Jungle Canopy Surfing - Daintree

About Us:

Jungle Adventures was launched in 1995 by local Pharmacist, tour guide and entrepreneur, Stephen Walsh. Originally he and his team sold tours through his Port Douglas Pharmacy, and operated guided day and night walks through his private rainforest in Cape Tribulation.

But Steve’s dream of showcasing the Daintree Rainforest was much bigger than just walks. In the early 1990s, he saw the Sean Connery movie, Medicine Man, and was inspired to create a system of cables and platforms which would offer unprecedented access to all levels of the forest and canopy. After nine years research and development in Australia and overseas, he began the painstaking process of constructing Jungle Surfing Canopy Tours.

After seeking cultural clearance from elders of the Kuku Yalanji people, and conducting a horticultural survey, the platform trees were identified and the first lines fired over branches by compound bow. A team of arborists, engineers, riggers, carpenters and scientists scaled the heights and slowly put the puzzle together. No heavy machinery was involved in the construction and every piece of the structure, from the platforms to the rock for paths, was carried into the forest and hauled into place by hand.

Two key design challenges for the tour had been the method of safely attaching the platforms to trees without the use of external structures or constrictive cables, and the method by which customers of all ages and abilities could traverse the spans easily.

The first challenge was solved with an ingenious friction system of blocks and chains that holds the platforms to the trees without the need for a single nail or bolt to penetrate the tree trunk. This ensured that tree health and strength was not compromised by the structure.

A “top rope belay” system solved the second issue. Essentially this means that the guides lower guests along the spans by rope, so that the guests can travel hands-free and care-free and do not have to control their flight in any way. Jungle Surfing is the only flying fox in the world to offer this freedom, and thus is able to accommodate all ages from 3-103 with no experience necessary.

Jungle Adventures’ flagship experience - Jungle Surfing Canopy Tours - opened to the public in August 2003. From small beginnings, attracting guests from Cape Tribulation and nearby Port Douglas, Jungle Surfing is now sold worldwide and attracts over 12,000 visitors each year.

Jungle Adventures is located in Cape Tribulation, an extraordinary and environmentally significant area. Our community north of the Daintree River is Australia’s largest sustainable energy community, and Jungle Adventures runs entirely on solar and hydro power. We have no access to mains power, water or sewerage. Environmental sustainability is key to every aspect of our business.

In April 2007 we opened our own booking office, and in June 2008 moved to a purpose-built harnessing and administration centre on the Jungle Adventures property, complete with new scenic boardwalks and a state of the art solar and hydro power system. Jungle Adventures now employ 15 people.

Jungle Surfing is regularly featured in the Australian and international media and was recently seen on Channel Seven’s The Great Outdoors with Jennifer Hawkins, and on Channel Ten’s Totally Wild.

Awards

2009   
 Winner - Tropical North Queensland Tourism Awards (Ecotourism)
 
2008   
Winner - Queensland Tourism Awards (Tourist Attraction)
Winner - Tropical North Queensland Tourism Awards (Adventure Tourism)
Winner - Tropical North Queensland Tourism Awards (Ecotourism)
Finalist - Telstra Business Awards - Small Business Award
Finalist - Telstra Business Awards - Social Responsibility Award
 
2007   
Finalist - Queensland Tourism Awards (Adventure Tourism)
Finalist - Tropical North Queensland Tourism Awards (Adventure Tourism)
Finalist - Telstra Business Awards - Small Business Award
 
2006   
Winner - Queensland Tourism Awards (Adventure Tourism)
Finalist - Tropical North Queensland Tourism Awards (Adventure Tourism)