In this day & age it is important to stay in touch with family & friends .. we are pleased to offer all our guests FREE wireless internet throughout the Park, if you are travelling with your own laptop.  Just ask at reception for your password.

We also have an internet kiosk available for those who have left their laptop at home!

Our clients have been treated to a rare sighting of an Albino Kangaroo on a regular basis on our way to Chillagoe. 

Over the past few weeks we have new additions at the Mareeba Wetlands on our Chillagoe Caves and Outback Tour.

There are now 5 baby Emu Chicks with our resident family of Emus at the Wetlands.  The Male Emu (Dad) is doing a great job of raring these chicks and often is waiting for us on arrival for our morning tea to show off his new family. 

Rainforestation Army Duck Driver Murray Freeman has celebrated reaching his 30th year of employment at the award-winning Rainforestation Nature Park in Kuranda.

Murray started working at Rainforestation on 23rd September in 1979, when it was known as Mountain Groves. At the time, the only other army duck driver was founding Managing Director Charles Woodward.

Murray remembers starting his employment with the company particularly well as he married his wife Laura the following week.

“So techinically, you can say I’ve been married to my job longer than I have my wife!” he said.

In those early days, Murray’s duties were varied and extended beyond just driving an army duck, from serving behind bar, to helping out in the restaurant.

“I remember on my first day, I wore good clothes to work, then my first task was a trip in the old truck to the dump – with a particularly messy batch of rubbish,” he said.

Over the years, Murray has seen the attraction evolve from a small business employing six people, to an internationally successful operation with currently 75 employees.

Due to his extensive knowledge of amphibious war vehicles, Murray has often been used as specialist consultant for film and television productions, such as the Steven Speilberg produced mini-series The Pacific which is currently in production.

Rainforestation Managing Director Charles Woodward said it was great to see a long-term employee remain so dedicated and passionate about their work.

“After 30 years, his tours have remained fresh and interesting – although some of his jokes haven’t changed,” he said.

“Murray has been presented with many opportunities to move into more senior roles, but has turned these down as he is content in this role, and continues to give it 100%. We are pleased to see him reach this milestone, and are proud of his ongoing commitment to Rainforestation,” he said.

Today, Murray has the additional responsibility of training the army duck drivers on driving, safety skills and guiding.

The award-winning Rainforestation Nature Park in Kuranda has just completed a successful exchange of koalas with Alma Park Zoo in Southern Queensland for breeding purposes.

The aim is to introduce new genetics into the breeding programmes at both Rainforestation Nature Park and Alma Park Zoo, Queensland's longest running zoo, situated 30 minutes north of Brisbane.
Sakura, a 2 year old female koala born at Rainforestation in their successful breeding program, has
swapped places with Alma Park Zoo's Kodi, a 3 year old male koala.

Rainforestation Head Wildlife Keeper Kate Coughlan said it is hoped Kodi will become one of their
top breeding males, as well as a star in the "Koala Experience" for koala photos.

"Kodi has settled in nicely and is revelling in his new role posing in the Koala Experience, so we're
also hoping he will take to two of our female koalas in the next couple of months," she said.

Meanwhile, Sakura is also expected to be a future breeder at Alma Park Zoo, with Rainforestation to
receive the first female offspring she produces, bringing new genetics into the koala colony again.

Both Rainforestation and Alma Park Zoo plan to work together for Koala management for the future,
thus beginning a long term partnership between the two parks.

For more information or to arrange a photo opportunity, please contact CaPTA PR Manager Ben
Woodward on 0406 384 886 or 07 4041 9401.

Sunrise at 6.31am & first light at 6.09am, seen every day from a hot air balloon here in the tropics in May, is displaying some amazing colours.

Taking off on the Atherton Tablelands, west of Kuranda and Port Douglas daily, the ballooning industry keeps the most up to date weather information to determine balloon launch sites & flight plans. Temperatures this week will range from an overnight of 19 degrees to a high of 27 in Kuranda and Mareeba. We suggest a light jacket and enclosed shoes, when starting your early morning tour and definitely sunglasses and a hat for after breakfast. To see photos of today''s weather on the Atherton Tablelands go to www.hotair.com.au  

It will be mostly fine and sunny inland for the week ahead though you will notice a difference driving from the Atherton Tablelands back to Port Douglas where the forecast is for moderate SE winds, fresh at times along the coast.