Protected by the Daintree Nationwide Park, the Daintree Rainforest is one among Australia’s most spectacular pure points of interest. It’s additionally a UNESCO World Heritage listed web site.
This huge space of historical rainforest is the oldest regularly rising rainforest on this planet, courting again tens of millions of years, and unchanged in centuries.
A part of the broader moist tropics area of northern Queensland, the Daintree Rainforest is dwelling to a posh array of natural world.
You’ll be able to cruise alongside the Daintree River searching for crocodiles, hike by way of mangroves, or benefit from the pristine, white-sand seashores of Cape Tribulation, the place the rainforest meets the Nice Barrier Reef.
There’s nowhere else fairly prefer it on this planet, so to encourage your journey, right here’s our information to exploring Daintree Nationwide Park.
Don’t go away dwelling with out your Lonely Planet Australia journey information.
Daintree Nationwide Park Planning Ideas
The place is the Daintree Nationwide Park?
The Daintree Nationwide Park is situated in Far North Queensland. Protecting round 500 sq. miles, the Daintree Rainforest is a part of a a lot wider ecosystem of rainforest and tropical wetlands.
The Daintree grows proper as much as the sandy seashores of the coast and inland.
How you can Go to the Daintree Nationwide Park
The Daintree Rainforest is nearly as far north as most vacationers get when driving up the east coast of Australia.
That is actually the place the roads finish; past this, there are solely 4 by 4 tracks and rainforest main in direction of the distant Cape York Peninsula.
There’s solely restricted lodging choices inside Daintree Nationwide Park and the encircling space, so most vacationers will go to on a day journey from both Cairns or Port Douglas, each of that are discovered to the south.
Cairns is 2.5 hours to the south, whereas Port Douglas is barely nearer, at 1.5 hours away. You don’t want a 4 by 4 to see the foremost sights, as there’s a paved street into the Daintree Nationwide Park.
You do must cross the Daintree River on a small ferry, as there are not any bridges. For those who head additional north in direction of Cooktown, you need to have a 4 by 4.
For those who don’t have your individual car, there are many day excursions in buses or 4 by 4 buses that depart commonly from Cairns and Port Douglas.
Seeking to discover the Daintree Rainforest & the Cape Tribulation on a guided tour? Take a look at these prime advisable excursions.
- Daintree Rainforest, Cape Tribulation and Bloomfield Monitor Small Group Tour
- Full-Day Daintree Rainforest and Mossman Gorge Tour
Finest Time to Go to the Daintree Nationwide Park
Far North Queensland is tropical nation, which suggests there’s a moist and a dry season. The seasonal variations might be fierce, and it’s not suggested to go to this a part of Australia when the rains are right here!
The wet season might be unpredictable however formally runs from November by way of to April. That is Australia’s summer time, so in addition to tropical storms and rain, it’s unbearably sizzling and humid.
Roads are sometimes closed, whereas flash flooding might be harmful, even in Cairns. There are crocodiles in every single place, too.
For those who’re right here to see the Nice Barrier Reef too, you then in all probability received’t get out on a ship within the moist season!
The dry season is a way more nice time to go to, with fewer risks and no rain. Might to October is the height vacationer season after all, however there’s no avoiding that.
Discover the magnificent nature of Northern Queensland on this eco-friendly safari: Full Day Rainforest 4WD Tour from Cairns
14 Finest Issues to do in Daintree Nationwide Park
1. Mossman Gorge
Probably the greatest issues to do in Queensland is hike alongside the Mossman Gorge. The Daintree is cut up into two main sections, both facet of the Daintree River.
Mossman Gorge is situated on the facet closest to Cairns and might be visited on a separate journey to the principle nationwide park areas.
Begin on the Mossman Gorge Guests Centre, the place you’ll stroll over a ravishing suspension bridge over the gorge. On the opposite facet, you be a part of a strolling loop by way of the rainforest.
A good way to study extra in regards to the indigenous tradition is to affix a Dreamtime stroll by way of Mossman Gorge with native guides.
The gorge has a particular place in Aboriginal tradition and historical past, so it’s good to study this!
Wish to discover Mossman Gorge? Take a look at these prime excursions.
- Cape Tribulation, Mossman Gorge, and Daintree Rainforest Day Journey from Cairns or Port Douglas
- Personal Daintree Nationwide Park Day Tour from Cairns Together with Cape Tribulation and Mossman Gorge
2. Daintree River Cruise
To cross into the Daintree Nationwide Park, it is advisable to take a ferry over the Daintree River. However earlier than you recover from the water, you need to take a ship experience alongside the river itself.
This space is infamous for the variety of crocodiles that decision it dwelling. If you wish to see a saltwater croc in its pure habitat, you’re going to see it right here.
