The reserve protects an important patch of subtropical rainforest.

As you enter the forest you will hear the layered orchestra of bird song around and above you. 141 different species live at Mary Cairncross and play essential roles in the ecosystem: eating insects, spreading plant seeds, turning soil and raising their young.

Encounter the warmblooded creatures who hop, fly and scurry

Our reserve is home to several species of frogs, snakes, lizards, dragons and skinks, some of which are threatened. These cold-blooded masters of camouflage are important creatures in the forest ecosystem.

An abundance of invertebrates inhabit the undergrowth in our forest: ants, butterflies, wasps, bees, spiders, centipedes and even crustaceans. Invertebrates are thought to make up 97% of all animals on earth. They are crucial workers in the ecosystem as pollinators, garbage collectors and food sources.

Beneath your feet and within the plants themselves is a living network of mycelium - the kingdom of fungi.

The reserve is home to more than 300 flora species, including several threatened species.