10 of the most extraordinary things to do in the Daintree Rainforest

Emily Murphy Emily Murphy
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From enthralling cultural tours to thrill-seeking adventures, the best things to do in the Daintree Rainforest instantly captivate.

Flowing with leafy canopies, hidden (croc-free) swimming holes and an array of wildlife, the Daintree Rainforest is a wonderland for nature lovers. Just add creative dining experiences and all-too-convenient offshore expeditions to your to-do list and you’re left with one heck of a shake-up from your daily grind. Here, we round up the most memorable things to do in the Daintree Rainforest, a spectacular attraction and the world’s oldest tropical rainforest.

1. Immerse yourself in a Daintree Rainforest walk

a Daintree Rainforest walk
Join one of the many tours that showcase the beauty of the Daintree Rainforest. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Nothing quite compares to exploring the Daintree on foot. Walking its ancient terrain puts you in the belly of a multisensory beast where every plant’s smell, every animal’s call and feel every inch of its misty warmth is experienced.

DREAMTIME WALKS

a guided dreamtime walk at Mossman Gorge Centre
Go on a spiritual walk through the lush rainforest. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

If you’re near Mossman Gorge, a guided Dreamtime Walk from the team at Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre is a must. The 1.5-hour journey follows private, gentle tracks, visiting special places and culturally significant sites including traditional Indigenous bark shelters. Stunning water streams are also abundant so charge your phone before heading out.

KULKI BOARDWALK

an aerial view of Kulki Beach
The rainforest meets Kulki Beach. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

The Kulki Boardwalk takes you to Cape Tribulation Beach lookout for an iconic perspective of Cape Tribulation. Spy steep rainforest slopes cascading into sandy beaches and rocky headlands.

MADJA BOARDWALK

The Madja Boardwalk is an easy 45-minute Cape Tribulation stretch that takes in a concrete pathway to Oliver Creek where you can sit and try to spot a crocodile or few.

JINDALBA BOARDWALK

the Jindalba boardwalk in Daintree
Walk along the Jindalba boardwalk to discover Daintree’s diverse flora and fauna. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Jindalba, which translates to ‘foot of the mountain’ in traditional Kuku Yalanji language, is a 650-metre Cape Tribulation circuit walk that takes about 45 minutes to complete. While it underwent improvements throughout 2025, information signs providing facts about the Daintree’s diverse flora and fauna make this trail popular when it is open.

DUBUJI BOARDWALK

the Dubuji Boardwalk in Daintree
The Dubuji Boardwalk is a 1.3-kilometre walk that takes you to Myall Beach. (Image: Tourism Australia)

The Dubuji Boardwalk is a 650-metre return trip that wanders through the foothills of Mount Alexandra in Cape Tribulation. It’ll take you 45 minutes all up but give yourself extra time to spy a tree kangaroo as they call this area home.

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2. Dip into the Daintree’s waterfalls and swimming holes

swimming in Emmagen Creek, Daintree
Cool off at the stunning swimming hole at Emmagen Creek. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Swimming and the Daintree rarely go together (hello, croc country), but there are some places that offer safe conditions, allowing you to cool off beyond the fencing of private swimming pools.

CASSOWARY FALLS

Cassowary Falls is located on a private property which offers some of the best accommodation in the Daintree, but you can access the falls themselves via one of the property’s tours. Choose from a 2.5-hour visit or go the full-day experience which includes a river cruise. Best of all, a highlight of both picks is the lounging-under-a-waterfall bit so brace yourself for all the selfies.

WUJAL WUJAL FALLS

two people visiting the Wujal Wujal (Bloomfield) Falls
A 4WD gives you access to the stunning Wujal Wujal (Bloomfield) Falls. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Wujal Wujal (Bloomfield) Falls is located on the Bloomfield Track, a wildly beautiful drive that can only be taken by 4WDs. The pristine spot is sacred to the Wujal Wujal community, and many of the waterfalls in the area are reserved for female members of the local community. The public can access this one though, as clearly stated on a nearby signpost. It’s crucial to keep an eye out for these signs out of respect for the local Kuku Yalanji people.

EMMAGEN CREEK

two people exploring the Emmagen Creek, Daintree
Emmagen Creek marks the “end of the road" for 2WDs before heading to the Bloomfield Track. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Emmagen Creek features a swimming hole about five kilometres north of Cape Tribulation surrounded by deep rainforest. The crystal-clear waterhole is lined with water-eroded rocks, creating an ideal place to connect with nature. Crocs do appear downstream of the creek crossing, so only swim in the swimming hole itself for safety reasons.

