The best Cape Tribulation accommodation for a tropical stay

Daintree Rainforest

By Emily Murphy

19 May 2025

Want to see the only place in the world where two UNESCO World Heritage sites collide? The best Cape Tribulation accommodation will guide you.

Cape Tribulation is known as the place where the Daintree Rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef, and the good news is that Cape Tribulation accommodation caters to travellers of all sorts.

It’s important to note that phone service is super limited up here, but you can find patchy coverage along Cape Tribulation Road near Turtle Rock Cafe within Safari Lodge (more on this popular spot further below). Be prepared to log off with offline maps and a couple of good books before heading off, because most of the area’s stays don’t offer Wi-Fi. However, luxury digs and budget accommodation at caravan parks and camp sites (take a squiz at our Cape Tribulation camping guide for top spots) means there’s something for everyone. Presenting our favourites.

1. Alkira Resort House and Rainforest Retreat

the Alkira Resort House and Rainforest Retreat exterior

The stunning Alkira Resort House and Rainforest Retreat was designed to withstand Category 5 cyclones. (Image: Supplied)

Alkira is an architectural masterpiece in the heart of the Daintree. The award-winning, off-grid, carbon-neutral property is powered by renewable energy, the astonishing work of acclaimed Aussie architect Charles Wright. The property is made up of six cantilevered wings that emerge from the lake as though they’re rising from its depths, perfected as Category 5 cyclone-proof to ensure total peace of mind no matter the season you visit.

If you’ve got a big group going, this Cape Tribulation accommodation is a winner, sleeping up to 12 guests in its six bedrooms and treating all to unparalleled luxury through a central swimming pool, state-of-the-art gym, an outdoor jacuzzi and a private beach that stretches out over 1.2 kilometres.

2. mist

the kitchen and dining at Mist Eco-Lodge, Cape Tribulation

The spacious eco-lodge opens up to an outdoor deck. (Image: Toby Stanley Photography)

Home to just three freestanding, self-contained pavilions, mist is one of the most luxurious and spacious Cape Tribulation accommodation picks out there. Each pavilion boasts a covered outdoor deck and a day bed to pop you right into the thick of your surroundings. Inside, it’s air-conditioned (thank goodness), plus there’s a king-size bed, three-seater lounge, walk-in rain shower and well-equipped kitchenette to help you switch into holiday mode quick sticks.

The eco-lodge sits at the base of Mount Sorrow, named after the literal mist that envelops its peak. Completely off-grid, mist uses solar power to run the property, and in even better news, there’s a bit of Wi-Fi to lap up if you struggle to disconnect entirely.

3. Ferntree Rainforest Lodge

the Ferntree Rainforest Lodge accommodation in Cape Tribulation

Thriving flora and fauna envelop the 28-acre property. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Ferntree Rainforest Lodge is a family-owned, environmentally friendly resort where guests can spy endemic nature and wildlife right from their room. The Cape Tribulation accommodation offers six room types, spanning luxury garden lofts to the ‘Budget Room’ which still comes with a king bed and ensuite bathroom.

Ferntree’s in-house Cassowary Bar & Restaurant features Balinese-style decor and dishes up truly Australian dishes like a ‘Great Aussie Grill Platter’ collating kangaroo, crocodile and local whiting among other delicacies. The 28-acre property also has a swimming pool and picturesque gardens filled with thriving flora and fauna including a bioluminescent fungi, more commonly known as ghost mushrooms, that glows in the dark. For real.

4. Cape Trib Beach House

the pool at Cape Trib Beach House

Cool off in the outdoor pool in the middle of the rainforest. (Image: Cape Trib Beach House)

Offering direct access to Cape Tribulation Beach, plus its own restaurant, bar and saltwater swimming pool (because you don’t want to swim in a croc-infested ocean, right?), Cape Trib Beach House welcomes people from all walks of life. With no Wi-Fi or phone service, the Cape Tribulation accommodation is super peaceful, ensuring you thoroughly disconnect.

Attracting solo adventurers, families and groups since 2000, the digs range from studio-style and multi-bedroom cottages to the six-person-friendly ‘Endeavour Family Cabin’ which also offers a private balcony. An absolute bucket list moment when you stay here is waking up early to watch the sunrise on the beach, located just mere steps away from the rooms.

