The Alexandra Range is about 11km from the Daintree River Ferry Crossing. The Range Lookout provides amazing views over the coastal hinterland, where you can see the Daintree River winding its way out through the rainforest to enter the Coral Sea. As well as views, the lookout is also the beginning point of six public visitor sites / walks. Jindalba can be enjoyed as a 700m looped rainforest walk, or 2.7km track for the more energetic. Marrdja is another easy 1km loop, which showcases the transition from rainforest to mangrove. Dubuji is slightly longer at 1.2km and takes you through rare rainforest, freshwater swamps and provides access to Myall Beach. Finally, Kulki is an 400m pathway, ending in a lookout over Cape Tribulation Beach. This is a popular spot and the car park is often full. If this is the case, you should drive on to another site or return later in the day.
This one is just for those with a 4WD please. The infamous Bloomfield Track links the rugged Cape Tribulation with the Bloomfield River. There are creek crossings (treacherous depending on the time of year), steep climbs and descents (up to 33%), lots of mud and unimproved surfaces. So why go? The Bloomfield Track is a 32km journey which takes you through stunning rainforest, crosses mighty creeks, climbs ranges and takes you north to Bloomfield and Cooktown. It takes you past the historical site of the Daintree Blockade, which is the site of public outcry in the 1980s which led to the World Heritage listing of the area. It is a mighty track of exploration and adventure.
The mighty Daintree National Park is almost as famous as the Great Barrier Reef and like the reef, visiting this natural wonder is completely free, if you have your own transport. Part of the park can be accessed at Mossman Gorge, on the Cairns side of the Daintree River; the rest of it is a ferry ride away. The Daintree River ferry operates daily, except Christmas Day and Good Friday, from 6am to midnight. Conventional two-wheel drive vehicles can access the Daintree National Park as far as Cape Tribulation, after that 4WDs are recommended. For self-drivers, there are a number of campsites throughout the Daintree, as well as walking tracks and lookouts. There are free picnic areas, BBQ facilities and toilets. Permits are required for camping, check with the Department of Environment and Resource Management.
Daintree Village is the unofficial entry point to the Daintree National Park. Located on the banks of the mighty Daintree River (Cairns side), the Village boasts a variety of galleries, restaurants, stores, picnic areas and complimentary BBQ facilities. Nestled amongst ancient rainforest and bordered by the river, Daintree Village is an animal lovers paradise. Some of the wildlife you will see here includes saltwater crocodiles, butterflies, kingfishers and possums. Established in the 1870s by timber-cutters, Daintree Village has evolved to a community enjoying relative isolation and embracing the beauty of the surrounding natural environment. You do not have to use the ferry to get to Daintree Village, where the pace is easy and the mood relaxed. Take your time to soak up the ambience.
There are seven beaches in the Daintree and Cape Tribulation region. Each of them is simply stunning and absolutely free to visit. Cape Kimberley is the closest beach to the Daintree River and you can walk its shores to the mouth of the river. Coy Bay is a little further along the coast and provides the ideal ‘deserted beach’ destination. For the rainforest meets the reef beach, you can not go past Thornton Beach, which also allows you to walk along the shore to the mouth of Cooper Creek. Coconut Beach has fringing reefs, which can be explored at low tide, and is best accessed via Cape Tribulation Resort and Spa. Myall Beach is next and is located on the southern side of the Cape Tribulation headland. Cape Tribulation Beach is on the headland’s northern side and is the most sheltered location from the south east trade winds. Finally, there Emmagen Beach, but this one is not for swimming as crocodiles have been known to frequent the area. The walking track down to this beach is marked by a giant strangler fig, which is about 800m south of Emmagen Creek.
