It's here the velvety green mantle of the forest slopes plunge to the aqua waters

of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, where fringing reefs grow almost to the shore. No where else in the world can you experience these two natural wonders side by side - where World Heritage-listed reef and rainforest actually meet.

The Daintree Village, just an hour-and-a-half drive from Cairns or 45 minutes from Port Douglas, is the perfect base from which to explore the region.

Accommodation caters for all budgets, from the ultra-swish, multi-award-winning Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa with its private cabins perched in the rainforest, to the recently-refurbished Daintree Riverview Caravan Park with its stunning views of the Daintree River.

If you're looking for five-star, the eco lodge here is the one of the world's ultimate eco retreats, complete with luxurious spa treatments, personally-guided rainforest tours and a restaurant perched amongst the trees which specialises in bush tucker, exotic fruits and local seafood.

We stayed at Daintree Cloud Nine, which offers self-catering accommodation, and there are also B&Bs and homestays, and a few secluded resorts further north.

A great spot for lunch is the Big Barramundi Garden, which serves local barra, crocodile and emu lunches until late afternoon daily, just a stone's throw from the river.

From the village, the wonder of the Daintree and Cape Tribulation is on your doorstep. There are flora species that have survived almost unchanged for 110 million years. Indeed, these rainforests actually contain several of the first flowering plants (called angiosperms), which were the origins of all plant life.

No great shakes in the botanical department, I was lucky enough to hook up with one of the region's great characters, Dan Irby. One of the most magical ways to experience the Daintree is with Dan Irby's Mangrove Adventures . At sunrise and sunset, Dan runs small, personalised tours of the Daintree River, focusing on the area's natural history. Dan has years of experience in medical and zoological research. His passion for the Daintree is absolutely infectious and we were soon enthusiastically croc spotting, bird watching and learning about the unique flora and fauna.

You can make your own way into the Daintree via the Daintree Ferry. It's the only cable ferry in tropical Australia, and drops you on the southern part of the lowland Daintree Rainforest. The ferry operates from 6:00am to midnight every day, and the cost for a standard vehicle is $20 return.

There are plenty of day trips and activities to choose from including Aboriginal-guided rainforest walks with the local Kuku Yalanji people, river wildlife cruises, guided bird spotting, Cape Tribulation safaris, river fishing, horse riding and bike riding, exploring secluded beaches and 4WD safaris.

Cooper Creek Wilderness offers guided day and night interpretive rainforest tours. Or you can tackle the tracks on your own on the Marrdja Boardwalk, a 1.1km loop which takes 30 minutes.

You don't need a champagne budget to explore this beautiful region. It's one of the best driving adventures around and it's right on our doorstep.