Mount Alexandra Lookout, Cape Tribulation
Cape Tribulation Rd, Kimberley, Queensland 4873
The Daintree Rainforest is one of the oldest forests in the world and boasts plenty of native and exotic plant and animal species.
The surrounding landscape is home to some breath-taking natural wonders, many of which can be soaked up from the excellent vantage point of Alexandra Lookout.
Set ten minutes from the picturesque flow of the Daintree River on the way to Cape Tribulation, the lookout is also known as Walu Wugirriga by the local indigenous tribes – the word directly translates as “look about”, and you can do just that from the hotspot.
From the lookout, visitors can gawp out over jaw-dropping views of the Daintree Rainforest and its coastline where it meets the impressively blue waters of the Great Barrier Reef. There’s also the chance to spot the Daintree River as it snakes through the landscape, as well as other monumental landmarks like Port Douglas, Shipwreck Bay, Snapper Island, Cape Kimberley, and Black Rock.
When the weather is clear, you can sometimes see right out to Double Island near Palm Cove.
The History of Mount Alexandra Lookout
The State Government bought Alexandra Lookout back in 1993 as part of 38.3-hectare package of land it purchased with Wet Management Authority funds. After it was opened for use by the public its popularity quickly increased, and tour operators around the region brought up the need to properly manage the site to conserve its natural beauty.
Daintree and its surrounding regions have a rich indigenous history that spans back thousands of years, and the Alexandra Lookout is no exception. The Eastern Kuku Yalanji people are the traditional owners of the lookout and the land that surrounds it, and there are plenty of age-old traditions and cultural heritage that imbues the area today.
While at the lookout, visitors are able to learn more about this fascinating slice of Australian history and discover the importance of Alexandra Lookout in the region’s indigenous history. It is thought the lookout got its non-indigenous name from Princess Alexandra, a Danish Princess who was married to King Edward VII of Great Britain back in 1863. There are a number of natural features in the area that reference the princess.
The Wildlife Around Mount Alexandra Lookout
The view across the landscape isn’t the only draw to the lookout. The trees and plant life surrounding it are home to some of Australia’s most vibrant creatures. Keep your eyes peeled for the blue and black Ulysses Butterfly of North Queensland which can often be spotted in the area, as well as Pied-Imperial Pigeons that flock to the skies as they travel from Low Isles to the mainland.