Australia / Tropical North Queensland & the Reef / Port Douglas & the DaintreePort Douglas & the Daintree
Where the Rainforest Meets the Reef
A resort village an hour north of Cairns along a spectacular coast road, and the base for the Daintree, the oldest tropical rainforest on earth: Mossman Gorge with its Kuku Yalanji guided walks, crocodile-spotting cruises on the Daintree River, and Cape Tribulation, where the forest runs down to the beach. Boats leave Port Douglas for the Low Isles and the Agincourt ribbon reefs. Smaller and dearer than Cairns.
Highlights
- Mossman Gorge Dreamtime walk with a Kuku Yalanji guide
- Daintree River crocodile cruise
- Cape Tribulation beach and boardwalks
- Low Isles snorkelling
- Agincourt outer reef
- Four Mile Beach at sunrise
- Sunday market
Things to do
- Mossman Gorge Dreamtime walkMorning · 2h 30m
- Daintree River cruise and Cape Tribulation dayMorning · 8h
- Low Isles snorkelling tripMorning · 6h
- Four Mile Beach and Flagstaff Hill lookoutEvening · 2h
Tours & tickets
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When to go
Best time: May – October
Worth knowing
Stinger Season: Box Jellyfish in the Sea
⚠️ From about November to May, box jellyfish and the tiny Irukandji drift along the tropical coast; their stings can kill. Swim only inside the stinger nets at patrolled beaches, and wear the full-body lycra stinger suit the reef boats hand out. Vinegar is the first aid; call 000. Saltwater crocodiles live in rivers and estuaries all year: obey the warning signs.
Heads up
Wet Season: Heavy Rain and Possible Cyclones
January to March is the heart of the tropical wet: hot, humid days, heavy downpours and a chance of cyclones that close roads and cancel reef trips. Reef visibility drops after big rains. Buy refundable tours and travel insurance, and watch Bureau of Meteorology warnings.