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Cape Tribulation, on the Coral Sea off far-north Queensland, Australia, is about 120Km north of Cairns, at 16 S 145E (about the same latitude as Costa Rica but in the S hemisphere). It is in the Daintree tropical lowlands, considered to be the “jewel” of the Australian Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. This is a very special area of rainforest sandwiched between the coastal fringing reef (and the Great Barrier reef) and the coastal mountain range (which rises to over 1000 meters (3,000 feet)). The area has a wide variety of habitats from coastal reefs to tropical rainforest. The Research Station is a research and conservation organisation that specialises in lowland tropical ecosystems, in particular those of the Daintree lowlands, and has been in operation for over 16 years. We are non-affiliated, and funded by the not-for-profit, tax-exempt AUSTROP Foundation.

The Station provides research facilities, full accommodation and access to forest and coastal environments. We have a very wide range of research equipment, appropriate to supporting a wide variety of research activities. You may contact The Station Director for more information regarding available equipment and materials.

The Station is also home to a resident flying fox colony (unreleasable animals), whose inhabitants do 'ambattadorial' (ambassadorial) duties at the Bat House visitor center. In addition to greeting visitors, our bats serve as subjects for endless amusement, speculation, and the occasional psychological or behavioural study.