Daintree National Park
The Daintree Rainforest is the oldest living rainforest on Earth - older than the Amazon Rainforest by 65 million years!
Housed by the Daintree National Park, this untouched beauty has often been referred to as a "living museum".
Stretching from the Mossman Gorge to the Bloomfield River, the Daintree Rainforest is World Heritage listed and covers approximately 1200 square kilometres - the largest area of tropial rainforest on the Australian mainland.
Popular not only to nature enthusiasts, the Daintree National Park attracts many tourists to the region for a glimpse of the rare and spectacular plant and animal life that can only be found in the Daintree Rainforest. Don't forget to book accommodation in Daintree.
Things to do at the Daintree
The Daintree National Park is a tourist's dream. Catering to all types of holiday makers, from backpackers to those wanting a taste of luxury, whether you want to relax, explore or get a thrill, the Daintree can provide it all.
Walking and climbing trails are a popular choice for those wanting to experience the beauty of nature first hand, however if you prefer to go faster there are plenty of off road four wheel drive tours available, or you can take the scenic route, hire a car and drive through the winding roads abound with lush forest.
There are also great facilities to get a birds eye view - walk through the canopy tower or aerial walkway at the Daintree Discovery Centre, a great tourist destination for those wanting to learn about the magnificent eco system of the rainforest whilst having fun and seeing the sights.
Jungle Surfing in the Daintree
Jungle Surfing is a unique and exhilarating way to experience the beauty of the world renowned Daintree Rainforest. Jungle Surfing offers unparalleled access to the heart of the Daintree from the bustling forest floor to the giants that tower above the canopy.
Port Douglas Heli Scenic Flights
These exclusive flights will carry you over picturesque Port Douglas and its inspiring surrounds. Enjoy the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef and The Daintree Rainforests and outback to The Great Dividing Range.
Choose from a variety of scenic flights that are coupled with amazing activities including flying over the Great Barrier Reef with scuba diving, landing on solitary sand cays and untouched islands, exploring the Coral Sea and more - click to see the whole range of scenic helicopter flights!
Day Tours through the Daintree and Beyond
Daintree Rainforest, Cape Tribulation and Rainforest Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary Day Tour
Take a day trip from Cairns along one of Australia's most scenic coastal roads to Daintree National Park. Along the way you'll visit the Rainforest Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary at Port Douglas, take a cable ferry across the Daintree River then explore Cape Tribulation on a guided rainforest walk.Daintree, Cape Tribulation and Mossman Gorge 4WD Tour from Cairns
Explore the Daintree National Park, one of the world's oldest rainforests, the tour includes a guided board walk through dense rainforest, a trip up the Rainforest Canopy Tower, a walk along the pristine white sands of Cape Tribulation Beach and a wildlife-spotting cruise along the Daintree River, keep your eyes peeled for the elusive saltwater crocodile.Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Port Douglas
Experience the rainforest beauty of Far North Queensland on a scenic day trip from Port Douglas. Ride the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway and choose from a variety of options including the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, Tjupakai Aboriginal Cultural Park or the popular Rainforestation Nature Park.Cooktown 4WD Adventure Tour from Cairns or Port Douglas
Explore the historic township of Cooktown as you drive through the magical World Heritage Listed Daintree National Park and the famous Bloomfield Track on this 4WD tour from Cairns, Northern Beaches and Port Douglas. The journey is just as spectacular as the destination. You'll venture into rainforest, the outback and cross the Daintree River before reaching Cooktown, home of Australia's first European settlement, where you'll have free time to visit the James Cook Museum (optional).Aboriginal Cultural Daintree Rainforest Tour from Cairns or Port Douglas