5. PK’s Jungle Village

an aerial view of PK’s Jungle Village, Cape Tribulation accommodation

The lush accommodation is just a short walk from the beach. (Image: PK’s Jungle Village)

If you’re venturing up this way on a shoestring, PK’s Jungle Village is a budget Cape Tribulation accommodation option in the hustle and bustle of it all. Offering private cabins and dormitory-style accommodation with air-con, as well as camping and caravanning, the hot spot is just a short walk from the beach. Hit up the large pool in the afternoon before kicking the party on to The Jungle Bar where real holiday memories are made. It’s rocking until midnight every night, with pizzas flying hot out of the oven until 9pm. Keen for an earlier night? An affordable dinner menu is available from 5.30pm to 8pm.

6. Safari Lodge

Centrally located Safari Lodge offers cabins and camping, including powered sites for caravans and motorhomes, plus a swimming pool and the Turtle Rock Cafe, which sells Wi-Fi access for a small fee. Sleep in the jungle and enjoy the sounds of the rainforest at night — just make sure you rise early enough to experience sunrise over beautiful Myall Beach.

The Cape Tribulation accommodation is operated by Ocean Safari, a tour company facilitating some of the best things to do in Cape Tribulation. Choose from three boat charters taking guests out to the best Great Barrier Reef snorkelling spots, including morning expeditions, afternoon ones and private journeys.

7. Cape Tribulation Camping

an aerial view of a beach in Cape Tribulation, Tropical North Queensland

Sleep right on the beach. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Have tent, will rough it? Consider Cape Tribulation Camping, which serves as the only true beachfront camping in the region. Just a short walk from the centre of town, the site offers unpowered sites and powered sites to set up motorhomes and caravans. Joining the party in 2025 are six even fancier options, the ‘Beach Huts’ which come with air-con, queen beds, optional sofa beds if you’ve got kids, all linen, a fridge, and tea and coffee-making facilities. While there are no bathrooms in there, they do have their own private outdoor shower, and the amenities block is just beyond a paved footpath.

Elsewhere on site, there’s a restaurant open until 8pm every evening, plus barbecue facilities and the team can even whip you up a barbecue pack of food if you’re happy to let somebody else steer for a change.

Originally written by Emily Murphy with updates by Kristie Lau-Adams

Discover the best things to do in the Daintree

Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.

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Views from the bedroom of the Daintree Pavilion

Daintree Rainforest

A luxe treetop stay at Silky Oaks Lodge is drenched in serenity

Green peace: the little things mean a lot in this Luxury Lodges of Australia rainforest retreat.

The 14 best Daintree accommodation picks for instant access

By Emily Murphy

13 May 2025

Wake up to nature at your window with the most astonishing Daintree accommodation choices.

The Daintree Rainforest is part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics of Queensland, and there is nothing quite like being immersed in its distinct landscape. Surrounded by incredibly diverse flora and fauna, the finest Daintree accommodation options offer an access-all-areas pass to everything.

Whether you’re in need of a luxurious holiday or prefer to camp on the forest floor, the region is home to something for everyone. Below, our guide to the Daintree’s ultimate picks, but first, allow us to answer the most pressing question of all…

Is it worth staying in the Daintree Rainforest?

a couple relaxing at Cow Bay, Daintree National Park

The world’s oldest tropical rainforest feels hidden away from the world. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

For so many reasons, the answer is yes. The Daintree stands as the world’s oldest tropical rainforest, estimated to be about 180 million years old and even out ageing South America’s Amazon Rainforest by 125 million years. Even more enticing, the Daintree is home to a really varied range of accommodation options, climbing the spectrum from tent camping to total indulgence, so it’s not like you’re shoe-boxed into one-journey-fits-all.

Crucial notes, though: if you and humidity don’t click, avoid the wet season from December to April, when subtropical humidity (and obviously rain) come part and parcel. Additionally, roads are windy, and terrain is often rugged so travellers with accessibility needs will need to thoroughly check that their desired accommodation and all activities are accessible. Also, choosing your own adventure is guaranteed to thrill, but signing up to one of the best Daintree guided tours is highly recommended as wildlife runs, well, wild, and this sacred spot should be navigated responsibly.

