Well worth the wait

Fifteen years after it was first planned, Queensland's spectacular new Mamu Rainforest Canopy Walkway, set in the World Heritage listed Wooroonooran National Park, has opened to the public...

Labelled one of Australia's grandest man-made structures in a natural environment, the brand new MaMu Rainforest Canopy Walkway has opened to visitors.

Eco-tourism is a real buzzword right now and this latest attraction falls into that category in a spectacular way - combining new structures with ancient surroundings.

Set in the lush World Heritage-listed rainforests of the lesser-known but no less impressive sister park to the Daintree National Park in North Queensland, Australia, the walkway has the ultimate wow factor.  

Offering amazing vistas and wildlife encounters, the new tourist attraction has a 350 metre long elevated walkway through the canopy, a cantilever, a 37 metre observation tower and more than 1200 metres of walking tracks.

The cantilever provides fantastic views over the North Johnston river gorge and the observation tower emerges high above the canopy, offering views over a mountainous landscape, homeland of the Mamu Aboriginal people.

The entire area has cultural significance for the Mamu aboriginal tribe, and the walkway was constructed in partnership with the indigenous people.

At the end of the elevated walkway a short section of the forest walk brings visitors to the final information and rest shelter.

The walkway was built in natural clearings in the rainforest caused by cyclone Larry in March 2006 and constructed from durable unpainted galvanised steel and recycled plastic to ensure it blends in with the surroundings.

This area of unsurpassed beauty contains the two highest mountains in Queensland, numerous rivers, waterfalls, swimming holes and some of the World's lushest and most ancient rainforests.

Mamu is open seven days a week, every day of the year except Christmas Day.

If you don't have a head for heights, there are other attractions nearby that are well worth a visit, including Josephine Falls, a secluded freshwater swimming hole, located at the foot of Queensland's tallest mountain, Mount Bartle Frere.

A series of waterfalls flow into large pools and rainforest trees hang over the water, keeping it cool, refreshing and perfect for a quick dip.

The Johnstone River Crocodile Farm is worth a look - you can watch them being fed and hand feed kangaroos and emus and meet the endangered cassowaries and dingos.

Picture by robstephaustralia