6 dreamiest things to do in the Daintree

There’s no shortage of things to do in the Daintree and we’ve found the best.

The Daintree Rainforest has a balance of relaxation, adventure and cultural experiences. With so many things to do to explore the beauty in the Daintree, there is never a dull moment.

1. Experience the beauty of one of the Daintree Rainforest walks

There is nothing quite like getting to Daintree on foot. Walking through the rainforest really immerses you in it – you can smell every plant, hear every animal and feel the misty warmth on your skin.

Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk

If you’re near Mossman Gorge, the guided Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk is a must. The guided walk goes along private, gentle tracks, visiting special places and culturally significant sites, past traditional bark shelters and over meandering cool rainforest streams.

Ngadiku Dreamtime Walks begin with a smoking ceremony. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Kulki Boardwalk

The Kulki Boardwalk takes you to the Cape Tribulation Beach lookout for an iconic view of Cape Trib where steep rainforested slopes sweep down to sandy beaches and rocky headlands.

Cape Tribulation is where the rainforest meets the reef. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Marrdja Botanical Walk

The Marrdja Botanical Walk is an easy 30-minute walk on a boardwalk and concrete pathway that leads you to Oliver Creek, where you can sit and watch out for crocodiles.

Marrdja is an easy 30-minute walk. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland and Emilie Ristevski)

Jindalba Boardwalk

The Jindalba Boardwalk is a 700-metre rainforest circuit that will take about 30 minutes to complete. There are information signs along the circuit which provide facts about the diverse flora and fauna in the Daintree. Jindalba means ‘foot of the mountain’ in the traditional Kuku Yalanji language.

Jindalba is the traditional Kuku Yalanji people’s name for this area, meaning ‘foot of the mountain’. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Dubuji Boardwalk

The Dubuji Boardwalk is a 1.3-kilometre walk that takes you to Myall Beach, where you get to experience both the rainforest and the beach. It’ll take you 45 minutes for the walk but give yourself some time to lap it up on the sand – just don’t swim here.

Give yourself time to relax on the beach after your walk. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

2. Take a dip at the Daintree’s waterfalls and swimming holes

Now like I just said, swimming and the Daintree are rarely seen in the same sentence, but believe it or not, there are some places that are pretty safe to swim that won’t result in an encounter with a crocodile.

Cassowary Falls

Cassowary Falls is located on private property, so the only way to see it is the exclusive Daintree waterfall tour. You’ll have 1.5 hours to swim to your heart’s content.

Part of this tour includes a bit of off-roading to get to the waterfall, so you’ll definitely be keen for a dip!

Cassowary Falls is one of very few places you can swim safely in the Daintree. (Image: Cassowary Falls tour)

Wujal Wujal Falls

Wujal Wujal (Bloomfield) Falls is located on the Bloomfield Track, a wildly beautiful drive that can only be taken by 4WDs. The crystal-clear Bloomfield Falls is sacred to the Wujal Wujal community, and many of the waterfalls in the area are reserved for female members of the local community. The general public can access Bloomfield Falls which is stated clearly on signposts nearby.

Please note: it is important to only visit waterfalls that explicitly give you permission, out of respect for the local Kuku Yalanji people.

The general public can swim here. (Image: Emily Murphy)

Emmagen Creek

Emmagen Creek is a swimming hole about five kilometres north of Cape Tribulation surrounded by deep rainforest. The crystal-clear waterhole is lined with water-eroded rocks and an ideal place to connect with nature. Crocs do appear downstream of the creek crossing, so only swim in the swimming hole itself for safety reasons.

Emmagen Creek marks the “end of the road” spot for 2WDs before heading to the Bloomfield Track. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Mason’s Swimming Hole

Mason’s Swimming Hole is roughly 20 minutes walk from Cape Tribulation along Myall Creek. With swings, clear water and no crocs, you’ll spend hours here!

You can swing from the rope swing here. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Important: The Blue Hole Pool is a sacred Aboriginal site that has deep and spiritual meaning, particularly to the Jalunjiwarra women of the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people. No persons or pets should enter this site without express permission from the appropriate Jalunjiwarra women.

You can also find more croc-free places to swim nearby in Port Douglas.

3. Explore the rainforest at the Daintree Discovery Centre

The Daintree Discovery Centre is an interpretive facility that allows visitors to access every level of the Daintree Rainforest from the forest floor to the upper canopies. The centre has a 23-metre-high canopy tower, 900 metres of aerial walkway that is 10 metres above the rainforest floor and so much more. You can either go on a guided tour or see it for yourself.

The Daintree Discovery Centre is the number one tourist attraction in the Daintree. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

4. Cool off with a Daintree ice cream

There is no better way to enhance your Daintree experience than trying the Daintree Ice Cream Company’s iconic frozen treats. All the ice cream is made on site using the freshest ingredients straight from their orchard. The unique flavours are nothing like you will get anywhere else, and you’ll be coming back for more. You can even take a tour of the orchard if you want to learn more about where the flavours come from.

The Daintree Ice Cream Company puts the flavour of the rainforest in its treats. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

5. Visit the Daintree Tea plantation

You’ve probably seen Daintree Tea before, and its Cubbagudta Plantation is a must-see when in the Daintree. The black, pure and unblended tea has a unique taste and aroma that is even better from the plantation. Try it as an iced tea when you’re there as the perfect cooling-off drink.

The Daintree Tea plantation is a must-see. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

6. Go on a crocodile tour on the Daintree River

It wouldn’t be a trip to the Daintree, without seeing one of the native saltwater crocodiles out in the wild. So don’t fret, we’ve also written about the top Daintree River cruises to see a croc!

Stand on the front deck of the boat to get up close and personal. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)