Photo: Safiah F. R.
This Contiki Ultimate Australia trip was a lot of firsts for writer and photographer, Safiah, who went on this epic journey across Australia as our content creator.
Hailing from sunny Singapore and as a macro photographer who loves taking pictures of insects, she’s not a stranger to the forest. But after exploring the majestic Daintree Rainforest in Cairns, Australia, she’s in awe.
Cairns is known for the Great Barrier Reef but not many relate it with the oldest tropical rainforest in the world. Bursting with excitement after her 20-day trip down under, Safiah shares with us why the Daintree is a must-visit!
Have you ever been to a rainforest before?
“I traverse Singapore’s nature reserves any chance I get with nothing else but my camera and a torch, to look for insects! So when I first found out that I would be visiting the Daintree Rainforest as one of the MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences on Contiki’s Ultimate Australia trip, I was ecstatic. Yeah, I live on a tropical island on the equator but I know Australia is where the massive bugs are! And to step foot on the same soil as Cassowaries? Wild. I couldn’t wait to witness the magnificence of the Daintree!”
Image source:Safiah F. R.
What did you learn about the Daintree Rainforest in Cairns?
“What surprised me the most was learning that the Daintree is at least 135 million years old! That’s possibly 3 times older than the Amazon. Stepping into the forest feels like going back in time.”
”I also loved learning about the Kuku Yalanji people — the Indigenous community who’s called the forest home for thousands of years and the rightful custodians of that land. Before we started our walkthrough, we were blessed with a Smoking Ceremony which was led by Ben, our Indigenous Tour Guide. To be welcomed on these ancient lands, each of us had to encircle a fire pit as a way of spiritual cleansing. Ben even generously shared ancestral knowledge about the Sarsaparilla Tree and how its leaves are used to make soap and treat minor irritation.”
“As I walked through the forest or sat on the 2-hour long Kuranda scenic train ride that runs along the Daintree, I couldn’t help but play out some of the Dreamtime Stories of the Kuku Yalanji people in my mind. It’s exhilarating to be on the same routes and paths that these amazing people have paved thousands of years before I came along!”
Can you share more about ‘Dreamtime Stories’ and Daintree’s Kuku Yalanji people?
“The one thing that stands out for sure is their respect towards the natural environment and their ancestral knowledge. Because of their deep connection to the Daintree, they have fiercely protected it and are now sharing a piece of their home and culture with the world. Standing true to their role of being guardians of the Daintree and their belief of living life as they were meant to, resonates deeply with me and I believe with today’s generation as well, where we’re all trying to find our Ikigai (Japanese concept for things that give meaning to life) and highest purpose!”
Image source:Safiah F. R.
How does the Janbal Gallery complement the Daintree Rainforest experience?
“Janbal Gallery is run by Indigenous artist, Binna. Just like the Kuku Yalanji people, all of Binna’s art is inspired by the observations he makes while marvelling at the Daintree or the Great Barrier Reef. It was amazing to see Binna’s paintings lining every inch of the gallery’s walls. Each of these paintings have a clear thought process behind it — often describing the movement of an animal or person through the natural landscape. It’s so cool to see his observations translated onto canvases.”
“By using a mix of new and old techniques, Binna taught us the ancient art of dot painting. Picking our favourite animal, all of us created a story of its interconnectedness with the environment.We all went home with our little paintings as a souvenir! Getting to take part in this workshop is also one of Contiki’s MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences.”
What made your Daintree Rainforest experience all the more special?
“Of course the new friends I made on the Contiki trip! I remember us marvelling at the Mossman Gorge, exploring the Daintree, laughing on the suspension bridge in the middle of the forest, and then having a great time together immersed in a cultural experience at Janbal Gallery.”
“The cherry on top has got to be Mark, our Trip Manager! Before the Contiki trip, I was told that Trip Managers are like tour guides, but better. Honestly I didn’t get what that meant at first but after spending 20 days with Mark, I completely get it. Everyone called him Trip Dad by day 5. On Daintree day, we had to be up pretty early and take a long bus ride to get there. Mark gave us plenty of reminders to get enough rest, have snacks ready, pack our bottles, and basically took care of everything from A-Z. All we had to do was get to the hostel’s lobby on time. I will never forget his tagline once we arrived at each destination and noticed that we’d all dozed off: “Wakey Wakey Contiki, it’s time to Con-freaky!”
“Although it was a 1.5 hour coach ride to the Daintree, Robert, our Daintree Tour Guide, made the journey fun-filled with informative nuggets about the Daintree and Cairns in general. He even drove slowly one time to give us a chance to spot Crocodiles from the window seats!”
Image source:Safiah F. R.
How would you summarise your thoughts and feelings about this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience?
“As someone who makes it a point to travel mindfully and immerse myself in the culture of each place I visit, this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience in the Daintree Rainforest checks off everything on my list.”
“Looking back, it would have taken a lot of planning on my end to fit the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef into my Cairns itinerary. So I’m beyond glad that I explored Australia with Contiki. The trip covered all bases seamlessly with zero travel stress on my part! From having a seasoned trip manager like Mark, to having a perfectly thought-out itinerary planned for me, it feels so good to be pampered whilst giving back to the local community.”
“I’m so grateful for the time I’ve spent in Australia and I acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which I was on and pay my respects to Indigenous Elders past, present and emerging”
Overall, if you had to describe your Daintree experience in 3 words, what would you say?
“Otherworldly, standout, necessary.”
Want to see more of Safiah’s adventures? Follow her travel journey on Instagram.