The best Daintree accommodation

1. Ferntree Rainforest Lodge

an off-grid cabin at Ferntree Rainforest Lodge, Daintree

The self-sustainable Ferntree Rainforest Lodge is the perfect off-grid hideaway. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Dreaming of switching off entirely? Go off the grid with a stay at the completely self-sustainable Ferntree Rainforest Lodge. Located on a 28-acre block within Cape Tribulation, where the Daintree meets the Great Barrier Reef, the Daintree accommodation offers comfortable air-conditioned rooms with private balconies. It’s not luxury, and the team is the first to admit it’s intended for active travellers, but it does have the largest swimming pool in the region (a major post-tour tick) and a restaurant and bar, plus it stages guided night walks through the rainforest — so there’s plenty to love. Choose from private cabins, two-storey lofts and ‘Budget Rooms’ with ensuite bathrooms.

2. Daintree Ecolodge

a woman looking out the window of her room at Daintree Ecolodge

Wake up to the sounds of native wildlife at the ECO-certified Daintree Ecolodge. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

It doesn’t get much ritzier than the ECO-certified Daintree Ecolodge. Nestled between lush foliage, the treehouse-style canopies allow you to hear sounds of native wildlife you’ve never heard before, with the echoes of a private onsite waterfall in the distance.

The rooms have a screened balcony and a daybed, where you can laze around listening to the rainforest, all the while remaining protected from mosquitoes!

Its Daintree Wellness Spa acknowledges and respects the Kuku Yalanji people, and treatments are inspired by Indigenous wisdom and the healing properties of Australian native botanical ingredients. The team harness the pure waters of that serene waterfall to create unforgettable healing treatments.

The Julaymba Restaurant & Bar is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and offers locally sourced, seasonal and sustainable produce, with the menu changes regularly to showcase produce from the Daintree accommodation’s own vegetable garden and surrounding farms.

3. Silky Oaks Lodge

the Treehouse Retreat at Silky Oaks Lodge, Daintree

Find peace in on of the unique treehouses. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

One of the most famous luxury lodges in Australia, Silky Oaks Lodge offers views of the Mossman River or the rainforest in its 40 unique treehouses.

With private decks featuring epic outdoor baths, generous verandahs with hammocks opening to the rainforest, and a contemporary fit out, this Daintree accommodation is really something else.

The Healing Waters Spa provides restorative treatments for the body, mind and soul, so be sure to make a stop to soak up every benefit of splashing out here.

Additionally, its Treehouse Restaurant features a contemporary Australian menu, nailing generous dishes across breakfast, lunch and dinner. Combining local ingredients with the nation’s premium produce, it’s refined dining whenever you drop by.

4. Cape Trib Beach House

the Escape cabin at Cape Trib Beach House, Daintree

The Escape cabin offers calm and privacy for up to four people. (Image: Cape Trib Beach House)

Set among seven acres of remote subtropical rainforest in Cape Tribulation, the Cape Trib Beach House is a standout spot offering total seclusion. A private beach, bar and restaurant and daily activities means there’s plenty to do without venturing too far, plus each room is completely comfortable, fitted with air conditioning, bar fridges, private ensuites, private balconies and tea and coffee-making facilities.

5. Cassowary Falls

a private deck at Cassowary Falls, Daintree accommodation

Each self-contained stay is fitted with a private deck to relax on. (Image: Cassowary Falls)

Dial up the luxe at Cassowary Falls, a Daintree accommodation located in the Mossman Gorge section of the region. Home to just three spacious chalets, guests are treated to sweeping views of the dramatic Thornton Peak mountain. Of course, the biggest perk at this place is immediate access to Cassowary Falls, one of the best things to see in the Daintree Rainforest, which cascades into a stunning natural rock pool. Meanwhile, each self-contained stay is fitted with a full kitchen and bougie appliances, a private deck and a shaded spa.

6. Daintree Wilderness Lodge

the rainforest cabin at Daintree Wilderness Lodge

Soak up rainforest serenity at Daintree Wilderness Lodge.

Each cabin at Daintree Wilderness Lodge has won eco accreditation, ensuring this Daintree accommodation protects the magnificent and untouched environment that engulfs it. Wake up to tranquil views of giant fan palms, vines, trunks, leaves and birds, all native to this spectacular tropical rainforest.

Seven cabins are spread out above ground level to reduce the property’s environmental footprint, however it’s still plenty luxe so don’t let admirable initiatives deter you. Cycad Restaurant is the lodge’s on-site eatery, which sources local and seasonal produce to further reduce impact on the environment and support Tropical North Queensland’s hardworking farmers and growers.

