This remote patch of rainforest on the north-east coast of Cape York Peninsula in far north Queensland is Australia’s little piece of lowland New Guinea. It features many species of bird, plant and more that do not occur further south. It has been top of my “must visit before I die” list for at least three decades, access until now stymied in part by the need for a four-wheel drive vehicle. To this day it lies 400 km beyond the end of the bitumen.

Finally, I made it. And I wasn’t disappointed, encountering a forest rich in exotic fruits, lianes and epiphytes, and ringing with unfamiliar bird calls. I witnessed Eclectus Parrots at their nests high in emergent rainforest giants, wild figs with massive fruits, the Spotted Cuscus (a nocturnal, possum-like creature), found the bower of the Fawn-breasted Bowerbird and spotted the elusive canopy-dwelling Yellow-billed Kingfisher, watched the somnolent Northern Scrub-robin as it hopped along the forest floor, and delighted as Red-cheeked Parrots flew overhead.

Photographically, however, it was challenging and mostly disappointing. Here’s a small selection.

There’s also fascinating tropical heath, woodland and a beautiful coastline in the area. I’ll post photos of these in separate galleries.