The long way there
The drive from Cairns to Cape Tribulation is where two World Heritage sites collide—the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. This short but spectacular journey takes you through the world's oldest rainforest to pristine beaches where the jungle meets the sea.
Where to pull over
Port Douglas
70 km inTropical resort town with Four Mile Beach
Daintree River Ferry
100 km inCross to the ancient rainforest on a cable ferry
Mossman Gorge
80 km inCrystal-clear swimming holes in the rainforest
Daintree Rainforest
120 km in130-million-year-old tropical rainforest
Cape Tribulation Beach
140 km inWhere rainforest-fringed beach meets coral reef
Driving tips
- 1
The Daintree ferry operates 6am-midnight—no overnight crossings
- 2
Watch for cassowaries—they're dangerous and endangered
- 3
Crocodiles inhabit rivers and beaches—heed warning signs
- 4
Wet season (Nov-Apr) brings flooding and stingers—avoid swimming
- 5
Book reef tours from Port Douglas for full-day experiences
Other ways through
Captain Cook Highway only route