Art in the Daintree Rainforest is full of psychedelic secrets.

Traveling artist , Leah Hantken, came across the Daintree Rainforest in August 2019. She is still here… absorbed by the fauna and flora.

The Daintree Rainforest is in Far North Queensland, Australia. It’s the land that time forgot and its beauty is intoxicating. Not surprising that David Attenborough has claimed it as his favorite rainforest in all the world. Leah Hantken loves it here too.

Leah and her partner, Martin, left Adelaide some years ago to explore Australia with little Pepsi, their cheeky Maltese fur baby as a constant companion. They stayed here at Daintree Rainforest Village camp ground, where we had the pleasure of making friends with them.

Leah loves to draw and paint little creatures, some real, some fantastical…all of them engaging. Never to miss out on a golden opportunity, we commissioned Leah to create a landscape mural which cameos our gorgeous campground, here in the middle of the Daintree Rainforest.

Leah immersed herself in the study of local flora and fauna and reproduced the forest creatures in superbly accurate detail and habitat. Her depiction of this ancient and unique part of the world , from “The Daintree River to Cape Tribulation” has over 125 different animals and plants specific to this region.

Sadly, during the creation of the mural, Leah’s grand father, Colin Thatcher, passed away… on her grand mother’s 80th birthday.

Three Hidden Messages in the mural.

There are three, almost hidden messages in the mural. When you are in the rainforest you need to go slow and look closely until the rainforest reveals it’s real life to you. It’s the same with Leah’s messages.

We are delighted that Leah has dedicated the mural to the loving memory of Colin Thatcher ( Pa). A simple, almost hidden message “I love you Pa” is written on a tiny leaf. Can you find it?

Leah also pays respect to the traditional owners of the region, the Kuku Yalanji Bama, and their enduring relationship with land and water. Another almost hidden message, the face of a local elder, revealed itself during the painting of the mural. Leah said it was unplanned, a happy accident. Once you see it , you can’t unsee it.

After a few months of solid work on the painting, Leah cleverly signed off by weaving her signature into the under water scenery. Do you see where she put it?