MASON’S SWIMMING HOLE

a woman taking a dip at Mason's swimming hole, Daintree
With no crocs in sight, Mason’s swimming hole is one of the safest spots to swim in the Daintree. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Mason’s Swimming Hole is roughly 20 minutes’ walk from Cape Tribulation along Myall Creek and features swings and clear water. An honesty box can also be found, inviting $1 donations per swim. It’s important to always check for signs or local advice before entering.

3. Fix your sweet tooth at Floravilla

One of the Daintree’s most beloved ice cream haunts, Floravilla churns out organic creations made from seasonal fruits, including the region’s most exotic. Located on Cape Tribulation Road, you won’t miss the blue and white signs leading you towards its biodynamic treats. According to the team, their most alluring flavour is ‘Daintree Rainforest’ which blends lemon myrtle, coconut, ginger, kale, vanilla and spirulina to utterly intrigue.

4. Be enlightened at the Daintree Discovery Centre

the forest walkway at Daintree Discovery Centre
Explore the world’s oldest tropical rainforest. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

The Daintree Discovery Centre is the place to visit for a deeper understanding of your surroundings, offering visitors access to every level of the Daintree Rainforest from the forest floor to its upper canopies. You’ll find a 23-metre-high canopy tower, an 11-metre-high aerial walkway, accessible VR exploration from ground level and so much more.

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5. Float along a stunning Daintree river

the River Drift Experience at Daintree river
Embark on an enchanting River Drift Experience along the pristine Daintree River. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Undoubtedly one of the most unique tours to choose, Back Country Bliss’ River Drift Experience invites visitors to slink along the Mossman River’s clear streams while lying on a lilo (but the team call them ‘river sleds’). Children above the age of four and all fun-seeking grown-ups are welcome on the two-hour experience, which takes in both fast flowing and ultra-serene sections.

6. Sample Daintree Tea straight from the source

You’ve probably seen Daintree Tea before, but even if you haven’t, the brand’s Farmgate Stall on Cape Tribulation Road is a must-experience. The roadside stall offers visitors a chance to sample its pesticide-free, vegan and gluten-free creations as all tea is served within 24 hours of being harvested. The unmanned set-up (you’ll need to make your purchases online prior to arrival or place cash in the on-site honesty box) also sells homemade honey and don’t leave without peeking at the photos hung on the stall’s walls that share insight into the plantation’s operations.

7. Marvel in a spread of giant fan palms

They’re one of the Daintree’s most recognisable features, so embrace the giant fan palm (or Licuala ramsayi, if you’re a budding botanist) in all its glory. The Daintree Fan Palm Farm is home to the Gallery of the Giant Fan Palms which features a boardwalk dotted with the impressive plant. There’s also a 500-year-old spurwood tree to gawk at, plus a secret swimming hole that opens during the wet season.

8. Spot a crocodile along the Daintree River

crocodile spotting with Daintree Boatman Wildlife Cruises
Spot crocs from a boat. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

It wouldn’t be a trip to the Daintree without seeing one of its native saltwater crocs in the wild. It’s such an essential thing to do in the Daintree that we’ve even rounded up the best of the best. Take a look at our list of the top Daintree River cruises for a sure-fire chance at spotting the enthralling creatures.

9. Wander the Daintree Village’s quaint stores

Get a feel for the community at Daintree Village, which is in fact the Daintree’s oldest settlement, adopted by timber cutters in the 1870s. It’s a bare-bones collective of stores including a pub, grocer and visitor information centre, but dropping in offers quiet respite from days filled with action-packed activity.

10. Laze on the sand at Cow Bay Beach

riding a swing at sunset on Cow Bay Beach
Swing at sunset. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Located halfway between the Daintree River and Cape Tribulation, Cow Bay Beach is a peaceful spot filled with three secluded bays and shaded beach to frolic upon — just don’t enter the surf as crocodiles like it here, too. A hit among fishing folk and serenity seeking holiday makers, the stretch of sand is often visited by butterflies and cassowaries, making for a grounding pit-stop on your way to Cape Tribulation.

