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Before you go
Your trip to Cape Tribulation.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Cape Tribulation – Queensland Destination Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef about 1840 km from Brisbane
How to get there
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Aeroporto de Cairns (CNS) Cairns · 140 km
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Balsa do rio Daintree 35 km
Approximate distances. Check flights and bus, train or boat schedules before you travel.
From Cairns, about 140 km via the Captain Cook Highway to the Daintree River ferry, which carries cars and passengers. After the crossing, Cape Tribulation Road continues for about 35 km through the forest. Organized day tours depart from Cairns and Port Douglas.
How many days
One day on an organized tour, or one night to walk the boardwalks at leisure and take the Daintree River boat trip en route.
When to go
From May to October the weather is usually drier and the trails firmer. In the wet season, from November to April, sections of the road can flood and some boardwalks close; check park alerts.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
Yes, or on an organized tour: there is no public transport after the ferry. The road is paved up to the headland area. In Australia you drive on the left.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Cape Tribulation
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Morning
Daintree River
Before the ferry, take a one-hour boat tour on the Daintree River to look for crocodiles and birds among the mangroves.
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Afternoon
Dubuji Boardwalk and Myall Beach
Cross the ferry, follow the road to Cape Tribulation and walk the Dubuji boardwalk through swamps and palms. Then continue to Myall Beach.
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Late afternoon
Kulki Lookout
Finish at the Kulki boardwalk, with the lookout over Cape Tribulation Beach and the forest that descends to the sea.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
How to get to Cape Tribulation?
By road from Cairns or Port Douglas, with the Daintree River ferry crossing. There is no public transport after the ferry; go by car or on an organized tour.
Is Cape Tribulation worth a day trip from Cairns?
Yes, if you leave early. Day tours usually include Mossman Gorge, the Daintree River boat trip and the forest boardwalks.
Can you swim at Cape Tribulation beaches?
Beaches have no lifeguards, and there are crocodiles in creeks and the sea near river mouths. Always follow park signs; during the box jellyfish season, from November to May, avoid entering the sea.
Is there mobile phone signal in Cape Tribulation?
There is no signal in many sections after the ferry. Download maps and bookings before crossing.