You’ll be able to be a part of a cruise with a neighborhood boat captain who is aware of the river nicely – and the place to seek out the most important crocodiles! We went with Bruce Belcher’s Daintree River Cruises.
The cruises don’t take greater than an hour and are a superb begin to your rainforest journey.
When visiting the Daintree Nationwide Park you need to take a river cruise searching for crocodiles, beneath are two of the most effective excursions we suggest.
- Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures Wildlife Encounter Day Journey from Cairns
- Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures Day Journey from Cairns
3. Walu Wugirriga Lookout
As quickly as you cross the Daintree River, you’ll have the ability to cease off on the Walu Wugirriga Lookout for excellent views over the rainforest.
The street rises sharply, and from the lookout, you may see each the rainforest and the ocean forward of you. It’s a ravishing entrance to the Daintree Nationwide Park!
If you’re somebody who loves superb views you need to be a part of this tour, Cairns Rainforest Mountaineering Expertise Unbelievable Mountains Distant Waterfall
4. Daintree Discovery Centre
The Daintree Rainforest is the oldest rainforest on this planet. If you wish to study extra about this epic historical past stretching again tens of millions of years, name into the Daintree Discovery Centre while you make it over the river.
Study in regards to the geology, the ecosystems, and the traditional historical past of this huge rainforest, which was right here millennia in the past – lengthy earlier than people ever arrived.
For many who’ed like to study extra in regards to the wealthy tradition, it is advisable to be a part of this tour: Aboriginal Cultural Daintree Rainforest Tour from Cairns or Port Douglas.
5. Thornton Seaside
The primary seaside you attain as you drive over the Daintree River is Thornton Seaside. This stunning stretch of sand is a good place to see the fantastic thing about the Daintree.
You’ll be able to admire how the rainforest grows proper up till the sands begin to stretch right down to the ocean.
Be vigilant when you determine to swim right here; it’s not advisable. Jellyfish and crocodiles are the first causes!
In quest of waterfalls within the Daintree or the Tablelands beneath are two of the highest excursions that can take you to the realm’s finest waterfalls.
- Atherton Tablelands Waterfalls and Rainforest Day Tour Departing Cairns
- Atherton Tablelands Waterfalls Tour from Cairns
6. Mason’s Cafe Swimming Gap
For those who do desire a swim (it’s sizzling, so that you’re going to wish to quiet down!), head to the swimming holes as a substitute. The most effective one is discovered by Mason’s Cafe. Seize a drink or lunch on the café, then head to their personal swimming space.
It’s a pure freshwater gap that’s ice-cold with crystal clear water. Crocodile and jellyfish free, it’s completely protected to swim in.
7. Rainforest Walks
Probably the greatest excursions you may be a part of is a rainforest stroll with aboriginal elders to study extra in regards to the Daintree Rainforest.
Study in regards to the historical past of the rainforest and the native those that have referred to as the Daintree dwelling for hundreds of years.
Intrepid vacationers may even be a part of a nighttime strolling tour by way of the rainforest. That is when the rainforest actually begins to return alive.
Don’t have a full day to discover the Daintree Rainforest? No worries the excursions beneath are solely half-day excursions.
- Personal Half Day Tour: Unique World Heritage Rainforest and Waterfall Tour from Cairns
- Half-Day ATV 4-Wheel Buggy Rainforest Day Journey from Cairns
8. Daintree Eco Lodge
For those who’re on the lookout for a little bit of luxurious, head to the Daintree Eco Lodge, the place you’ll get pleasure from a novel spa expertise inside a rainforest setting.
Daintree Eco Lodge is famed for its mud remedies – native aboriginal spa remedies used for hundreds of years. Study extra in regards to the native tradition whereas additionally getting a little bit of pampering.
Simply think about what you’d expertise by staying on the Daintree Eco Lodge for an evening or perhaps a few days.
9. Daintree Ice Cream Firm
Amongst the rainforest, there’s additionally an ice cream firm to go to. It’s a little bit of an odd setting, however the ice cream is completely scrumptious.
They use all of the unique fruits you’d anticipate from the Daintree Rainforest to combine some actually great style and taste mixtures.
After a sizzling day of exploring the Daintree Rainforest, you may’t beat some locally-made ice cream!
Are you a foodie or is somebody your touring with is? Take a look at the excursions beneath.
- Boutique Atherton Tablelands Small-Group Meals and Wine Tasting Tour from Cairns
- Breakfast with the Koalas at Hartley’s Crocodile Park from Cairns or Palm Cove
10. Daintree Entomological Museum
The Daintree Rainforest is dwelling to an unlimited variety of totally different species. When you may not wish to come head to head with the spiders and bugs, on the Entomological Museum, you may see them in a much less intrusive setting!
The Daintree Entomological Museum is devoted to amassing and displaying as many various species of bugs as they’ll gather from the encircling rainforest.
