Ducane Range, Tasmania

Walking in Tasmania, Australia

Most people interested in walking will know of the Overland Track, Australia's most popular long distance trail. This wonderful walk can be wall-to-wall people during the 'walking season' from November to April (you need to book in to walk the track during this time), but it is fairly easy to get off the track and away from the crowds.

Probably the most popular side trip is into the Labyrinth, a remarkable area of alpine lakes surrounded by forests of pencil pine, deciduous beech and snow gum. From here, Mt Geryon is a popular 'scramble' peak that offers non technical climbing onto the north peak and spectacular views. There are a range of craggy peaks to explore in this area, focussed on the Ducane Range. Perhaps the best is the two day traverse from the Ducane Range, and across Mount Massif to Castle Crag and then to the Overland Track. This is all above treeline, off track and is mostly covered in boulder fields. Walkers need to be experienced and fit to tackle this, but it will get you out into some fantastic country.

The Cloud Forests of Ecuador

Rainforests and Jungles in Quito, Ecuador

Mainland Ecuador has three general regions - the Amazon, the mountains and the Pacific Coast. Heading up from the coast and over the Andes toward the Amazon Basin, you pass through a range of ecosystems, including sub alpine Paramo system. The cloud forests occur on both sides of the Andes and contain incredible biodiversity, especially of birds. They are lush verdant forests, with much of the precipitation coming in the form of mist, and although close to the equator, have a mild temperature year round. And apart from the birds, there are fantastic displays of orchids. Best time: during the dry season (June to December)

The Daintree

Rainforests and Jungles in Queensland, Australia

While thousands of people visit the Daintree, in far North Queensland, you can still escape from it all and experience the ancient sense of this place. Famously known as the place where 'the rainforest meets the Reef', it is home to one of the largest ranges of animals and plants on earth. It contains 30% of the frog, marsupial and reptile species in Australia, and 65% of Australia's bat and butterfly species. The forests are ancient and can track their lineage back 135 million years – these forests act as a reminder of what much of Australia was like when it was far wetter through the presence of primitive flowering plants – for instance the ancient rainforests stretched out as far as Uluru/ Ayers Rock. Now they exist in small pockets – none are more impressive than Daintree where the coral reefs push up against dazzling white beaches that then merge into tropical rainforest.

The Mersey River Forests

Rainforests and Jungles in Tasmania, Australia

The Overland track is probably Australia's best known long distance walk, covering around 85 kilometres through the mountains of central west Tasmania. In the central section of this walk, the track enters the Mersey River, where ancient rainforests are hemmed in between Cathedral Mountain and Castle Crag. A string of impressive waterfalls, some of the tallest in the state, cuts through this silent valley. Moss covered trunks, filtered light, and endless hues of green characterise these forests. Occasional natural clearings give views up to rocky mountains and in spring and early summer, the heavy smell of the flowers of the Leatherwood tree adds to the experience. Early spring for fewer people and the flowering of the Leatherwood.

Goolengook Valley

Rainforests and Jungles in Victoria, Australia

Part of the traditional lands of the Bidawel people, Goolengook has been a hotly contested area since it was 'discovered' by forest activists in 1996. Following the longest community blockade of forestry operations ever held in Victoria, which ended when an enormous mono-pole structure over the Goolengook river was removed by police, much of the valley was logged. Since then community pressure has resulted in the protection of most of the remaining areas of old growth and rainforest. The cool temperate rainforests of East Gippsland are different to those elsewhere in the state as there is a total absence of the myrtle beech which is dominant in many other southern rainforests. In contrast, southern sassafras dominates the rainforest canopy. A summer visit to the rainforest usually gives a welcome cool relief from the heat!You can check out a virtual tour of Victoria's rainforests at: www.vicrainforest.org