hot tubs on the porch of thevillas allow guests to look out onto the forest while bathing. Recentiy, the Ku Ku Yalanji elders took part tine waters and plants used rated spas in the world. Using a holistic and indigenous approach, Shower Rain Treatment. Here, guests lie on 2 timber fted wet bed shaped like a leaf while six individual shower. heads provide a soothing and calming hydromassage. Therapists then use a mixture of sen- and exotic fruits, nuts and berries. sualoils for 2 one-hour deep-tissue or relaxation massage. along with a facial mask. The aboriginal art and cultural workshop is another treat for adults and children alike. The workshop costs about $33 and teaches the art of the food at the Baaru House But don’t let the price of the spa treatments deter you from coming to the Daintree. “Daintree is a tonic everyone can afford,” owner Maloneysaid. porated into just about every aspect of the area including restaurant. flavor and are high in vitamin C, are used me- Head chef Richard Knight, a Native aboriginal, creates a menu that balances the multi dicinally for colds. It's cultural tastes of cosmopolitan a common sight to see pampered at the Daintree. one of the highest- Also for about $14, visitors can sample rare Gre nants, which can be found everywhere in the forest, provide an interesting story and “hands-on” experience for guests who want to both guests and natives. tries, such as China, Japan and Engiand to be in treatments in the cultural differences. But the native experience doesn't end there. It is ineor- The continued interaction with natives gives the Daintree Eon Lodge & Spa a rare experience hancesthelight refreshing so 2 Manyof the guests e fromfar away coun- Aborigines continue to have day-to-day input in almost all aspects of the resort, including tours, workshops, food and cultural experiences. For about $14, guests can pair up with ab original guides to catch 2 glimpse into the area's history. A 30-minute walk takes visitors to a waterfall where they are treated to a history lesson about aboriginal ancestors and shown the pris- Along the way, guides offer an insight into the wonders of the culture, way of life and use of plants and animals for food and medicinal them being eaten by mangosteens and rambutans. Totally natural water from the property's pristii aterfall en- and areas of the property. women used to bathe and men used to hunt. The ants, which have a citrus, lemony-lime rain forest, suchas black sapote, dragon fruits, in naming the treehouse villas, other buildings aboriginal storytelling through visual imagery. Participants take part in casual, open discussions with aboriginal leaders who share stories from their past and expiain try eating one of them. jaintree Eco Lodge “| didn't quite appreciate or understand the cuisine and the true flavors that come with native foods,” Knightsaid. “M: ice creams and sorbet nj not offered anywhere else. | Australia with the abundance of exotic, indigenous ingredients. SAMS SAS CA)OB Comme (ol 1A EEA SEU113 DELUXE VACATION. PKG. ALL GIVEN AWAY JU LAS VEGAS HOTEL paresAT yAgibi iceae.ees eer hoteldiscount.com 1-800-511-5323 ee Se) teat hehe OUND the WORLD_ WSs e rola 800-627-0715 ECONOMY CALL: 981-278-2101 BUSINESS PROFESSIONALLY Last Minute Domestic Business Class up to 60% Off Open Saturdays 15 ak a Ah a 4 SatSun fretand & Scottand! 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