! Danbulla State Forest Drive ! Tropical Rainforest, North Queensland, Australia

Danbulla State Forest Drive

The Danbulla State Forest Drive is a circuit drive which begins near Lake Barrine on the Gillies Highway and ends at the Tinaroo Dam.
Leaving The Chamber’s, the easiest and most direct route to take is along the Gillies Highway, which takes you in a north-easterly direction past Lake Barrine.
The entrance to The Danbulla State Forest Drive is well signposted and begins only a few kilometres past the Lake Barrine turnoff.
Along the 30 km drive there are a number of points of interest including; the Cathedral Fig Tree, Mobo Creek Crater, Lake Euramoo Arbour Walk and the Kauri Creek Walk.
The most spectacular part of the drive is the initial part, or the North-Eastern section, where the area has rainforests, eucalypt forests and pine plantations.

The Cathedral Fig Tree is located about 5 km from the Gillies Highway.
It is the same species of tree as the Cathedral Fig Tree (Ficus virens), but through different growing pressure has evolved to display a different habit of the commonly called strangler fig.
Many species of animal can be seen seeking shelter in and around the Cathedral Fig Tree including: Papuan Frog Mouth, Rose-crowned Fruit Dove, Emerald Fruit Dove, Pale-yellow and Grey-headed Robin, Orange-footed Scrubfowl, many species of reptile, Possums and Tree Kangaroo.

Mobo Creek Crater is located another few kilometres on from the Cathedral Fig Tree.
There is a 600-metre rainforest-walking track with information signs, which will enlighten you to the mysterious geological history of the crater.
Geologists and scientists alike have not quite clarified the geological history of this site.
Part of the mystery could be caused by the flowing of Mobo Creek through the crater which could have confused the geological sequence through the erosion properties of water.
It is an interesting attraction.

The forest drive will then take you along to Lake Euramoo.
This lake is contained in a double explosion volcanic crater.
Being one of the youngest geological features in the Atherton Tablelands, it is though to be a little older than ten thousand years old.
Euramoo is quite a large lake, with a viewing platform looking out over the water and its surrounding environment but there is no access to the water's edge.
There is also an interpretative sign giving you basic background information on the lake's history and present features.

Almost immediately beside the viewing platform of Lake Lake Euramoo is the Arbor Walk.
Allow 20 minutes to experience this arbor walk fully.
A circuit walk guides you through the rainforest to where species of trees are named. For example the Red Cedar, Tulip Oak, Rose Butternut, Northern Silky Oak, and the Mahogany etc.

This is one of the better walks of the area.
It is a full circuit track of five and a half kilometres.
The first section of the walk takes you through the riverine vegetation along Kauri Creek.
The track climbs steeply for a section after leaving Kauri Creek, then descending quite steeply to return to the creek, taking you through to an old forestry logging access road.
This road is followed for most of the trip back to the car park and picnic area.
As the track leaves the road, it passes through a gathering of Brown Salwood.
These trees have regenerated in an area previously cleared for grazing.
The track is designed for intermediate to advanced walkers, although for those who are beginners, there is still the option to see the Red Cedar Tree located at a kilometre into the track, before returning to the picnic area.
Eager walkers are still recommended to take the walk, as there are many places to stop and look at your surroundings whilst you catch your breath.
Be sure to wear shoes with a closed toe, preferably hiking boots, as there are many roots which cross the path, some, difficult to see.
The Kauri Creek walk will show some of the natural wonders of North Queensland, the peace, serenity and beauty of the area should not be missed.

Tinaroo Lake is a huge man-made lake located to the north-east of Atherton.
It is at the end of the Danbulla State Forest Drive.
The lake was formed in 1958 at the completion of the Tinaroo Dam.
The reservoir is used for activities such as irrigation and hydro-electricity, yet, leisure activities such as fishing, swimming, water-skiing and boating are allowed.
Birdwatchers should find the area most rewarding, as the lake provides ideal conditions for waterbirds.
The lake attracts birds such as:
Great Crested and Australasian Grebe, Ibis, Egrets, Spoonbills, Herons, Whistling-Ducks, Cormorants, Black Swan, Australian Pelican, Duck species, Darter, Grey Teal, Rufous Night Heron, Hardhead, Black-necked Stalk, Cotton and Green Pygmy-Goose, Dusky Moorhen, Purple Swamphen, Eurasian Coot and the Caspian Tern.
During the seasons of spring and summer, when the lake’s water level is low,
the muddy margins attract waders such as the:
White-bellied Sea Eagle, Osprey, Red-kneed Dotterel and the Black fronted Plover.