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The drive from Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation is without doubt one of the most scenic routes in Australia, and but it’s rarely talked about.
It boasts superb ocean surroundings, climbing trails into the oldest tropical rainforest on this planet, miles of pristine seashores, adventurous points of interest, and refreshing swimming holes.
Contemplating it’s solely a brief drive, and every attraction is nestled a stone’s throw from a well-maintained street, making it good for a street journey. It’s virtually as if the Daintree knew that it was going to be a scenic street journey vacation spot.
You possibly can drive this scenic route in a day, or you may unfold it out over just a few days and take within the magic of Tropical North Queensland.
On this information, we’re sharing our best itinerary from Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation together with all of the superb websites, locations to remain, and the place to eat.
How lengthy is the drive from Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation?
The drive from Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation is about 84.1km and will be accomplished in about 2.5 hours to three hours in case you drive constantly with out stopping.
Nonetheless, there’s a lot to see and do on the best way, it might be a disgrace to only drive straight by in sooner or later.
Please do your self a favour and dedicate not less than 2-3 days to drive from Port Douglas to Cape Trib, which provides you adequate time to take in all that this unbelievable coastal drive has to supply.
There isn’t any motive to hurry, you may miss simply why it’s a lot extra particular than the labels might ever give an inkling to.
We spent virtually per week exploring the area on a street journey from Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation.
Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation Itinerary
Tropical North Queensland needs to be one of the enchanting areas in Australia, if not the world, and the little part from Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation reveals a number of the better of the area.
The next itinerary is supposed to take you alongside this scenic street over a 2-3 day interval, nonetheless you may unfold it out or lower it brief, it’s utterly as much as you and your time-frame.
Among the notable points of interest on this street journey are the world’s greatest reef system – the Nice Barrier Reef – after which hugging the shoreline is its excellent buddy, the oldest residing rainforest on this planet, the 140-million-year-old Daintree Rainforest.
This itinerary additionally takes you to witness superb pure magnificence and scenic panorama, viewpoints, climbing trails, and historic landmarks.
On the above map, you may see the route we suggest with all of the points of interest, viewpoints, and iconic landmarks, resorts and eating places we suggest marked.
It can save you this map to your cellphone by urgent the star button on the high.
Cease 1: Port Douglas
Simply because our street journey begins in Port Douglas doesn’t imply it is best to rush away so rapidly!
Port Douglas is a incredible place to spend just a few days exploring the native space, having fun with sundown views from the marina, consuming good meals, partying, and purchasing.
It’s an ideal base to move out to the reef from and discover extra of the encompassing area.
For issues to do in Port Douglas, don’t miss a stroll on the gorgeous four-mile seashore, climbing as much as Trinity Lookout, and taking a ship out for a snorkelling journey on the Nice Barrier Reef.
For a style of the pristine seashores the Far North Queensland is legendary for, head to 4 Mile Seaside
Cease 2: Mossman Gorge
Mossman Gorge is on the southernmost finish (and my favorite half) of the Daintree Rainforest.
It’s historic, pristine, and stuffed with excessive vibrational power. Mossman Gorge is free to enter however you do must buy a go to catch the shuttle bus into the primary strolling space. Or you may stroll the 2km your self.
A boardwalk takes you to the Mossman River and a stupendous swimming space. The river will be harmful after heavy rain, which is why it was beneficial we not swim once we visited.
The Mossman River water is claimed to be the second purest on this planet.
Isn’t that simply so superb? The rainforest is 140 million years outdated and it’ll contact your soul strolling amongst twisting vines, strangler figs, epiphytes, and cycad timber that date again to prehistoric instances.
We extremely suggest that you just take one of many Ngadiku Dreamtime Walks, which you’ll be able to e-book from the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre.
Your indigenous information will take you into a personal part of the forest educating you about Aboriginal customs and providing you with insights to the lifestyle, sharing in regards to the meals and medicinal properties of the vegetation and flora, and sharing just a few Dreamtime tales.
