Daintree and Cape Tribulation Small-Group Eco Tour from Port Douglas

Mossman Gorge, the gateway to the Daintree

Mossman Gorge lies in the southern section of Daintree National Park, about 20 minutes from Port Douglas, on the traditional country of the Kuku Yalanji people. The Mossman River tumbles here over enormous rounded granite boulders, forming clear pools framed by strangler figs, palms and ferns. Elevated boardwalks and a swaying suspension bridge lead you deep into the forest without disturbing the delicate floor below.

Your guide uses this first stop to explain how the rainforest works: the layers of the canopy, the plants that climb towards the light and the animals that hide among them, from colourful birds to tree-dwelling lizards. Mossman Gorge is one of the most visited places in the region, and this tour gives you time to walk the paths with someone who can point out details you would easily miss on your own.

The Daintree River ferry and the crocodile cruise

North of Mossman the road ends at the Daintree River, and the only way across is the cable ferry, a short and memorable crossing over wide, tea-coloured water. Beyond it the forest closes in and the road winds through one of the oldest tropical rainforests on Earth, part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.

Later in the day you board a small boat for a one-hour wildlife cruise on Cooper Creek, a quiet mangrove-lined waterway. The skipper looks for estuarine crocodiles basking on the muddy banks, as well as kingfishers, herons, snakes and tree frogs. This Daintree crocodile cruise is calm and close to nature, and it is often the moment guests remember most. Sightings depend on the tide and the weather, but the creek is known for its resident crocodiles.

Alexandra Lookout over the river mouth

Climbing the range north of the river, the tour stops at Alexandra Lookout, one of the best viewpoints in the Daintree. From the platform you look over a carpet of rainforest falling to the sea, the winding mouth of the Daintree River, the small forested Snapper Island offshore and, on clear days, the coastline all the way back to Port Douglas.

It is a short stop, but it helps you understand the shape of the land you are travelling through: the steep green mountains, the mangrove-fringed estuary and the reef waters beyond. Morning light is usually the clearest, and your guide times the visit to give you the best chance of a sharp view and a good photograph.

Cape Tribulation, where the rainforest meets the reef

Cape Tribulation is the highlight of any Daintree day trip and the reason this coast is famous. It is one of the very few places in the world where two World Heritage areas meet: the ancient rainforest runs right down to white sandy beaches, and the Great Barrier Reef lies just offshore. The headland was named by an eighteenth-century navigator after his ship ran into trouble on the reef nearby.

Here you walk along the beach and on short rainforest boardwalks lined with fan palms and mangroves, with time for photographs of the curving bay and the forested headland. The guide shares stories of the region's history and wildlife, including the rare cassowary that lives in these forests. Is Cape Tribulation worth visiting? For most travellers, standing on a beach with rainforest at your back is the defining image of Tropical North Queensland.

Lunch at a rainforest lodge and the tropical-fruit orchard

Lunch is included at a secluded rainforest lodge hidden among the trees north of the river, a peaceful setting to rest after the morning walks. Morning tea is served earlier in the day, and the vehicle carries insect repellent, umbrellas and a small library of nature books, so you are well prepared whatever the weather.

In the afternoon there is a stop at a tropical-fruit orchard known for ice cream made from fruits grown on the property, served as a cup of four flavours in a peaceful garden. The ice cream is not included, so bring some cash if you would like to try it. Even if you skip it, the garden is a pleasant place to stretch your legs before the drive back to Port Douglas.