Daintree Rainforest Best Things To Do (& Daintree Itinerary)

When I was planning my trip to Australia, there was one place that really caught my attention – The Daintree Rainforest.

Instead of doing just a quick day trip into the rainforest, I wanted to truly experience everything that the rainforest had to offer.

This guide will talk through the top things to do in the Daintree Rainforest and will go over everything you need to know about the area and how to go about planning your itinerary.

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1) What is the Daintree Rainforest

At over 180 million years old, the Daintree Rainforest is known to be the oldest rainforest in the world (even older than the Amazon!). The tropical rainforest makes up 1,200 square kilometers in the northeastern part of Queensland as part of Daintree National Park.

You will find everything and anything in the rainforest – from dense jungles and mountain ranges to flowing rivers and waterfalls, the Daintree is packed with it all.

You are also sure to find an abundance of wildlife throughout. There are thousands of different species all around, from birds to reptiles to insects. Spending a couple of days exploring the rainforest is a great add-on to any Australia itinerary.

One of the most special aspects of the Daintree is that right next to it is another natural world wonder – The Great Barrier Reef.

There are several spots along the coast where you can see where the “Rainforest Meets the Reef”, and enjoy two incredible natural landscapes right next to other.

This comprehensive guide will talk about many of those spots throughout.

3) How to Get to the Daintree

Since I wanted to make this guide more of a do-it-yourself option, the best way to go about a Daintree Rainforest tour is to hire your own rental car.

I ended up staying in both Cairns and Port Douglas prior to my time in the Daintree and both towns (and Cairns airport) would have car rental options available.

With your own car, you will be able to head on into the Daintree at your own pace and choose exactly which places and activities suit you best. You will be able to start as early as you would like and end your days past sunset (more on that later).

If you are more than one person, it can also be a super economical way to go about your time there as car rental prices are not too pricey (I got mine for $35 AUD / $25 USD per day).

Once you have your own car and are ready to go from Cairns or Port Douglas, it is time to make your way up north on your road trip.

Nearly all the attractions mentioned in this guide (besides the Mossman Gorge & some Daintree River tours) are located across the Daintree River, which I will go into a bit more detail on in the next section.

Driving in the Daintree is relatively simple with one main road connecting most of the attractions. As mentioned though, be sure to download offline maps as cellular service is not great.

If renting a car in the Daintree Rainforest, feel free to check out Rentalcars.com, which will have various options to browse through. You can filter by car type, price, and more to find the perfect car for your trip.

Now, if you are just not comfortable driving a car (remember Australians drive on the left-hand side of the road), your next best option would to join a group or private tour. You can browse through some highly rated options to choose from but remember that they will not be as flexible as having your own wheels.

4) Daintree River Crossing

To get to nearly all Daintree attractions, you must make your way to the north side of the Daintree River. Every day from 5:00AM to 12:00AM, there is a car ferry that continuously goes back and forth bringing cars to either side.

The car ferry can fit around 30 vehicles on it and costs $47 AUD for the round trip ticket (don’t lose that receipt!), and takes just 5 minutes each way.

One thing to mention is that there can be a long line of cars during those peak times of day (mid-morning northbound and late afternoon southbound).

So, if you are heading across during those times you should expect to wait a couple rounds before going across.

6) Where to Eat in the Daintree

Along the main Cape Tribulation Road is where you will find most of your dining options in the Daintree. I have listed below some of the most popular spots that you can choose from when it comes to dining out:

• Julaymba Restaurant & Bar
• Whet Restaurant
• Turtle Rock Cafe
• Masons Cafe
• PK’s Jungle Village
• Tides Bar and Restaurant
• CJ’s Bar & Grill

And don’t forget one of the best places to get some dessert at the famous Daintree Ice Cream Company!

8) Daintree Rainforest Walks

While the Daintree is a massive place, there are just a handful of official boardwalk rainforest walks that you can take part in during your time in the area.

Dubuji Boardwalk

The Dubuji Boardwalk is a fantastic 45-minute, 1.3 KM loop through the Daintree with several types of landscapes to enjoy including rainforest, swamp, and mangroves.

Jindalba Boardwalk

Located right near the Daintree Discovery Centre is the Jindalba Boardwalk. It can be explored on a shorter 0.7 KM boardwalk walk or a longer 2.7 KM rainforest track alongside the huge amount of natural surroundings.

From massive trees to a variety of wildlife, you will be able to experience it all.

Marjdda Boardwalk

Finally, there is the 1.1 KM Marjdda boardwalk, located just in between the two. Similarly, you will be able to enjoy the vast variety of plants, wildlife, trees, and more as you make the loop around the boardwalk.

During the walk, you are sure to pass by the rainforest and mangrove landscape before heading back to the parking area.

Now, you do not need to take part in each one, but adding 1-2 of them to your Daintree itinerary is a great way to get a better sense of what the rainforest is all about.

9) Daintree Experiences

The next four attractions are unique experiences that would be a great add-on to any Daintree Rainforest Tour.

Mossman Gorge

First up is the Mossman Gorge. The gorge is one of the most visited places in the Daintree due to the fact that it lies on the south side of the Daintree River. That means you would not need to take the car ferry across to visit it.

