How To Get To The Daintree Rainforest

The Daintree Rainforest is a world away from civilisation but a snap to get to. And the drive north from Cairns is something worth marvelling at.

Part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics of Queensland, the Daintree is barely touched and completely isolated. So, you might be wondering how to get to the Daintree Rainforest. Well getting there is actually really easy, so follow our guide for everything you need to know before you leave.

Where is the Daintree?

The Great Barrier Reef Drive. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

The Great Barrier Reef Drive takes you to where the rainforest meets the reef. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

The Daintree’s closest airport is roughly 110 kilometres south of the rainforest in Cairns. Located in Tropical North Queensland, the trip up is nothing short of amazing, with incredible coastal views and scenery that will blow your mind.

There are two ways you can get to the Daintree from Cairns; hiring a car and making your own way on a mini road trip or jumping on one of the tours that will take you to the Daintree from Cairns, Palm Cove or Port Douglas.

Drive yourself

The Great Barrier Reef Drive offers unmatched views of the Coral Sea. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Did someone say road trip? Although not a huge drive, the Great Barrier Reef Drive has some beautiful stops along the way that you simply can’t go past. Whether you’re just passing through and stop for a coffee and lunch, or you stay the night, both Palm Cove and Port Douglas are must-stops.

Palm Cove

The sunset in Palm Cove is incredible. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Palm Cove is home to Nick Holloway’s iconic Nu Nu restaurant which brings award-winning Australian dishes and a great atmosphere to the table. With spectacular views of the Coral Sea, the beachfront location framed by stunning palm trees is dreamlike.

Port Douglas

Four Mile Beach is the most popular beach in Port Douglas. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Another 40 kilometres up the highway you’ll reach the laid-back coastal town of Port Douglas. A hot spot in Tropical North Queensland, Port Douglas has plenty of incredible places to eat and accommodation for every budget, so even if you stay here for a couple of days, you won’t run out of things to do.

Daintree Ferry

The Daintree Ferry can fit 27 vehicles. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

When you’re ready to make the final leg to the Daintree, you’ll come across the Daintree Ferry about 50 kilometres up the road. Some Daintree accommodation options are located before the ferry near Daintree Village, so you may not need to cross the river until you’re ready to explore the wealth of things to do in the Daintree.

The 43-metre-long Daintree Ferry provides vehicle access across the Daintree River, connecting the northern Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation with the rest of Far North Queensland.

The Daintree River running side by side with the Great Barrier Reef Drive. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

The Daintree River is a hot spot for crocs. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

The ferry operates between 5am and midnight 365 days a year, with a priority lane for locals between 9am and 4.30pm from July to September. The crossing is pretty quick and easy, taking approximately 15 minutes, including time for boarding and disembarking all vehicles. During peak season there might be a bit of a wait though, so factor that into your travel time.

Ferry tickets are $45 per car for a return ticket and an extra $16 if you’ve got a trailer. You can buy the ferry tickets on the southern side of the river before you cross.

You might even see a croc while you cross the river, but if you don’t, the Daintree has plenty of river cruises designed for spotting crocodiles in the wild.

Cape Tribulation

The incredible views from Mount Alexandra Lookout. (Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

The views from Mount Alexandra Lookout are amazing. (Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

Once you’ve passed the Daintree River, you’ve reached the oldest living rainforest, which is estimated to be 180 million years old – tens of millions of years older than the Amazon. Make sure you stop by the Mount Alexandra Lookout located shortly after the ferry, which offers excellent views over the Coral Sea and the mouth of the Daintree.

You’ve then got about an hour until you get to Cape Tribulation, the only place in the world where two UNESCO World Heritage sites meet. You’ll have the best of both worlds exploring the rainforest, but also heading out onto the Great Barrier Reef for a bucket list reef experience.

There are lots of places to stay in Cape Tribulation and also plenty of camping spots, so whether you’re into luxury accommodation, budget stays or sleeping under the stars, there’s something for you.

4WD sits beneath trees near the beach in the Daintree. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Camping in Cape Trib is a common choice. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

With no mobile phone service and one of the highest concentrations of plants and animals anywhere on earth, the call to adventure beckons loudly here.

Do not forget the essentials – a torch and plenty of time up your sleeve – because exploring the beaches and the rainforest at night, especially around Cape Trib, increases your chances to see some of the most amazing wildlife on earth. For example, ghost crabs (they are translucent, so you see right through them) are best spotted scurrying around at night.

It takes less than three hours (with no stops) to get from Cairns to Cape Tribulation, an easy journey for anyone looking to get away.