It’s an incredible place to study extra about Australia’s feared spiders and bugs!
Most vacationers solely see the Daintree Rainforest from the bottom however simply think about what the views are like from a Scorching Air Ballooning Tour from Cairns.
11. Dubuji Boardwalk
Take a stroll alongside the boardwalks and get proper into the rainforest by Cape Tribulation. This glorious boardwalk will take you thru the mangroves and timber, raised safely above the ground beneath.
It’s a pleasing if humid stroll that can carry you nearer to the character of the Daintree Rainforest.
12. Cape Trib Unique Fruit Farm
The tropical local weather makes the Daintree the right place to develop all kinds of wonderful fruits.
Go to the Cape Trib Unique Fruit Farm if you wish to attempt some actually unique styles of fruit when you’re within the nationwide park!
13. Cape Tribulation
Situated additional north, you may attain Cape Tribulation by paved street. After this, the roads flip into grime tracks. This excellent, sandy seaside is the place the reef meets the rainforest.
It’s the place Captain Cook dinner started floundering within the water as his ships sailed alongside the east coast of Australia for the primary time.
Captain Cook dinner named the realm Cape Tribulation for the challenges he confronted making an attempt to flee the reef.
It’s a ravishing place, however even right this moment it may be harmful. Don’t go swimming right here; if the jellyfish don’t get you, the crocodiles will!
Advisable Tour: Atherton Tablelands Rain Forest by Night time from Cairns
14. Seek for Cassowary Birds
Warning: Cassowary Crossing. I do know what you’re pondering, what within the hell is a Cassowary? I assumed the identical factor the primary time I examine them within the Lonely Planet e-book for Australia.
Apparently, they’re an enormous, prehistoric-looking chook that resembles an ostrich and has an extended toe that’s sharp sufficient to sever off your limbs or disembowel you in a single stroke.
So, naturally, I used to be fascinated by this animal and made it my mission to seek for one.
This may contain spending a day mountain climbing by way of the varied strolling trails within the Daintree Rainforest about 2 hours North of Cairns.
We knew that occurring a tour would restrict our probabilities of seeing this elusive creature so we determined to hire a automobile and make our personal journey for the day.
I’ll preface this by saying all of us knew the truth of discovering a Cassowary was slim, however we scouted the most effective areas to see them and requested the locals every time we stopped if there had been any sightings lately.
Sometimes they cross the roads and they’re simple to identify within the surrounding woods for the subsequent few days. The knowledge wasn’t trying promising however we had enjoyable trying anyhow. Spoiler: we by no means discovered one.
You will see quite a bit on a day journey however simply assume what you may see on a two, three, and even on a five-day journey.
- 2-Day Cape Tribulation and Daintree Rainforest Tour from Cairns /Port Douglas
- 3 Day Cape Tribulation & Cooktown Tour from Cairns or Port Douglas
- 5 Day Australia Retreat: Queensland Daintree
Getting Misplaced within the Daintree Rainforest
Cyclone Ita had hit the realm a number of weeks earlier than we arrived leaving a lot of the Daintree Rainforest underwater. This made for some attention-grabbing hikes that day as we’d begin down the paths solely to return to roadblocks.
As a substitute of turning round, the boys determined to make detours that despatched us off into the rainforest. I are usually fairly nervous about stuff like this, I don’t like snakes and I actually don’t wish to find yourself misplaced.
So wandering off the trail, in the course of a rainforest, wasn’t my concept of a superb time. On the second mountain climbing path we stopped at, there was an choice to take an extended hike so we adopted the boardwalk in direction of that path.
A part of the way in which on the path, the boardwalk simply ended. We knew we had learn the map accurately, however the boardwalk actually simply disappeared leaving nothing however thick rainforest to stroll by way of.
I could have felt otherwise had there been a path, however it was fairly questionable. The one factor to mark the ‘path’ was fluorescent ribbons tied to timber each 20m.
I stood there, questioning my sanity, because the boys walked ahead following the ribbons. I might flip again and go sit within the automobile, praying they didn’t get misplaced, or be a part of them and pray all of us didn’t get misplaced.
After an inner battle, I pushed on after the boys.
Crossing Creeks in Crocodile Nation
Our resolution became fairly an journey for us. We had been fairly profitable in following the markers however at one level they ceased to exist.
If I had feathers, they’d be ruffled AND inside out at this discovery. This despatched us on a little bit of a goose chase to seek out the trail once more.
We discovered ourselves trying to cross a creek, which concerned climbing over a log and leaping when you didn’t wish to get moist.
Properly, as swish as I’m generally, I cleared the log however missed the bounce and sunk straight as much as my knee in muddy creek water earlier than falling backward.
The one factor going by way of my thoughts at that second was… CROCODILE.