This was such an incredible expertise.
Arise paddle boarding can also be a fantastic exercise to do on the Mossman River.
Cease 3: Cooya Seaside
- Distance: 5 km
- Drive time: 7 minutes
Simply east of Mossman is Cooya Seaside, there’s not a lot to do right here except for spearfishing and dust crab looking!
We extremely suggest you’re taking a Kuku Yalanji Cultural Habitat Tour with Brandon Walker.
You’ll spend the afternoon studying the normal methods of the native Aboriginal tradition and having a variety of enjoyable doing it. You get to eat what you catch after.
Cease 4: Daintree Village
After the primary day, we stayed the evening in a lodge on the Daintree Riverview Lodges and Van Park and had essentially the most divine views from the frequent balcony overlooking the river. The sundown was simply magnificent.
Whereas staying on the Daintree Riverview be a part of an Argo 8×8 tour by the proprietor’s cattle property and the Daintree Rainforest. It was wild enjoyable!
The ladies squealed as we went up actually steep and tough terrain, previous herds of cattle, and to the hill peaks for sensational views out over the Daintree River and rainforest.
Many vacationers miss the Daintree Village by heading straight over on the ferry to enter the Daintree Nationwide Park, however these persons are fallacious to take action.
We completely cherished this space; Craig and I couldn’t work out if we felt like we have been in Asia, Victoria, or Eire.
The rainforest right here was cleared a few years in the past (throughout settlement instances earlier than it was protected) for cattle farms.
The peaks of those spectacular rolling mountains are coated in rainforest and down into the valley on the banks of the river are emerald inexperienced fields.
Cease 5: Cape Kimberley
- Distance: 22 km
- Drive time: 35 minutes
- Notable locations to eat: There aren’t any eating places round right here, deliver a picnic. You possibly can store for provides in Daintree Village.
After crossing the Daintree River, drive right down to Cape Kimberley, the primary of the seashores you come to within the Daintree Nationwide Park and simply over the Daintree River crossing.
It’s a 5km detour from the primary street, however in case you’re after serenity, that is it. It’s very quiet with pretty views of Snapper Island simply offshore.
Cease 6: Mount Alexandra Lookout
- Distance: 4.9 km
- Drive time: 10 minutes
- Notable locations to eat: Once more, not a lot to eat round right here. Convey your individual picnic.
Maybe essentially the most well-known lookout on the entire drive is Alexandra Vary Lookout.
Cease in right here for stunning views out over the Alexandra Vary and Snapper Island.
Right here is the place you see the Daintree River going into the ocean and might get a transparent image of the place two World Heritage Websites – the Daintree rainforest and the Nice Barrier Reef meet.
What a particular a part of the world.
Cease 7: Daintree Discovery Centre
- Distance: 1.7 km
- Drive time: 5 minutes
- Notable locations to eat: once more, not a lot round right here.
The Daintree Discovery Centre is a particular should do. Not solely did the women have a ball, they discovered a lot in regards to the rainforest and its environment as properly.
The aerial walkway takes you up into the forest cover and climbs up a 23m excessive cover tower, every degree providing you with the chance to expertise a unique rainforest layer and study in regards to the numerous vegetation, bugs and butterflies, and different wildlife that dwell there.
There are additionally paths that go on the decrease ground of the rainforest as properly.
Your entry features a self-guided audio tour with a shortened model for the youngsters.
They cherished looking for the numbers, punching them into the information, after which listening to the tales of the forest.
It was nice to pay attention and see in entrance of them precisely what they have been studying from the narrator.
It additionally gives an indigenous interpretation, which all of us loved studying extra about conventional meals and medication.
The middle has rainforest talks all through the day. I loved sitting in on one about ants.
It’s an animal nobody pays a lot consideration to aside from making an attempt to maintain them out of your picnic basket.
I used to be fascinated by simply how intelligent they’re and the way important their position within the thriving ecosystem of the rainforest is.