7. Heritage Lodge

the exterior of a rainforest cabin at Heritage Lodge, Daintree

Relax on your own private deck. (Image: Heritage Lodge)

Heritage Lodge features 20 rainforest cabins set within the quiet serenity of the Daintree. Sit back and relax on your own private deck to enjoy nature at its best.

The lodge’s On the Turps restaurant is a tropical open-air eatery sitting along the edge of Cooper Creek. An idyllic and tranquil dining experience open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, On The Turps lazing is an absolute must.

8. Daintree Village Hideaway

the pool area at Daintree Village Hideaway

Take a refreshing dip in the pool that’s surrounded by lush greenery. (Image: Daintree Village Hideaway)

A small yet central hub that brings together a general store, pub and several stores, Daintree Village is a quaint destination, and the Daintree Village Hideaway is its closest accommodation. Rooms are comfortable, fitted with flat-screen TVs, fridges, microwaves and tea and coffee-making facilities, plus there’s an on-site pool so all your creature comforts are covered.

Free wi-fi also flows, pets are welcome and breakfast can also be dished up for a small fee.

9. Wompoo Eco Retreat

Wompoo Eco Retreat is a lovely escape, helping travellers slink into nature to relax and unwind. Guests are treated to their own private outdoor hot tub to relax in under the stars, cementing this Daintree accommodation as a popular pick for romance-hunting couples.

Offering just two eco-designed bungalows, each stay features a private bathroom, undercover deck, plenty of space and private cooking facilities. A breakfast of tropical fruits is included each morning.

10. Noah Beach camping area

an aerial view of Noah Beach, Daintree

Noah Beach is just 50 metres from the campsite. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Just a 50-metre walk from Noah Beach, the Noah Beach camping area is a great base for breathtaking Daintree adventures. It’s not suitable for caravans or large campervans, due to the thick rainforest around and tight turns, but tents are enthusiastically welcome — if you can handle very basic amenities. Think composting toilets, and it’s worth noting there’s no mobile coverage or drinking water.

11. Yindilli Camping Ground

For those craving a true nature immersion, the Daintree is dotted with amazing camping spots, including Yindilli Camping Ground, located in the heart of the rainforest.

Approximately an hour’s drive from Bloomfield and two hours from Daintree Village, the Daintree accommodation features toilets and showers, fireplaces and dry firewood. Also, there’s instant access to walking tracks destined for Bairds Creek where swimming in crystal clear mountain waters is just your regular afternoon to-do. Just bring your own camping gear and food.

Bloomfield is also found on the CREB Track, a wonderland for 4WD enthusiasts, so rev heads flock to this one. Travellers should note that the CREB Track closes temporarily from time to time depending on the conditions, so make sure you check before you go to avoid disappointment.

12. Daintree Rainforest Village

Located before the road gets too rough for caravans and 2WDs, Daintree Rainforest Village is the perfect mix of caravan park and campsite to base yourself while in the Daintree. It even has caravan storage, so if you venture off into the rougher, deeper depths of the Daintree, you can leave your caravan for $10 a night.

The village has bathrooms, a laundry, a camp kitchen, fire facilities, an onsite general store and fuel station, among other things, so it really is a one-stop shop.

13. Daintree Siesta

a couple walking in the middle of the rainforest at Daintree Siesta

Be enveloped by lush greenery at Daintree Siesta. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

This Daintree accommodation is family-owned and operated, rebranded from Lync Haven in recent years, offering travellers caravan sites, camping sites, and self-contained cabins. With bathroom facilities, a laundry, BBQs and a camp kitchen, you can either cook for yourself or utilise the onsite eatery which opens for lunch and dinner and serves up pub-style classics.

14. Stonewood Retreat

the exterior of Stonewood Retreat, Daintree

Stonewood Retreat is a stunning open-plan stay with expertly designed gardens. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Would you believe that Airbnb extends into the reaches of the Daintree Rainforest? Stonewood Retreat is a stunning open-plan stay with private freshwater pools and waterways just a short walk from the property. Featuring an outdoor bath and expertly designed gardens, this Daintree accommodation keeps your exploration flowing without even stepping foot off the property.

Originally written by Emily Murphy with updates by Kristie Lau-Adams

Discover the best things to do in the Daintree