Mother and child swinging on rope swing Cape Tribulation beach. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Cape Tribulation Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Take a tour

Tour bus driving along the Great Barrier Reef Drive. (Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

Sometimes a tour of the Daintree is the best option. (Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

If you’d rather just come up for a day or two, and you don’t want to hire a car, then a tour is your best bet. Getting to see all the best bits in a fast-tracked tour is a great way to see the Daintree and Cape Tribulation for the time-poor.

Most of the tours have a stop at Mossman Gorge where you’ll get to go on a Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk with a local Kuku Yalanji guide. Some tours will also take you on one of the Daintree River cruises that get up close and personal with the native saltwater crocs.

Aerial shot of Mossman Gorge. (Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

Mossman Gorge is a stunning spot. (Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

If you’re staying in Port Douglas and your Daintree tour doesn’t take you on a crocodile cruise, we’ve also found the best spots in Port Douglas to spot a crocodile.

Shake off your tech and reconnect to earth with the most grounding Daintree walks.

Tapping into your inner vine-swinging Mowgli is unavoidable upon entering Tropical North Queensland’s Daintree Rainforest. Crammed with flowing streams, cascading waterfalls, secret swimming spots and jaw-dropping mountain ranges, the Daintree Rainforest is the oldest rainforest on the entire planet. While action-packed Daintree tours round up serious highlights, nothing compares to strapping on your boots and getting (strategically) lost amongst its immensity.

Before you go, it’s worth noting that safe trails are contained to Daintree National Park, which works to preserve a huge portion of the wider rainforest. Split into the rocky Mossman Gorge area and coastal Cape Tribulation section, the park is a nature lover’s playground. Here, we unveil the best Daintree walks to get you exploring with ease.

1. Rainforest Circuit Track in Mossman Gorge

a guided Dreamtime Walk experience, Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre

Join the 1.5-hour Dreamtime Walk in Mossman Gorge. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Distance: 3.4 kilometres

Time: Roughly 2 hours

Difficulty: Grade 3, which means there’s some obstacles. Walking experience is required and Grade 3 also indicates steep hills and more than a few stairs.

Easily one of the most popular walks in the Daintree, the Rainforest Circuit Track in Mossman Gorge offers ridiculous views of Mount Demi, a spiritually significant rock formation of the local Kuku Yalanji people. Visitors will delight in the array of flora and fauna this Daintree walk covers, including strangler figs and various butterfly species, while the circular nature of the trip equals straightforward exploration — who doesn’t love that?

To get there, seek out the shuttle bus stop car park in Mossman Gorge and take the Baral Marrjanga track to the Rex Creek bridge track (more on both of those trails, below). The circuit starts on the far side of the bridge.

2. Dubuji Boardwalk in Cape Tribulation

Take the scenic Dubuji Boardwalk through the foothills of Mount Alexandra. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Distance: 1.2 kilometres

Time: About 45 minutes

Difficulty: Grade 1, which means the track is flat, stair-free, clearly signposted and well-formed. Wheelchairs are also welcome, though some assistance is required.

If the Daintree walk of your dreams involves gazing into lush mangrove swamps to uncover what lies beneath, the Dubuji Boardwalk in Cape Tribulation has your name on it. Extremely simple to navigate due to its flat terrain, this pick is known to throw up the odd cassowary, too. Bird life thrives here, in fact, with kingfishers and orange-footed scrubfowls roaming the joint — and then there’s the payoff for all your hard work, Myall Beach, accessible from the boardwalk.

3. Manjal Jimalji (Devils Thumb) Trail

Distance: 10.6 kilometres, return

Time: 8 hours

Difficulty: Grade 4, which means the trail’s rough and steep with minimal signposts. You’ll need bushwalking experience and be extra careful if it’s been raining as the track will get slippery.

Full-day explorers who know how to navigate uneven and hilly terrain should consider the incredible Manjal Jimalji (Devils Thumb) Trail, which uncovers one of the most culturally significant sites in the region. A word of warning from Queensland National Parks: experienced walkers should only attempt this Daintree walk between May and November when rain is minimal and the track isn’t slippery. The team advises visitors to steer clear of it any other time.

If you do find an opportunity to strike it off your bucket list, however, you’ll be rewarded with spectacular plant life, spanning ancient bloodwoods and giant wattles, the upper reaches of the Daintree, breathtaking views out to Port Douglas and Thornton Peak, and the dramatic Split Rock boulder.

