Rainforest Identification Walkway

Why a Rainforest Tree Identification Walkway?

Kuranda Envirocare aims to educate our local community and the wider public on the value of rainforest biodiversity in the Wet Tropics.

By learning about individual rainforest species, their uses and characteristics, we come to appreciate the value of this diversity in our environment.

The rainforest trees along this walkway were planted around 1993 by the original Kuranda Landcare group and community members and are mostly species which occur naturally in this area.

Kuranda Envirocare runs several one-day plant identification workshops per year and this self-guided walkway provides the tangible reference for for that training.

Many locals come to us for help in identifying rainforest trees on their blocks. This walkway will provide a comparison for some of the more common species and they can feel confident they’ve made a positive identification. Tourists often ask about a specific tree and have a genuine desire to learn more about the environment they are visiting. 
Picture
2009 The walkway launch with (left to right) Cathy Retter (Envirocare President), Steve Wettenhall M.P. (former) and Tom Gilmore (mayor Mareeba Shire Council)
Where do I find it ?

The Kuranda Village Entrance Plant Identification Walkway runs beside the Kennedy Highway from the Kuranda lights to the Kuranda Resort and Spa, towards Mareeba.

How long does it take?

A brisk walk along the walkway from the Kuranda Resort and Spa carpark will take 20 mins return. Allow yourself a leisurely stroll of about an hour return to the carpark. If walking from the information centre in town, allow a leisurely 2 1/2 hour stroll return. For a brisk walk to the start of the identification section will take approx. 20 minutes one way.


Picture
The plant ID walkway starts near the Kuranda lights on Kennedy highway on the left heading towards Mareeba.
What will I learn about?

There are over 100 different species planted here and their variety is a fine example of the rainforest diversity of this area of the Wet Tropics.

There are approximately 1800 named species of trees in the rainforest of the Wet Tropics of Australia. There are approx. 50 tree species labelled at present along the walkway. We expect to extend this to 100 species over the next year.

Many rainforest trees were used by the local Djabugay people and language names have been included for some of them. By learning these 50 species you will be more than 1/40th the way to learning all known rainforest species of the Wet Tropics.

There are two different guide sheets available (2 A4 sheets).

Tourist guide

The tourist guide contains interesting tit bits of info about the indigenous uses of the tree or characteristcs of flowers or fruit or growth habit of the tree. Information of a more general nature.

Training guide

The trees are still small enough for people to inspect the leaves and the leaf arrangements and learn to identify “family” characteristics or to recognise the features which are mentioned in the guide.

Click on the links below to get the latest walkway guides in PDF format.
Phone: 07 4093 8989/ 040 964 7714  ~~  Email: [email protected]  ~~  Write: PO Box 494 Kuranda 4881
​Nursery: 284 Myola Rd, Myola ~~ Nursery opens Mon & Thu 9am - 1pm, Sat 10 - noon