Experience Australia's rich Aboriginal history and culture on this hands-on full-day adventure tour from Cairns or Port Douglas. Learn traditional Aboriginal hunting and gathering techniques as you walk along ancient ancestral trails searching for crabs, fish and mussels. This exciting, interactive tour through the World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest provides a great insight into Australia's indigenous heritage and combines culture and nature with lots of fun.Cape Tribulation, Daintree River Cruise and Bloomfield Track Small Group Tour
Take a day trip from Cairns or Port Douglas to cruise the Daintree River and explore the Cape Tribulation rainforest. You'll have free time at Cape Tribulation to take a guided walk, drive the 4WD-only Bloomfield Track and go for a swim in the Coral Sea.Skyrail Rainforest Cableway Day Trip from Port Douglas
Enjoy the tranquility of the rainforest as you soar above the canopy aboard the Skyrail on a day trip to Kuranda from Port Douglas. Choose from a variety of options including Kuranda Scenic Railway, Tjupakai Aboriginal Cultural Park or the popular Rainforestation Nature Park.Aboriginal Dreamtime Walk, Daintree River Crocodile Cruise and Fruit Farm Day Trip
You've done the reef now spend a leisurely day exploring the rainforest on a Daintree day trip from Cairns, Palm Cove or Port Douglas. You'll start your day with a gentle rainforest walk around Mossman Gorge led by a local Aboriginal guide. Enjoy lunch at secluded Silky Oaks Lodge before continuing your Daintree day trip with a croc-spotting cruise on the river. You'll also get to try some locally grown tropical fruit at an exotic fruit orchard and take a short tour of stunning Port Douglas.
Daintree Eco-Lodge & Spa
Located between two World Heritage Areas, the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest (the world’s oldest rainforest, 65 million years older than the Amazon), the Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa is one of the most awarded eco destinations in the world with over 40 national and international awards.
Their Boutique Bayan (Tree Houses) are encircled by the Daintree Rainforest. Taste unique Indigenous cuisine at the Julaymba Restaurant , treat yourself to an Julay Binalbu (Aboriginal art class) or be pampered in the world-class spa whilst undertaking a Walbul Walbul (Butterfly Spa Treatment) - the ultimate Indigenous Australian experience!
Experience the interpersonal interaction with the local Kuku Yalanji culture, whilst immersing yourself in their traditional lands… the world’s oldest living race in the world’s oldest living rainforest.
Voted 'World’s Leading Ecolodge' (World Travel Awards) and 'Best Spa on the Continent' (World Spa Awards), the Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa is easily accessible (only 40 minutes from the centre of Port Douglas) with year-round access.
For more information, visit www.daintree-ecolodge.com.au, or call (07) 4098 6100. You can check availability and book a stay here.
The Daintree Rainforest
Visit the Daintree National Park and get a massage at the base of a gentle waterfall, explore the many walking trails throughout the rainforest to see the beauty of the rainforest or go off-road driving through the Bloomfield Track - the Daintree has something for everyone.
Named after Richard Daintree, a pioneering Australian geologist and photographer, the Daintree Rainforest's significance was highlighted in 1988 when specific areas of the rainforest were added to the World Heritage List.
See our Daintree National Park picture tour to see the beauty of the rainforest.
Over 135 million years old, the Daintree Rainforest is home to the largest variety of plant and animal species that are endangered or rare, it is alive with bio-diversity, and is habitat to 30% of all frog, marsupial and reptile species in Australia, as well as 65% of Australia's butterfly and bat species.
18% of Australia's bird species (roughly 430 in total) can be found in the Daintree, 13 of which are found nowhere else in the world, along with over 12,000 species of insects - all in a space that emcompasses only 0.2% of the county's landmass.
More Information
- Tourism Port Douglas Daintree - the official tourism body for Port Douglas, the Daintree and Cape Tribulation
- Tourism Daintree Region - official tourism association representing accommodation and tour operators in the Daintree
- Daintree Local Tourism Network - good visitors guide with stacks of info about the Daintree
- Daintree Discovery Centre - award winning facility with boardwalk tours, canopy tower, aerial walkway and display centre
- Wet Tropics Management Authority - regulating the World Heritage listing area