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

Discover the best accommodation in the Daintree

Emily Murphy
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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Dubuji Boardwalk through the foothills of Mount Alexandra. (Image: Tourism Australia)
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A gourmand’s guide to eating your way around Hamilton Island

(Credit: Nikki To)

    Eleanor Edström Eleanor Edström
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    From poolside bites and tasting flights to seafood plates and dry-aged steaks, a foodie adventure on Hamilton Island is worth every bite.

    Hamilton Island’s sun-lacquered shores have long magnetised travellers craving an escape from reality. But what’s less expected – and more interesting – is just how assuredly this Whitsundays idyll delivers on the culinary front. Dialling up the flavour as much as the barefoot allure, the Hamilton Island food scene offers world-class dining and drinking options, spanning slick fine-dining moments to just-caught seafood served within sight of the sea. Let’s dig in.

    Catseye Pool Club

    Catseye Pool Club
    Catseye Pool Club offers stunning beach views. (Image: Kara Rosenlund)

    Framing the electric blues of Catseye Beach from The Sundays hotel, Catseye Pool Club is Hamilton Island’s latest culinary prodigy. Shown to our table, we thread through rattan chairs, Zellige tiles and tumbling greenery that opens up to Coral Sea shimmer.

    The poolside restaurant is the brainchild of Sydney-based chef duo Josh and Julie Niland, who have brought their relaxed yet elevated dining ethos north. The menu – designed to bring people together – is made for sharing, each hero ingredient orbited by a palette of sides to mix, match and layer as you please.

    My thyme cocktail – woody with scotch, lifted by lime leaf – pairs perfectly with the charcoal grilled prawns entree, which is served with tumeric and lemongrass marinade, macadamia satay sauce and a thai-leaning sour green mango salad. Each forkful lands differently, but all are a delight. Then comes the coral trout. True to Josh Niland’s ‘scale-to-tail’ philosophy, the fish is presented whole in a theatrical crescent, a tiny fork stuck into its cheek in a nod to Niland’s declared prize cut. Ribbons of zucchini resembling gauzy curtains bring brightness and snap, while kasundi lends depth and warmth. It’s tongue-tantalising, special occasion dining with humanity.

    Sails Restaurant

    Sails Restaurant hamilton island
    Settle into casual poolside dining. (Credit: Nikki To)

    A more casual poolside dining scene awaits at nearby Sails Restaurant, where Eastern Mediterranean flavours are dished up with an island twist. Chermoula chicken skewers and barramundi souvlaki lie on the more filling side of the menu, while the sumac squid and stone-bread flatbread with za’atar – arriving alongside pomegranate molasses, beetroot hummus and crushed macadamias – are perfect light bites after a dip in the pool. And don’t miss the garlic lemon scallops.

    The setting is equally part of the draw. Sunlight floods the high-ceilinged dining room, while outdoor tables look out across the glittering expanse of Catseye Beach. Holidaymakers in oversized sunglasses sip spritzes beneath umbrellas, the gentle clink of plates mixing with splashes from the adjacent pool. It’s the kind of place you’ll want to linger long after lunch.

    Bommie

    cuttlefish dish at Bommie restaurant Hamilton Island Yacht Club
    Head to the Hamilton Island Yacht Club for a taste of Bommie. (Credit: Nikki To)

    Tucked into a sleek curved wing of the Hamilton Island Yacht Club, Bommie delivers experiential fine dining with a sense of occasion. Led by award-winning Executive Chef Ryan Locke, the seasonal menu champions local and native Australian ingredients whipped up into a modern display of creative precision.

    Inside the dim-lit dining room, guests can choose between the Tasting Menu or Chef’s Signature Degustation. Sourdough with pine oil sets the tone for the six-course tasting menu, beautifully presented in a bed of pine needles alongside smoked paperbark butter. I love how the squid ink choux pastry is served with flavour-popping native finger lime, which our waiter encourages us to eat caviar-style. Standout moments continue with the wattle-seed-crusted venison elevated by red fruit and pickled beetroot swirls; the meat is perfectly pink in the middle and an homage to the island’s history as a deer farm.

    Pebble Beach

    qualia Resort Pebble Beach
    qualia Resort guests can dine at Pebble Beach. (Credit: Lean Timms)

    Exclusive to qualia Resort guests for lunch and dinner, Pebble Beach is Hamilton Island’s most serene expression of seasonal island dining. Ocean-facing chairs dot a timber deck that spills straight onto the resort’s private beach, while crystalline turquoise waters stretch to meet distant islands – a scene far prettier than any postcard could capture.

