Daintree - Jungle Surfing

In Tropical North Queensland, Sean Lynch visits Jungle Surfing Canopy Tours where he hits the treetops to get a bird's eye view of the ancient Daintree Rainforest

There is a new species in the world's oldest rainforest... the Jungle Surfer!

Jungle Surfing the Canopy of the Daintree rainforest is a truly insane experience where your feet don't touch the ground. It enables you to fly through the trees on flying fox ziplines, stopping at 5 tree platforms to take in spectacular bird's eye views over the treetops, down to cascading streams and out to the Great Barrier Reef.

Jungle Surfing is a unique and exhilarating way to experience the beauty of the world-renowned Daintree Rainforest.

Rainforest has more strata than any other terrestrial ecosystem, and can only be truly appreciated by getting up into the canopy. With its low-impact system of platforms and cables, Jungle Surfing offers a very rare and unusual glimpse into the heart of the Daintree from the bustling forest floor to the giants that tower above the canopy.

For many it can be a little scary to leave the ground behind and scale the heights, and while I can safely say it's quite nerve wracking in the most enjoyable way, it's the sort of challenge to embrace, the sort of challenge Bucket Lists were invented for.

And it isn't just about thrills and chills, there's plenty on offer for the nerdburgers out there, with a trained team of scientists, tour guides and abseiling specialists looking after you every step of the way (and will also guide you safely through the canopy and into the treetop world).

But how does it work? Well, on arrival at the harnessing centre, you'll meet your team of two to five guides who will take you surfing through the jungle. Each guest is fitted into a full body harness and helmet (with some fun nicknames, which you can choose yourself, on this occassion I went with the stupidest one I could find).

A 250m walk through the forest leads to the Exit platform, where you are given a safety briefing before leaving the forest floor and being winched one by one up to Platform 1. I should stress that Jungle Surfing uses no motors, so be warned that your ascent to the first platform is completely man powered! Luckily for you, I'm a bloody man!

Midway between Platforms 2 and 3, you'll stop briefly at the highest point of the tour, 23 metres above Mason Creek. If you're lucky, and visit us during wet season, this creek will be a raging torrent of white water. It honestly feels like you are looking at something from Jurassic Park.

Platforms 3 to 4 are situated in a beautiful section of old-growth rainforest where you get the chance to fly solo and fast back across the creek. If you're a fool like me, you can even let out your most unimpressive Tarzan yelp!

To finish off, Platform 4 to 5 is an opportunity for thrill seekers to try something different, and if you choose to do so, you can flip yourself upsidedown and watch the ground beneath you speed past.

The tour itself takes around 1.5-2 hours from pick-up to drop off, and you’ll spend around 1-1.25 hours up in the trees, with plenty of time on each platform to experience the forest environment.