Things To Do In Cape Tribulation & The Daintree Rainforest!

Cape Tribulation and the Daintree Rainforest are just north of my home town of Cairns in Far North Queensland, Australia. It’s a chilled out kind of place where two World Heritage Areas meet – the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. It’s the only location in the world where this occurs.

It’s a popular part of the Australian east coast backpacker trail and some visitors stay for a lot longer than originally planned because the Cape Tribulation and Daintree area makes you want to withdraw from modern society for a while!

Anyway, check out my post below of Things To Do In Cape Tribulation and The Daintree Rainforest!

First of all…

1. Watch out for the Cassowaries

The cassowary is the third largest bird in the world, right behind the Ostrich from Africa and it’s Australian cousin, the Emu. They’re a shy species of bird, but you’ll notice one as obvious as dog’s balls when you see one.

You might see one crossing the road in the Cape Tribulation and Daintree area and you’ll notice road warning signs like this – so take note and slow down!

Seriously, these birds are endangered and are an essential part of the rainforest ecosystem. Many plant species rely on the cassowary to ingest their seeds and remove their coating (a process known as scarification) so they can germinate and create a new generation of rainforest plants.

You shouldn’t approach one either. Cassowaries are territorial and can be aggressive when they feel threatened. Check out their claws which can slice up a human. Whilst rare, they have killed humans in the past so give it right of way!

2. Go Snorkelling and Diving at the Great Barrier Reef

Cape Tribulation is a great option if you wish to experience the Great Barrier Reef – namely, the Mackay and Undine reefs. The main reason being the length of time to reach it. If you take a large catamaran out of Cairns, you may be travelling for 2 hours plus to reach the reef.

If you go with Ocean Safaris, you’ll be out there in around 25 minutes thanks to a high speed boat and a rather large outboard rating of 700 horsepower!

Yes, it actually looks like this on a nice, clear day – no filter or image processing applied! I managed to exclude the people taking selfies! This was one of my highlights as the snorkelling was great, and I swam alongside three green turtles.

Make sure you wear a stinger suit just in case – and it’s not just for the stingers! You really don’t want to be vapourised by the Far North Queensland sun, it’s harsh! You’ll see a crapload of coral, a heaps of fish, and the odd shark here and there but I’m told they’re vegetarian…

3. Visit the Daintree Rainforest

The oldest rainforest in the world and it’s been around since the dinosaurs roamed the earth, and a rainforest tour of some kind should be on your list. You’ll be immersed in it anyway, so find out what makes it tick!

While this isn’t a thing in Australia that can kill you, watch out for the Wait A While or Lawyer Cane.

See those sharp barbs? If you manage to entangle yourself in one of them, you’ll be ‘waiting a while’. Avoid this plant like the plague otherwise you’ll be making a travel insurance claim!

You can also stay within the rainforest in places like the Daintree Eco Lodge at Daintree and the Heritage Lodge at Cape Tribulation.

Just make sure you bring insect repellent!

4. Go Crocodile Spotting at the Daintree River

Far North Queensland and crocodiles go together and it’s great to see man eating species in their natural environment – as long as you don’t swim in it! There are Daintree River Tours available for you to experience crocodile spotting from the safety of an aluminium boat.

You’ll most likely see crocodiles swimming around or chilling and soaking up the sun’s rays to heat up, waiting for the next meal.

For the wildlife spotters and bird lovers, there plenty of species to keep you occupied such as the honey eater I photographed below.

You can’t say that you haven’t been warned, but under no circumstances should you swim in the Daintree River. Check out this crab pot float which is made of high density Styrofoam. You cannot make an imprint with your fingers no matter how hard you try, yet these big holes were created from the jaws of a crocodile who was looking for snack.

These ‘snapping handbags’ (Australian Slang for crocodile) are everywhere, and you’ll see warning signs telling you not to swim in the river.

Over the the years, both locals and visitors have been taken by crocs and have ended up in their stomachs. So stay clear!

5. Have a meal at the Whet Cafe

A surprise package for me – this place served up one of the best meals I’ve had in a long, long time. Highly recommended. Considering the isolation of ‘Cape Trib’, the Whet Cafe served me up the best kangaroo fillet I’ve ever eaten. Others at my table had the local barramundi, steak and other fare which meant we were all rolling home afterwards.

If you’re there in the wet season when it pisses down from a great height, you won’t be able to hear yourself think when the rain bounces off the awning and roof. If the rain reaches the ground, it will then bounce an hit you in the face!

Great. I know the Things To Do in Cape Tribulation and the Daintree Rainforest, where is it?

Here you go, Google Maps below – it’s a couple of hours drive north of Cairns. You’ll need to take the Daintree River ferry to get there, so check out the times it’s operating.

If you’re after more offbeat things to do in and around Cairns, check out:

• The Gatz Balancing Rocks
• Crocodile spotting on the Esplanade
• The Tree Bikini at Mission Beach
• Cane Toad World at Gordonvale
• The No Selfie Stick Sign at the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary
• Eat on The Prawn Star
• The Man in The High Castle at Silkwood
• Marvel at the massive Captain Cook Statue
• Swim in a Stinger Net
• Visit the Undara Lava Tubes
• Witness heavy rainfall at Tully
• Drive up the Windiest Road In Australia

If you’re planning a trip soon, check out my best travel insurance tips, and get a quote on some Backpacker Travel Insurance.