Cease 8: Cow Bay
- Distance: 6.1 km
- Drive time: 8 minutes
- Notable locations to eat: once more, nothing a lot round right here!
I didn’t suppose this seashore was as fairly because the Lonely Planet made out – I’m nonetheless confused as to how they got here up with the “stunning white-sand seashore to rival any coastal paradise description.”
Regardless of how I checked out it, I couldn’t get the white sand to seem.
I do suppose the opposite seashores within the Daintree are prettier, nevertheless it’s price a glance to guage for your self.
Cease 9: Daintree Ice Cream Firm
- Distance: 7.7 km
- Drive time: 10 minutes
- Notable locations to eat: lastly someplace to eat!
Who doesn’t love ice cream on a scorching day in a rainforest?
Effectively, I’m the one who often says no. I’m not an enormous ice cream lover, however I did say sure to the 4 unique flavours on supply on the Daintree Ice Cream Firm.
For an inexpensive worth, you get a bowl of ice cream with 4 scoops. Excellent as there’s not many eating places or locations to eat across the Daintree area.
The flavours rely on what they’ve made at the moment primarily based upon the unique fruits which have been harvested from the orchard.
We had coconut, wattle seed, yellow sapote, and blackberry.
The wattleseed had a slight espresso flavour to it. My favorite was undoubtedly the yellow sapote and coconut. That is the kind of ice cream I might eat buckets of.
Cease 9: Thornton Seaside Cafe
The Thornton Seaside Cafe is a beautiful spot to cease for dinner and to observe the sundown. Keep the evening round right here and are available for breakfast proper on Thornton Seaside.
Attempt the Thai fish cake burger – scrumptious.
Cease 10: Marrdja Botanical Stroll, Noah Seaside
- Distance: 5.6 km
- Drive time: 7 minutes
The Marrdja Boardwalk, also called the Madja Boardwalk on maps, was one of many prettiest and most attention-grabbing walks we did within the Daintree.
The 540m interpretative boardwalk follows the creek by a piece of rainforest and previous the eerily twisting roots and vines of the mangroves to a lookout over Noah Creek.
Your eyes will probably be fascinated.
Put on mosquito repellent although because the midges are biting.
Cease 11: Mason’s Cafe and Swimming Gap
- Distance: 6.3 km
- Drive time: 10 minutes
The burgers at Mason’s Cafe are fairly legendary. Decide your animal: wild boar, emu, crocodile or kangaroo.
It’s slightly difficult to get your mouth round their dimension, however the burgers are good sufficient – though I wouldn’t put them into legendary memorable standing.
Take a brief stroll from the cafe to the swimming gap within the creek. It’s very pristine and, I gathered from all of the folks standing solely as much as their knees, very chilly!
Cease 12: Dubuji Boardwalk
- Distance: 1.1 km
- Drive time: 2 minutes
The 1.2km Dubuji boardwalk winds its means by the mangroves, shaded by its cover of monumental fan palms, strangler figs, and vines.
It takes you to a different boardwalk main right down to Myall Seaside.
We walked over a small bridge that simply hovered above the muddy floor beside it – floor that had enormous sliding marks and footprints of what might solely have been a croc!
I couldn’t think about being on that path because it was crawling on by – slightly too shut for consolation!
Actually made me take note of these saltwater crocodiles warning indicators all over the place on the Daintree seashores.
Cease 13: Treetops Journey Cape Trib
- Distance: 350 metres
- Drive time: 1 minute
In case your a fan of jungles and ziplines, then make sure you try Treetops Journey in Cape Trib, which takes you up into the canopies for a two-hour zipline and climbing expertise.
Zip from tree to tree throughout ziplines that vary from 15 metres to 130 metres, and check the power of your vertigo by strolling throughout the aerial impediment course, situated 15 metres above the bottom!
Cease 14: Myall Seaside
- Distance: 600 metres
- Drive time: 1 minute
- The place to remain: Cape Trib Tenting, or keep in a cabin at Wildwood
- Notable locations to eat: Cape Trib Tenting
You probably have your individual caravan, camper trailer, or tent contemplate staying at Cape Trib Tenting. That is the social campground with pretty camp spots proper on fairly Myall Seaside.