4. Lower River Track in Mossman Gorge

Spy the Mossman River gushing over granite boulders. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Distance: 640 metres, return

Time: About 40 minutes in total

Difficulty: Grade 2, which means the trail is formed but you’ll likely encounter hills and steps. Be careful if it’s been raining as things get slippery.

Flowing streams, birdsong harmonies and multicoloured butterflies? The Lower River Track in Mossman Gorge is a short but insanely sweet stretch of prime Daintree real estate. Keep your eyes peeled for several lookouts to help you spy the Mossman River gushing over granite boulders and into the ocean, and don’t be surprised to spot a turtle amid your awe. You’ll find this Daintree walk’s entry at the shuttle bus stop in the Mossman Gorge day-use area.

5. Rex Creek Bridge Track in Mossman Gorge

Distance: 1.4 kilometres, return

Time: Roughly 1 hour

Difficulty: Grade 2, which means the trail is formed but you’ll likely encounter hills and steps.

If you’re wary of unstable heights, look away. Adventure seekers will, however, love the Rex Creek Bridge Track in Mossman Gorge, which takes visitors onto a suspension bridge across the flowing Rex Creek. You’ll trawl lush rainforest to get to the star of the show, which also provides an epic vantage point to spot turtles and fish that call the creek home. To find the walk’s entry, leave from the Mossman Gorge car park along the Baral Marrjanga track, which leads to the bridge track.

6. Mount Sorrow Ridge Trail in Cape Tribulation

Distance: 7 kilometres, return

Time: About 6 hours

Difficulty: Grade 4, which means the trail’s rough and steep, with minimal signposts. You’ll need bushwalking experience for this one.

For a sweeping view of the Daintree’s spectacular coastline, the Mount Sorrow Ridge Trail is the ultimate pick. Ascending the ridge of Mount Sorrow, this Daintree walk soars you 680 metres above ground level and once you do reach that summit, you’ll spy the Great Barrier Reef if conditions are clear. Queensland National Parks recommends you leave the peak’s lookout by 2pm, even on a sunny day, to allow enough time to return before dark.

7. Kulki Boardwalk in Cape Tribulation

This Daintree walk leads you to Cape Tribulation’s golden beaches. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Distance: 600 metres, return

Time: Just 10 minutes

Difficulty: Grade 1, which means the track is flat, stair-free, clearly signposted and well-formed.

An all-too-convenient stretch of timber makes strolling the Kulki Boardwalk an easy choice, as do the legendary Cape Tribulation views you’ll score along the way. From dramatic headlands to golden beaches, delightful eyefuls run rife on this Daintree walk, which can be reached by driving along Cape Tribulation Road and turning into its well-signalled car park.

8. Madja Boardwalk in Cape Tribulation

Distance: 1.2 kilometre circuit

Time: About 45 minutes

Difficulty: Grade 1, which means the track is flat, stair-free, clearly signposted and well-formed.

It’s mangrove country again on the Madja Boardwalk, a loop that explores the Daintree’s lowland tranquillity. You’ll trail a sturdy path dotted with educational signage to offer insight into the Daintree’s incredible plant life as the odd eel and crabs plus other crustaceans shuffle down low.

9. Jindalba Circuit Track in Cape Tribulation

friends exploring Jindalba Circuit Track in Cape Tribulation

Wander through the 650-metre Jindalba Circuit Track surrounded by unique flora and fauna. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Distance: 3-kilometre circuit

Time: About 1.5 hours

Difficulty: Grade 4, which means the trail’s rough and steep with minimal signposts. You’ll need bushwalking experience.

Find your grippiest shoes as the Jindalba Circuit Track takes visitors across multiple trickling creeks, so the conditions are inevitably wet. Your effort will be worth it, however, as this Daintree walk scales the base of Mount Alexandria, taking in loads of native wildlife including an extensive collection of birds, like giant cassowaries, and multiple kangaroo types.

10. Baral Marrjanga Track in Mossman Gorge

Distance: 660 metres, return

Time: Roughly 30 minutes

Difficulty: Grade 1, which means the track is flat, stair-free, clearly signposted and well-formed. Wheelchairs and prams are welcome.

Navigate the Mossman Gorge from above with the elevated Baral Marrjanga Track. One of the simplest Daintree walks, the trek runs through the lower canopy and is littered with bright butterflies. There’s also a lookout to hang at where vistas across the Mossman River dazzle and turtles have been spotted below. Access the track from the Mossman Gorge day-use area car park.

Discover the best accommodation in the Daintree

How to get to the Daintree Rainforest