Kara DeKernian and Will Sellman share a picnic by Wave Rock, Daintree Forest, Australia.

Australia (117)
Join Dr. Will Sellman and his schoolteacher wife, Kara de Kernion, as they leave their New Zealand home for a vacation at the luxurious Silky Oaks Lodge in North Queensland, Australia. The resort is located in the Daintree, which is thought to be the oldest rainforest in the world.

Take a tour of the ancient rainforest, then encounter everything from bats to baby crocodiles during a guided night cruise down the Mossman River. Experience the lodge's new Healing Waters Spa, and commune with the beautiful natural surroundings. Sellman and de Kernion are treated to an in-depth lesson on the rainforest's plant life and its many medicinal uses from a local Aboriginal guide. They also enjoy a "light and crisp" dinner at the lodge, cooked with ingredients directly from the rainforest.

Lodge and Rainforest Facts:

• Silky Oaks Lodge has 45 tree houses and five river houses.

• Three-night packages at the Silky Oaks Lodge start at $960.

• The Lodge also offers a variety of special packages, like the four-night Healing Waters Spa package for $2800 per couple.

• The Daintree Rainforest National Park is a protected world heritage site.

• The Daintree Rainforest is between 100 and 135 million years old.

• Silky Oaks can arrange for both day and night excursions into the rainforest.

• Besides crocodiles, guests may also see pythons, fluorescent fungi and tree frogs at night.

• All tree houses at Silky Oaks sit high in the rainforest canopy.

• Products used in the Healing Waters Spa contain no animal by-products, artificial colors or perfumes.

• Bikes are provided free of charge for guests.

• The Silky Oaks menu includes many items found in the rainforest.

Contact Information:

Silky Oaks Lodge
Finlayvale Road, Mossman, Queensland
011-07-4098-1666, www.silkyoakslodge.com

Qantas Airlines
800-227-4500,
www.quantas.com

Native Guide Safari Tours
58 Pringle Street, Mossman. 4873 Queensland
011-07-4098-2206, www.nativeguidesafaritours.com.au

Resources:

Daintree Cape Tribulation Tourism
www.dctta.asn.au/welcome.html

Fodor's 2002 Australia

World Conservation Monitoring Centre
www.wcmc.org.uk/protected_areas/data/wh/wettropi.html