Tully River Above Koombooloomba Dam

After the wet season, Koombooloomba Dam backs up into the Tully River allowing access into the river with Canoes. This is very close to where Edward Kennedy's ill fated expedition made its way up and over Cardwell Range out into the Savannah on the way to Cape York. Many topographical features are named after Kennedy's expedition members.

Emmagen Creek Cape Tribulation

The Wet Tropics World Heritage Area has a huge variety of aquatic ecosystems - fast moving streams flowing from mountain tops, rapid rivers cascading through gorges and over waterfalls, meandering coastal rivers and associated wetlands, mangrove communities and estuaries.

Mossman River enclosed in Rainforest

Further up into the gorge the Golden Penda reach right over the river creating a canopy: this is not a common occurrence.

Spring Creek Swirl

The Mowbray Valley is a small Valley behind Port Douglas. At almost the widest point of the valley, Spring Creek flows in from the Black Mountain summit area and winds its way into the Mowbray River and out to sea just South of Port Douglas. The locals like to go for a walk up to Spring Creek Falls to enjoy the bush.

Water Lillies on Quades Dam.

Quades' Dam / Lake Mitchell is situated on the Mitchell River between Mareeba and Mt Molloy. Its official name is South Edge Dam. Built in 1986, it holds 120 000 ML and covers 3 290 ha. It remains un-used for irrigation but has become a fabulous waterbird habitat.

Roots Hilda Creek.

Hilda Creek flows from the summit of Thornton's Peak down its slopes and then into the Daintree River. Thornton's Peak can receive over 8 meters of rain a year.

Alexander Creek Falls-Thornton Peak

Alexander Creek flows off the northern side of Thornton Peak , flowing parallel to the Roaring Meg Creek before joining it approximately 5 km upstream from the Roaring Meg Falls. There was some mining activity within its catchment and is the type locality of the Armoured mist frog (Litoria locria)

Bailey's & Hutchinson Creek Estuary

Small areas of the World Heritage Area may also include marine species in the mangrove and estuarine systems and marine mammals such as turtles nesting on the dunes above the beach. The Area's boundary goes to the low water mark.

Mossman River in Flood

In the lower sections of Mossman Gorge the river can even form islands. This picture shows the Mossman River splitting into two to form an Island in the middle.

Rocky Creek - Mt Frazer

Bloomfield Falls.

Downstream from the Roaring Meg Falls the Roaring Meg Creek joins the Bloomfield River and then flows over the Bloomfield Falls. This whole area was mined for tin in the late 1800's till early in the 1900's.

Mossman Gorge in Flood

The Wet Tropics is drained by 13 major river systems, most of which drain eastward into the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and are linked to marine ecosystems there.

Detail: Annan River Catchment

The linear nature of aquatic ecosystems means that they also have the capacity to move and accumulate threatening processes such as siltation and pollution across large distances. For example, run off from upland agriculture affects the Great Barrier Reef.

Noah Creek Cape Tribulation Area

Wet Tropics freshwater systems contain extremely rich biodiversity. For instance, 80 of the 190 species of Australian freshwater fish can be found in the Wet Tropics. Freshwater systems are a preferred habitat for 30 frog species, 16 reptile species and 73 bird species.

Small Tributary of Saltwater Creek

Just above O'Donoghue Falls this small tributary of Saltwater Creek drains the southern slopes of Whyanbeel Valley.

Saltwater Creek

A very calm creek considering for the last 7 km upstream the creek flowed from 1370m above sea level down to this spot which is only 40 m above sea level.

Reflections Mitchell River.

Rivers are also closely associated with scenic and recreational values, especially waterfalls, swimming holes and rapids used for rafting.

Roaring Meg Falls