    The recently refreshed menu doubles down on seasonality and bright, layered flavours. While the more substantial T-bone steak with hazelnut honey carrots tempts, we go lighter: Coffin Bay oysters with Champagne foam and keffir lime dust kick us off splendidly, followed by Byron Bay burrata served with balsamic and caramelised figs. The fennel and orange salad topped with succulent grilled chicken is utterly delectable, but it’s the zingy, oh-so-fresh soft shell fish tacos that I can’t stop thinking about. It all goes down a treat with a glass of delicate Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve Champagne.

    Beach Club Restaurant

    Beach Club Restaurant hamilton island
    Book in advance for Beach Club Restaurant. (Credit: Nikki To)

    A lunch or dinner table at Beach Club Restaurant is best booked in advance – and it’s easy to see why. Looking out over the hotel’s palm-fringed infinity pool, the restaurant spotlights elegant contemporary Australian cuisine with a stellar (also Aussie-leaning) wine list to match.

    I am completely enamoured by the grilled Queensland prawns, which are brought to life with a smoked compound, local fried curry leaves and lime. Digging into the butter-soft lamb rump served atop pea ragout and parsley Paris mash feels like a warm, nostalgic hug. And dessert – vanilla bean ice cream drizzled with hot salted honey and apple gel – ends the night on a high note.

    Expect warm and discreet service; our waiter Marco tells us that the tiny decorative starfish on our table are there to help the staff remember whether we prefer sparkling or still water, so they don’t need to bother us by asking multiple times.

    Talk & Taste with Courtenay Morgan-Fletcher

    hamilton island Talk & Taste with Courtenay Morgan-Fletcher
    Join this immersive wine experience. (Credit Eleanor Edström)

    There’s more to Hamilton Island’s foodie scene than restaurant reservations alone. For wine-curious travellers seeking something a little more immersive, Beach Club has recently introduced Talk & Taste – a tutored tasting hosted by Bommie Assistant Manager and wine enthusiast Courtenay Morgan-Fletcher. Held twice weekly for a maximum of eight guests, the experience explores Australian wine culture through four thoughtfully selected drops paired with native-inspired bites.

    We opt for the white wine and seafood option. Alongside pours from Eden Valley and Launceston, a nibbling platter arrives featuring sashimi, salmon roe, Mooloolaba prawn ceviche and palate-cleansing ginger. The seafood is pristine and pared back, allowing the wines to take centre stage.

    The real highlight, however, is discovering just how nuanced winemaking can be. Courtenay speaks of viticulture as both art and science: harvest grapes a week too late and ripeness tips into ruin; plant the same varietal on different elevations and the sun, slope and water flow will shape entirely different expressions. Pinot noir, she explains, with its delicate skin and high water content, yields lighter fruit-forward wines, while thicker-skinned shiraz delivers depth and structure. I leave feeling fascinated and inspired by Courtenay’s evident passion.

    coca chu

    table spread at CocaChu
    Get a taste of Southeast Asian flavours. (Credit: Nikki To)

    Sweet and hot. Sour and salty. Dining at ever-popular coca chu is a sensation-swirling experience that’s not to be missed if you’re a sucker for punchy Southeast Asian flavours. Located at the Main Pool end of Catseye Beach, this lively hangout is all swaying lanterns, driftwood, high beamed ceilings and giant open windows that let in the balmy ocean breeze.

    Drawing from hawker traditions, the grilled betel leaf is a neat, vibrant mouthful of chilli fried cashews and spiced beef. The tofu surprises – soft beneath a tumble of dill, mint and coriander, and glossed in moreish peanut sauce. The massaman curry is pure comfort: creamy, fragrant, fall-apart meat. It’s generous and expressive cooking that I, for one, cannot get enough of.

    Marina Cafe

    hamilton island MArina Cafe
    Take in harbour views and comfort food.

    Sometimes, all you crave on holidays is a bacon and egg roll done properly and a creamy fruit smoothie. Boasting harbour views, an easygoing atmosphere and clean modern interiors, Marina Cafe is a popular local haunt for a reason. The casual menu lures families and couples alike with its all-day brekky, seasonal salads and sandwiches – from a roasted pumpkin bowl to prosciutto and rocket on herby focaccia.

    The acai bowl, topped with toasted nuts and berries, is a refreshing start to my day. Whether you sit in or takeaway, it’s a good-vibes-guaranteed place to refuel before or after your Whitsundays adventures.

    Discover your foodie getaway now at hamiltonisland.com.au.