It also happens to be home to a beautiful blue-colored river and a few hiking trails. Once you arrive at the Mossman Gorge visitor center, you will hop on the quick shuttle bus that will take you to Mossman Gorge itself.

Daintree Discovery Centre

Another very popular add-on to a Daintree Rainforest tour is the Daintree Discovery Centre.

Out of all the places in the Daintree, this one is probably the most helpful when it comes to learning what the Daintree is all about.

Not only are there several walking tracks around the area, but you will also find an aerial walkway, a 23-meter-high canopy, and a super helpful interpretive centre to learn more about the rainforest.

Daintree River Cruise

Lastly, is the Daintree River Cruise. This is the perfect way to get up close and personal to some of the wildlife in the area.

Many of the cruises depart on the south side of the Daintree River (near the river crossing) while others may have pick-up points further inside in the rainforest.

Ocean Safari

One of the only experiences that offers the chance to get out on the Great Barrier Reef in the Daintree is to take part in the Ocean Safari boat ride.

You will get on off to the reef and head out to some incredible snorkeling spots to get up close and personal with some of the underwater life of the reef.

10) Swimming Holes

While the ocean will seem inviting, unfortunately, it is not the safest place to swim. As mentioned earlier, this is because of the saltwater crocodiles and stingers.

Instead, you can head to some swimming holes not too far away (you can also swim at Mossman Gorge!).

Emmagen Creek

The furthest that a non-4WD drive can make it in the Daintree is to Emmagen Creek (although the last bit of road is unpaved).

Once parked on the side of the road, continue along the 10-minute path that will bring you to a great swimming hole to enjoy.

If you are up for it, give the rope swing a try and launch yourself into the water.

Mason’s Café

There is a great café in the Daintree that also offers access to its swimming hole.

For a moderate $1 AUD you can walk your way around the café and on the path towards the water. Here you can enjoy a swim and cool down.

11) Daintree Beaches

One thing I really enjoyed during my time in the Daintree was the opportunity to explore the rainforest in the morning and then hit the beach in the afternoon.

There are several beaches all along the coast but I wanted to point out some of the main ones in the area.

As mentioned before, here is your chance to witness where two natural world wonders collide, a very rare site to see in the world.

Read More: Check out the Daintree Beaches guide up on the site that will walk through 10 of them!

Cow Bay

Cow Bay is one of the best beaches in the area with plenty of space to find your own spot and enjoy some time on the sand.

You will also find a variety of beachside swings alongside a small Daintree tributary.

I also did a bit of exploring here and began to walk north alongside the rocks to some hidden beaches around the corner. So if you are looking for your own private beach you can give it a try yourself!

Myall Beach

If you head on the Dubuji Boardwalk, then you will be able to make a pit stop on Myall Beach along the way.

Even if you do not head on the boardwalk itself, there is a short path that will connect directly to the beach from the parking lot.

Thornton Beach

Another potential beach option is Thornton Beach. Here you will find one of the only beachside restaurants (CJ’s) and it is a great place to enjoy some lunch after a morning of discovering the Daintree.

Right off the beach, you will also find Struck Island, one of the only islands you will find off the coast here.

Cape Tribulation

The most famous of all beaches in the Daintree Rainforest is that of Cape Tribulation. It is one of the most picturesque places in the Daintree to experience and you should definitely make your way there for sunset and sunrise if you have it in you.

While the days will be crowded with all the day trippers, heading there earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon will be a very relaxing experience.

During my time on the beach waiting for sunset, a cassowary was making its way all along the beach as we all looked on (but we kept our distance!).

13) Daintree Lookouts

There are a couple of lookout points in the Daintree where you can take in some of the surrounding water, beaches, and more!

Kulki Lookout

Located right next to Cape Tribulation Beach is the Kulki Lookout. After parking your car in the lot you will see signs pointing you up to the right to this viewpoint.

It is only a few minutes short walk until you reach the platform with views over Cape Tribulation.

Mount Alexandra Lookout

One of the first stops you will come by in the Daintree Rainforest is the Mount Alexandra Lookout.

At the lookout spot, you will be able to see all the way to Port Douglas with several other points of interest out in the distance.

14) Daintree Rainforest Map

Below is a map that highlights each of the places mentioned in this guide. You will find all the attractions, activities, restaurants, hotels and other Daintree destinations pinpointed for your reference.

15) A Daintree Rainforest Itinerary

Now that you have a better sense of nearly everything one could do in the Daintree, I thought it may be helpful to put together what a Daintree Rainforest itinerary could look like.

I will assume a 2-day / 1-night trip starting early on day 1. Depending on how long you would like to stay at each place you may need to cut a thing or two out.

That about wraps up a complete guide to a do-it-yourself Daintree Rainforest tour.

If you have any questions about anything mentioned above feel free to write them in the comments. Don’t forget to check out the other Australia itineraries and guides up on the site.

Flying into Sydney? Check out the 3-day Sydney itinerary and Blue Mountains Day Trip.

Going to the Whitsundays or Cairns? Take a look at the Ocean Rafting Northern Exposure Tour and Great Barrier Reef Liveaboard Experience.

Have fun out there and safe travels!

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