The Weather

North Queensland is in the tropics, and it is very hot and humid almost everywhere after October. The wet season can start any time around Christmas and extend through to April, depending on El Nino. If you plan to walk the strenuous coastal trails and hill slopes, do so in winter - May to September. The Atherton Tableland is a few degrees cooler, so if you are fit you can tackle the tough walks reasonably comfortably all year round.

Most of the walks around Townsville are on the coast. If you do the walks on Magnetic Island, I think the best time to start is straight after the wet season.

The Misty Mountains are situated west of Tully where the tropical rainforest is wet most of the time. Late August through to November is the least wet time of year and the streams are less likely to be flooded, but take wet weather gear just in case.

Avoid walking on rough, dirt forest trails in the wet season. Foot traffic wrecks unsealed pathways and the slippery surfaces can cause you to slip or fall. Whichever walk you do, check the weather on the bureau of meteorology site (see LINKS) and keep an eye on the sky.

Unfriendly Flora and Fauna

Leeches are a fact of life in the rainforest. When it's damp in the forest, they can latch onto your clothes and wriggle into soft fleshy spots. When a leech is removed it leaves a small puncture mark that usually bleeds for a while and is itchy for a week or so. Hint - avoid sitting on moss.

Ticks occur in many locations throughout Australia including the tropics. Like leeches they latch on as you brush against the vegetation. It is sensible to remove a tick as soon as possible as some varieties are toxic. Swab the tick with methylated spirits to make it release its hold before you pull it out. The bite can remain itchy for a week or two.

There are lots of snakes in the tropics, ranging from harmless tree snakes to deadly taipans. Do a little research on venomous snakes of the tropics before you go walking.

Wild pigs rarely threaten walkers, but I always get a lurch when they crash out of the undergrowth near me and charge off through the bush. If stressed, consider climbing a tree.

A Cassowary is a large flightless bird, not lacking in confidence if it decides to pick a fight. There are stories of birds attacking people proffering food. Do not feed them. If you encounter a cassowary on the path, stay clear of it, enjoy the spectacle, and wait until it moves on rather than pushing past it.

From October to May the northern coastal waters harbor marine stingers, jellyfish with a venomous sting that is agonizing and often fatal. Observe warnings and only swim in the enclosures erected at numerous beaches along the coast. Beware, the swimming enclosures are not totally stinger proof.

Saltwater crocodiles are appearing in increasing numbers along the northern coastline in creek and river estuaries. They are not limited to these locales and have been sighted kilometers out to sea and sun-baking on beaches, and are not uncommon in inland waterways. Always take notice of crocodile warnings and stay away from the edge of creeks and rivers known to be crocodile habitats.

Stinging trees, with large bright green, heart shaped leaves grow where the forest has been disturbed. The leaves and stems are covered in fine hair-like needles containing toxin that inflicts a sting that can last for weeks, so look out for the distinctive foliage beside rainforest trails.

The wait-a-while palm is a prickly climbing vine with long barbed tendrils that dangle invisibly across rainforest paths. If you get ensnared the hooked barbs won't release you until you back off.

Personal Safety

Always carry at least 2 litres of water on a long walk and don't attempt any of the strenuous walks unless you are an experienced bush walker.

Notify friends or family of your plans so someone will know where to start looking if you don't return.