Daintree & Cape Tribulation visitor information
The Daintree Rainforest is the oldest continuously surviving rainforest in the world and contains more unique and endangered plants and animals than anywhere else on this planet. As you can imagine this beautiful example of Mother Nature’s artistic creativity attracts several thousands of visitors each year to be mesmerised and in awe of natures beauty and the tropical abundance and variety of plants and wildlife showcasing the pre-historic wildlife only indigenous to this country. Whether you come to the Daintree to study or view rare wildlife, tropical birds, native plants and vegetation or the picturesque sandy coral beaches that border the rainforest you will be more than delighted.
There is evidence in plants, rocks and animals that The Daintree Rainforest has existed in Australia for approximately 135 million years. In this time, the rainforest has survived catastrophic earth changes such as global climate changes, volcanoes, changing sea levels and fire amongst other imaginable events. The Daintree supposedly saw its first human settlement over 9000 years ago when the Kuku Yalariji indigenous people inhabited the area. All of these events have contributed to the history and creation of this unique World Heritage Listed Attraction that stands today.
There are several ways in which tourists can explore the Daintree Rainforest. Day tours depart from all regions and locations from Cairns to Port Douglas daily to explore this eco sensitive diverse region. There are also overnight trips which allow for more time and exploration or travellers can rent cars to view the region by themselves but keep in mind you are not allowed to take the rent a cars off sealed roads so you may miss out on seeing the best that the Daintree and Cape Tribulation have to offer which would be a great shame. By far the best option for exploring the Daintree is to visit for a weekend or a week and truly experience the essence of this tropical rainforest. It isn’t until you’ve been awakened by the squabble of rainbow lorikeets, spent the day on Cape Tribulation Beach, spotted the rare cassowary or cruised down the Daintree River in search of the mighty estuarine crocodile that you’ve really experienced the Daintree Rainforest.
There are several resorts, retreats, bed and breakfasts and hostels set amongst the Daintree Rainforest. Many of the accommodation houses are conglomerated around the tiny Village of Cape Tribulation about 30 minutes north of the Daintree River. Whether you are seeking a luxurious rainforest retreat or a primitive jungle experience you will surely find it on this website. There are accommodation styles to suite families, birders, nature-lovers, hikers, couples, beachgoers, backpackers, explorers, conservationists, wedding parties, business travellers amongst many others.
Dining in the Daintree…
In the Daintree Village you will find several small boutique eateries open for breakfast lunch and dinner. The Daintree Tea House specialises in freshly prepared lunches. The Big Barramundi BBQ Garden specialises in Australiana bush tucker cuisine. There are also numerous small cafes and coffee shops in the Daintree; keep in mind these cafes and restaurants are spread apart therefore a vehicle is generally needed to travel from one to the other. The small Village of Cape Tribulation has several restaurants considering its tiny size. The Cape Restaurant Bar at Coconut Beach Resort has large buffet meals catering for all tastes and the beautiful Cassowary Café features breakfast and dinner and is located in Ferntree’s Resort. Most resorts and hostels have restaurants or take-away shops serving meals throughout the day.
Nightlife in the Daintree…
The only nightlife you will find in the Daintree is at one of the backpacker’s hostels such as PK’s Jungle Village where there is a nightclub open until the wee hours of the morning playing popular music and serving reasonably priced drinks. Cape Trib Beachouse also has a beach bar that is popular during the backpacker season (May-September).
Shopping in the Daintree…
Although your convenience needs will be taken care of in Cape Tribulation Village, there is little in the way of shopping in the Daintree. The Daintree Tea House and The Daintree Discovery Center have small gift shops to take care of your souvenir needs but if you are after some designer clothing or a new pair of shoes you may want to wait until you get back to Cairns or Port Douglas.
Flora and Fauna in the Daintree…
The Daintree Rainforest is home to some of the most primitive plants in the world; of the 19 most primitive plants found on earth, 12 exist in the Daintree. The only way to truly appreciate the majesty of this region is to immerse yourself in it. Some of the rare plant species you may come across include: Idiot Fruits, Blue Quandons, Burrawang Palms, and Wild Ginger plants. The Daintree also possesses an assortment of highly exotic animals. The cold blooded salt water crocodile lurks in most waterways in and around the Daintree. Tour boats take travellers into the rivers in search of these powerful pre-historic reptiles. Cassowaries, an animal that was nearly extinct only 15 years ago, is strengthening its numbers thanks to greater protective and conservation measures being implemented. These usually shy monstrous birds can sometimes become aggressive when agitated and have massive dinosaur like-claws; these animals although amazing when viewed from a distance or in the safety of a car, should generally be avoided. Other rare animals in the Daintree Rainforest include the Rufous Owl, Musky Rat Kangaroo, Feral Pigs, Azure Kingfishers, Bandicoots and Sugar Gliders. Explore the flora and fauna on several walking and hiking trails, on 4WD treks or on guided nature tours.
Tours in and around the Daintree…
There are several different companies that take tourists on rainforest expeditions throughout the Daintree. Generally on these tours you will get to experience the magnificent Cape Tribulation Beach, salt water crocodile spotting on the Daintree River, a guided wilderness boardwalk and some fabulous look out spots providing great photo-opportunities of where the Great Barrier Reef meets the World Heritage listed Rainforest. There are also several charming waterfalls in the Daintree that have been featured in major Hollywood movies, spots where you can hand-feed kangaroos and interpretive centres where you can learn more about this sensitive environment. Other tours around the Daintree include Jungle Surfing soaring through the rainforest canopy on a string, snorkelling and scuba diving and fishing trips out to the Great Barrier Reef and horseback riding on the tropical beaches. There are several award winning invigorating Destination Spas hidden amongst the rainforest where you can experience relaxing and rejuvenating massages, facials, wraps, scrubs and treatment packages.
Climate in the Daintree…
The climate in The Daintree has two distinct seasons: The Dry Season and The Green Season. The Dry Season is between May and December and is generally characterised by low humidity, low rainfall and temperatures ranging between 24 and 29 degrees Celsius. The Green Season is between January and April and is characterised by higher temperatures (reaching a maximum of 32 degrees), more rainfall and higher humidity although generally days are dry followed by spectacular thunderstorms in the evenings.
Location of the Daintree…
The Daintree Rainforest is located just over 90 minutes north of Cairns. From Cairns City follow the Captain Cook Highway past Port Douglas and through the small agricultural town of Mossman. After passing Mossman you will reach the Daintree Cable Ferry. There is a small fee of about $5.00 to cross the Daintree River. After the ferry there is a single road connecting the Daintree to Cooktown. This road is fully sealed until just after Cape Tribulation, from there you will need a 4WD.
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