AU · Queensland · 16.30°S 145.20°E

daintree national park

Rainforest boardwalks, crocodile cruises and forest meeting the sea at Cape Tribulation.

Best time
May–October is drier, with the roads and walks at their easiest. January–March is very wet, and floods can cut the road north of the river.
How long
2–3 days
Getting there
Fly to Cairns with one stop, usually via Singapore or Brisbane, about 10–13 hours all in. Mossman Gorge is about 1.25 hours' drive from Cairns; Cape Tribulation is about 2.5–3 hours, including the river ferry. Queensland is 2 hours ahead of KL all year.
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AU · Queenslanddaintree national park16.30°S 145.20°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Rainforest boardwalks, crocodile cruises and forest meeting the sea at Cape Tribulation.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingDaintree National ParkAU, Queensland
KLdaintree national park
≈ 5,246 km from KL, as the crow flies
A typical tropical rainforest scene in Daintree National Park

Photo: User:Diliff · CC BY-SA 2.5

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

The Daintree is one of the world's oldest rainforests, running right down to the sea north of Port Douglas. Boardwalks, guided walks and river cruises let you see a lot of it without a hard trek.

Makan

  1. Tropical-fruit ice creamMade from fruit grown on the spot, like black sapote, soursop and mango.Map ↗
  2. Packed lunchFood north of the river is limited to a few cafés and resorts, so bring lunch from Port Douglas or Cairns.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Mossman GorgeRaised walkways through rainforest beside a boulder-filled river.Map ↗
  2. Daintree River cruiseSmall boats spot crocodiles on the muddy banks, plus birds and tree snakes in the mangroves.Map ↗
  3. Cape TribulationWhere the rainforest meets the reef: jungle running right down to a white beach.Map ↗
  4. Rainforest boardwalksShort walks like Dubuji and Marrdja through fan palms, buttress roots and mangroves.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Cross on the river ferry early to beat the queues. Cape Tribulation is the end of the road for a normal hire car; beyond it is 4WD only.
  • Don't swim in the sea or rivers here: saltwater crocodiles live along this coast.
  • Halal food is hard to find north of the river, so pack it in Cairns.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.