Daintree and Cape Tribulation
Daintree National Park is home to the world’s oldest, continually surviving tropical rainforests. Thick vegetation cloaks mountains and drapes over streams and gorges, before cascading down to the beach, where golden sands lead into the Coral Sea and out to the Great Barrier Reef.
Sound like paradise? It is and it is one of the only places on earth where two natural World Heritage listed sites exist side by side, creating a nature’s playground for you to enjoy and explore.
Cape Tribulation was named by Captain James Cook. It is north of the Daintree, which is a national park and home to the Daintree River and Daintree Village.
If you love nature, this is the destination for you. Rich, ancient rainforest grows largely untouched, lining rivers and streams and growing right to the edge of the beach, which creates a golden border between the green of the mountains and blue of the ocean.
Attractions and accommodation are focussed on providing ecotourism experiences, protecting this natural asset, while letting you experience it. To enter the Daintree, you must use the Daintree River Ferry, which operates 7 days a week and takes you to the Daintree Village, a small community home to about 100 permanent residents.
Instantly, you feel a world away from the city and slip into a magical, relaxed state of enchantment. This destination is about emersion and experience. Slip the shackles of daily life and explore and learn more about these ancient rainforests that date back millions of years and were home to dinosaurs and the world’s first flowering plants.
Not surprisingly, there are many species of plants and animals still being discovered and rediscovered in these rainforests, so tread lightly and take the time to learn why this place is so special. Interpretive tourism attractions will help with this and a favourite is the Daintree Discovery Centre, which has a 23m high canopy tower, interpretive facility and self-guiding audio tours. For the more adventurous, visit Jungle Surfing, an ecotourism experience that allows you to swing through the treetops like Tarzan and Jane (but without the monkeys).
Places to stay vary from budget backpackers, to bed and breakfasts and luxurious resorts. If you like spas, then the Daintree Eco Lodge and Spa is the place to be. Winner of the World’s Leading Eco-Lodge Award at the 2009 World Travel Awards, this gorgeous property has 15 rainforest villas, scattered throughout the rainforest offering privacy and tranquillity.
During the day, enjoy a cruise on the Daintree River and watch out for saltwater crocodiles. The Daintree is also a bird lover’s paradise and you may catch a glimpse of a buff-breasted kingfisher. Other activities available include: guided night tours, sea kayaking, reef and fishing trips, tropical fruit plantation visits and horse riding.
Driving there is half the fun:
From Cairns, it will take approximately 1.5 hours to drive north to the Daintree River Ferry. This is a scenic, coastal journey along the Captain Cook Highway, with awesome views over the Coral Sea. Navigation is really easy, you just stay on the Captain Cook Highway, go past the turn offs to Port Douglas and keep heading north until you reach the Daintree River Ferry (follow the sign posting).
A few important notes:
- The last petrol station and banks are in Mossman, so if you need fuel or cash, make sure you take care of this before you reach the Daintree.
- This area is home to the endangered Southern Cassowary. There are only believed to be around 1,500 of these birds left in the wild and they are often seen crossing the roads throughout the Daintree National Park. Please drive slowly and be careful. These wonderful birds are critically endangered and much loved, but they are not road wise.
