Flames in the forest ... is that really a good idea? Well if Daintree dining in the dark peaks your curiosity, then take a seat for some nocturnal theatrics.
The Daintree is Australia's largest stretch of rainforest, going from just north of Townsville north to Cooktown and west to the Great Dividing Range. The World Heritage site covers 1,200 square kilometres and is thought to be 135 million years old.
Each Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening, 15 minutes inland from Port Douglas, something wonderful happens, a truly unique dining experience on the edge of the rainforest.
Tables and chairs are positioned in a clearing and surrounded by hundreds of candles to create a magical ambience. Guests step from one world into another and spend four mystical hours experiencing the sights and sounds of the night forest.
A tropical banquet featuring locally sourced and grown produce, fruit and fine wines is enjoyed as you chat to the chef, other diners or just sit quietly letting your senses enjoy the surroundings.
Each night features different entertainment. You might enjoy the soulful sound of a didgeridoo, an Aboriginal storyteller, some local musical legends or sometimes a surprise.
One of the nicest touches to the evening is that you leave your mark in a handmade book. One tree will be planted from that signature and you will have contributed to preserving local habitats and hopefully the soul-nurturing rainforests will last another million years.