I notice now that this thought was past ridiculous because the creek was possibly 3 ft huge and possibly a foot deep, however within the warmth of the second, man, I assumed I used to be a goner.
Choosing myself again up and brushing my momentary freak out apart we pushed on, nonetheless searching for the markers.
Paranoia within the Rainforest
Strolling by way of a rainforest, barely misplaced, makes you begin pondering in bizarre methods. I began interested by what would occur, precisely, if we had been to return throughout a Cassowary at that very second.
We wouldn’t have the ability to defend ourselves. We’d simply must hope we didn’t piss it off and again away slowly as to not provoke it. I couldn’t think about bearing witness to it slicing off individuals’s arms.
Shortly after these ideas, we noticed one other tree marker. By this level I used to be on the point of flip again, we had been strolling for some time and hadn’t come again to any actual path.
However earlier than I might open my mouth to precise my ideas on the matter, we entered a clearing that was the tip of a car street that lower clear by way of the rainforest.
This was a reduction for me, not less than we might observe the street again to civilization. As we walked by way of the open land in direction of the street, I caught one thing out of the nook of my eye.
I turned my head and was fairly shocked to see a big cage sitting there. Sure, a cage, large enough for individuals.
Did we discover the Dharma Initiative?
This immediately jogged my memory of the TV present, Misplaced, and the massive cages utilized by the Dharma Initiative individuals. One phrase, creepy.
Boys shall be boys, and so they trotted over to have a more in-depth look. The case was pretty new and crammed with massive bunches of inexperienced bananas.
The park service, or possibly some Bogans (slang Aussie time period for hillbillies) had been clearly making an attempt to catch one thing and I don’t assume it was the Cassowaries.
After mulling it over and making an attempt to not set off the entice, we got here to the conclusion that it was wild boars they had been concentrating on.
Our concept was confirmed stronger by the invention of boar tracks on the street whereas we walked, hoping it will lead us again to the automobile park.
10 minutes later, we met a paved street and seen we had exited the forest nicely past the place the automobile park was.
This was unusual, we had coated an enormous quantity of floor and really clearly, went the improper means.
The trail absolutely wasn’t the prolonged hike however good factor for us, the park service had it marked for his or her use and we had been in a position to navigate our means out of the Daintree Rainforest that day.
The place to Keep within the Daintree Nationwide Park
Staying inside the Daintree Rainforest is really a magical expertise and in addition a as soon as in a lifetime expertise. There’s no different place on this planet just like the Daintree Rainforest and to inform you the reality you may’t actually really feel it till you spend the evening surrounded by nature, so keep an evening or two nights amongst nature at one among our greatest locations to remain within the Daintree Rainforest.
Daintree Eco Lodge – Located within the coronary heart of the Daintree Rainforest is the Daintree Eco Lodge. This superb lodge gives a tropical rainforest retreat in a wide ranging location. Get up among the many sounds of tropical birds that decision the rainforest dwelling, take within the majesty of this historical tropical wilderness.
Daintree Cascades – Situated within the tranquil Daintree Rainforest alongside a personal crystal clear creek is the Daintree Cascades. These two personal cabins are excellent for anybody who’s on the lookout for a real rainforest expertise however with a contact of luxurious amongst nature. That is the right place for Daintree getaway. Discover close by Cow Bay, Thornton Seaside, The Daintree Rainforest, and the Daintree Discovery Centre.
Ferntree Rainforest Lodge – If you’re on the lookout for an incredible price range choice for staying proper within the Daintree Rainforest we recommend staying on the Ferntree Rainforest Lodge. This eco-friendly resort is situated within the coronary heart of the luxurious coastal rainforest and is a brief stroll from Cape Tribulation’s seaside and its well-known mangrove boardwalks.
Not discovering what you’re on the lookout for? No worries we’ve got a customized lodge aggregator that searches for the most effective offers at eco-friendly lodges, motels, cabins, and lodges all situated inside the Daintree Rainforest.
| Advisable Excursions | ||
| Australia Encompassed 25 Days Sydney to Melbourne Small Group 10-12 Individuals |
A lot of the Coast 16 days Sydney to Cairns Small Group 10-12 Individuals |
Australia & New Zealand Discovery 23 days Cairns to Queenstown Small Group 10-12 Individuals |
| Verify Value | Verify Value | Verify Value |
Extra on Australia:
- 25 Prime Issues to Do in Australia (On Your First Go to!)
- 28 Nice Issues To Do in Queensland, Australia
- 10 Thrilling Issues to do in Cairns
- Scuba Diving on the Nice Barrier Reef: Dealing with My Fears
- 10 Spectacular Issues to Do on Fraser Island
- Daintree River Cruises: Crocodile Recognizing in TNQ
Did you want this story? Share it!
1 shares
- Share
- Tweet
- Pin
