Cairns To Cape Tribulation

This self drive itinerary offers a handy guideline to base your day of exploring Cape Tribulation and the Daintree Rainforest.

Depart Cairns 7:30am and Port Douglas at 8:30am approx.

• Mossman Gorge 9:00am approx
  From Cairns, travel north for 80km along the Cook Highway to Mossman. In the centre of Mossman turn left into Johnston Road. This 5km bitumen road leads directly to the Mossman Gorge car park. Crystal clear water cascades over large granite boulders in the Mossman River gorge. There are two circuit tracks. A short, 400m track provides access to lookouts over the Mossman River. Beyond this is a 2.7km loop track through the rainforest.
  
  
• Daintree River Cruise 10:00am approx
  There are many river tours operating frequently throughout the day, some offering a short crocodile and wildlife spotting experiences while other interpretive cruises cater for special interest groups such as birdwatchers, naturalists and photographers. Bookings not required.
  
  
• Daintree Discovery Centre 11:00am approx
  The Daintree Discovery Centre is an award-winning world class interpretive facility that allows visitors easy access to this unique rainforest wilderness via boardwalk tours, a 23 metre high Canopy Tower, Aerial Walkway and comprehensive Display Centre. The Discovery Centre offers visitors an opportunity to learn about and explore one of the few remaining unspoiled pockets of lowland rainforest in Far North Queensland.
  
  
• Lunch at Cape Tribulation 1:00pm approx
  Whet is a popular cafe for lunch in Cape Tribulation.  This cafe and bar is a great venue for the busy explorer, a lunchtime salad and sandwich buffet is on offer, as well as a lunch and snack menu for those with a little more time to relax. 
  
  
• Cape Tribulation Beach 2:30pm approx
  This is the showcase beach of the area. Protected by the Cape Tribulation headland, the water here is almost always calm and crystal clear. Take the boardwalk up the headland to the view point that provides magnificent views of where the Rainforest meets the Reef.

• Marrdja Botanical Walk at Oliver Creek
  This interactive boardwalk has informative signage describing the unique plantlife including 'wait a while' spiky lawyer canes, cannonball mangrove and a superb fan-palm forest.  This 1 km walk is easy and runs through a pocket of rainforest and mangroves.  the walk is managed by the National Parks service and is very well managed.  
  
  
• Daintree Icecream Company 4:00pm approx
  Don't miss stopping at The Icecream Company on your journey home, it is a must for any daytrip to Cape Tribulation! All the ice creams are made on the premises from tropical fruits grown in the company’s own orchards such as Black Sapote, Soursop, Wattle Seed and Jackfruit. The ice cream is primarily sold as a fixed sample pack - four flavours in a rather large cup for $5. Pretty good value, really!

Return to Port Douglas 5:30pm and Cairns at 6:30pm approx