A Guide To Visiting Australia's Daintree Rainforest

Drawing crowds of up to 400,000 each year, Daintree Rainforest is quickly becoming one of Australia’s key natural sights. With hikes and tours, retreats and conservation all in arm’s reach, wayward wanderers come from near and far to relish in the sublime beauty of Daintree Rainforest – the oldest continuously surviving tropical rainforest in the world.

Overview

Located in Cape Tribulation on the North East Coast of Queensland, Australia is Daintree Rainforest, an approximately 1,200 square kilometre tropical rainforest which holds a UNESCO World Heritage status. In fact, this is the only place in the world where two UNESCO sites exist side-by-side – the other being the Great Barrier Reef.

Over 125 million years old, Daintree Rainforest boasts an extraordinarily complex ecosystem. The national park is home to a plethora of primitive plant species including the incredibly rare “Idiot Fruit” (Idiospermum Austrialense) – an ancient flowering plant that flourished when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. It is also home to a wealth of exotic birds (40% of Australia’s bird species, to be exact), native wildlife and over 1,200 types of insects.

Things to do

Splash about

Hugging the coastline, Daintree Rainforest provides the luxury of both forest and sand side-by-side. Take a splash at one of the many beaches, creeks or waterholes. Cape Tribulation beaches are perfect for spotting sea life such as dolphins, reef sharks and giant turtles with crystal waters and white sand aplenty.

Dubuji-Myall Beach at Cape Tribulation, Daintree Rainforest

Hiker’s delight

Treks and trails are in abundance in this tropical rainforest. From beach walks to mountain climbs, every level of adventurer can be catered for.

A relaxing 20-minute stroll to Tranquility Falls allows visitors to enjoy the nature of Daintree Forest at leisure, ending at a stunning waterfall with swimming opportunities en route.

Try out the Dubuji Boardwalk – a one hour, 1.8 kilometre round-trip boardwalk trail through mangroves and lush forest – for a great all-round park experience.

Dubuji Boardwalk, 3867 Cape Tribulation Rd, Cape Tribulation QLD 4873, Australia

White-lipped Tree Frog, Dubuji Boardwalk, Daintree Rainforest

The Mount Sorrow Ridge Walk (six hour round trip) is not for the faint of heart. Only highly experienced hiker’s need pursue this extremely challenging track. Promising spectacular views from the top, this is certainly a must-do for those in the know.

Adventure ahead

There are endless activities to pursue in Daintree Rainforest ranging from wilderness cruises, nature tours, kayaking and biking to zip-lining the tree top canopy, snorkelling, diving and more.

Top tours

A wealth of tours are on offer in Daintree Rainforest, from two-hour relaxed forest trails to more challenging encounters, visitors will struggle to be anything but amused.

Top tours include a conservation tour hosted by environmental charity Earth Watch Institute; on this jungle mission (seven – 15 days duration) visitors will help discover and document the impact of climate change on Daintree Rainforest.

Spend some time in the treetops getting familiar with the forest’s exotic wildlife on this fun and adventure-filled day or overnight zipline tour. Perfect for all the family, the tour is jam-packed with activities and fun; it even includes both food and transfers.

Experience the inextricably interconnected relationship between Australia’s Kuku Yalanji indigenous people and Daintree Rainforest on this one-day cultural tour. Including lunch and hotel transfers, this experience offers insight into the aboriginal people in an educational and accessible way, with swimming and fishing opportunities, stunning scenery and an impressive local guide.

Getting there

Although Daintree Rainforest is wildly untouched, getting to and from the tropical paradise is relatively easy. The nearest airport is situated 125 kilometres from the site in the city of Cairns (approximately two and a half hours drive time).

Both rental cars and tour buses are readily available from Cairns. Daintree Rainforest is also a major point of interest for road trippers who generally access the forest via the scenic Captain Cook Highway.

Staying there

There is endless accommodation options to suit every sort of budget in Daintree Rainforest. From luxury treehouse resorts and eco lodges, to a wildlife bed and breakfast, backpacker hostels and even free accommodation for research volunteers.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BWBTfIIB77u/

Daintree Rainforest. Cape Tribulation Road. Cape Tribulation. Queensland. Australia. +61 (07) 4098 9126

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.