Even in case you don’t keep It’s a fantastic place to return for wood-fired pizzas of a night and communal campfires.
Cease 14: Cape Tribulation Seaside
- Distance: 750 metres
- Drive time: 1 minute
Then it’s on to discover our last cease, Cape Tribulation Seaside. Positively the prettiest of the seashores within the Daintree Rainforest and is so serene and empty.
Stroll alongside the seashore after which again as much as the Kulki boardwalk for gorgeous views again throughout Cape Trib seashore.
As soon as once more seeing the place that historic rainforest meets the ocean.
Listed below are some actions to think about whereas staying within the Cape Tribulation area:
- Jungle Browsing – I did this exercise once we visited final 12 months. It’s a enjoyable journey zip-lining by the cover of the world’s oldest rainforest. The final flying fox offers you the prospect to slip down the other way up like a bat.
- Kayaking Cape Tribulation Seaside – Craig cherished doing this exercise whereas I used to be jungle browsing.
Optionally available Cease 15: Emmagen Seaside
- Distance: 5.7 km
- Drive time: 10 minutes
Simply go slightly additional north of Cape Tribulation, proper earlier than the street turns to the 4WD-only Bloomfield Observe, to go to Emmagen Seaside.
The observe is subsequent to the large strangler fig on the right-hand facet of the street.
It’s a brief five-minute stroll right down to the seashore and is unquestionably price a glance.
There was nobody round once we went. It’s proper subsequent to Emmagen Creek so be cautious of crocs.
Getting from Cairns to Port Douglas
It’s fairly simple to increase this street journey by ranging from Cairns, and including it on to The Captain Prepare dinner Freeway, which runs from Cairns all the best way to Mossman, simply north of Port Douglas.
This stretch of street extends for 66km and takes about 1 hour to drive continuous, and passes by Palm Cove, which is legendary for its palm lined seashores that hook up with the lustuous turquoise waters.
The entire street from Cairns to Cape Tribulation is usually referred to as the Nice Barrier Reef Drive, because it passes alongside the assorted stopovers the place you may entry the enduring reef.
If you wish to lengthen your Port Douglas to Cape Trib street journey to start out from Cairns, permit one other day or two to discover the websites on this stretch of street.
FAQs about street tripping from Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation
Right here’s what folks often ask us about getting from Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation…
Do you want a 4WD to get to Cape Tribulation?
To get to Cape Tribulation, you don’t want a 4WD car. In case you plan to go slightly additional to the Bloomfield Observe, you’ll need a 4WD for this half.
Do you must get a ferry to Cape Tribulation?
There is just one means throughout the Daintree River and that’s by the Daintree River Ferry. You possibly can board the Daintree Ferry together with your car, it’s fairly secure. Even 4WDs and buses take this ferry.
Is it price going to Cape Tribulation?
Cape Tribulation is exclusive in that it sits between two UNESCO World Heritage Websites – the Daintree Rainforest and the Nice Barrier Reef. It’s additionally a gateway to the Nice Barrier Reef, and chances are you’ll discover excursions are quieter from right here as most individuals go to the reef from Cairns.
When is the perfect time to do the Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation drive?
One of the best time of 12 months to do the Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation drive is within the dry season, which runs from July to November. You can even have good climate in April – June, however you’ll want to keep away from the moist season which runs from December till March. The dry season not solely brings out the perfect climate, however there’s much less of a threat of stingers. The moist season raises the water ranges and it’s frequent to see street closures due to flooding.
Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation movies
Wish to see what a street journey from Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation is admittedly like? Watch our movies from this journey on our YouTube channel:
Extra Far North Queensland Suggestions
Do you want extra inspiration about visiting the Far North Queensland? Take a look at these different sources:
What are some stops you’re most trying ahead to seeing between Port Douglas and the Daintree Rainforest? Tell us within the feedback.
