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Answer the ancient call of wild coastal rainforest

Leave hustle and bustle in the rear-view mirror on this five-day journey to some of the world’s oldest tropical rainforest and the untouched coast it spills onto. This trip takes you into the heart of the land the Kuku Yalanji people have called home for 50,000 years, into the complex ecosystem of the forest and deserted white-sand beaches. Learn about hunting native plants from a First Nations guide, encounter crocodiles and colourful birds on a cruise through mangrove thickets and walk under heavy green canopy in Mossman Gorge.

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Terms & Conditions
Start
Cairns, Australia
Finish
Cairns, Australia
Destination
Australia
Style
Comfort
Theme
Explorer
Code
PVOD
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 16

Why you'll love this trip

  • Experience 180 million years of magic in the world’s oldest rainforest and enjoy access to a secluded private area that’s not open to the general public.

  • Spot crocodiles during a wildlife cruise on Cooper Creek, with expert eyes on board to point out creatures hidden in the forest.

  • Take a guided walk along the pristine, rainforest-rimmed beach of Cape Tribulation, where Europeans tried and failed to tame the coastal wilderness for hundreds of years.

  • Learn how to spear fish and gather medicine on Kuyu Kuyu (Cooya Beach) with Kuku Yalanji guides who are committed to maintaining their ancestral traditions and way of life.

  • After warm days spent walking deserted beaches and rambling through the rainforest, relax in the comfort of your 4-star resort accommodation.

Is this trip right for you?

  • This trip requires a moderate level of fitness as it involves a lot of walking, allowing you to really get among nature. Please bring sturdy, comfortable walking shoes and comfortable clothing.

Indigenous local guide and passenger on the beach during a coastal walking tour
The thick canopy of the oldest rainforest on earth, The Daintree in Far North Queensland
Indigenous painting class near Port Douglas in Far North Queensland, Australia
Eco tour of the Daintree Rainforest in Far North Queensland, Australia
Native Australian bird, the cassowary, in the Daintree Rainforest, Australia
Walking through the mangroves with a local guide in Far North Queensland, Australia
The beautiful Mossman Gorge in Far North Queensland, Australia

Itinerary
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Welcome to Cairns! Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 11 am. With the formalities out of the way, it’s time to hit the road for Port Douglas, with a couple of stops en route to break up the journey. First up is Din Din Barron Falls Lookout that looks over a set of tumbling falls bursting from the rainforest. Spend some time ooh-ing and ah-ing at the lookout, then continue to the town of Kuranda. This little mountain village is the perfect place to grab a quick lunch (not included), before hitting the road again at around 2 pm. Settle back into the vehicle for an approximately 1.5-hour drive along the coast to Port Douglas. Take in views of cliffs covered in distinct native flora on one side and glittering blue ocean on the other, with some photo stops along the way. Arrive at the accommodation and spend a few hours settling in. In the early evening, take an orientation tour around Port Douglas. Stop at Trinity Bay Lookout point to admire the perfect crescent of sand and surf. Then you’re in for a real treat – hop aboard a riverboat for a guided cruise among the mangroves in search of wildlife, especially estuarine crocodiles. Finish the cruise with a gorgeous sunset, then head to a local restaurant for drinks and dinner with your fellow travellers before returning to your resort in Port Douglas for the evening.
Accommodation
  • Resort (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Barron Gorge National Park - Din Din Barron Falls lookout
  • Port Douglas - Local Dinner
  • Port Douglas - Leader-lead Orientation Walk
  • Port Douglas - Trinity Bay lookout
  • Kuranda - Kuranda Village Visit
Meals Included
  • Dinner
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

Grab breakfast and get ready in time to leave the resort at 8am, jumping on the ferry and crossing the river into the Daintree National Park. Meet up with a local family who live and breathe the rainforest, so much so that they hosted David Attenborough’s documentary crew when they were filming in the area. Spend some time learning from them about the forest, then continue exploring with a cruise along Cooper Creek. Your guide will point out crocodiles, birds and other wildlife while you glide through the water. Stop for an included lunch at a heritage restaurant smack-bang in the middle of the forest, then continue to Cape Tribulation. Take in views over the cape from a lookout, then head down to the beach for a walk and to learn about the region’s history. Return to the resort for the evening, where you can grab dinner at one of the restaurants within walking distance.
Accommodation
  • Resort (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Daintree National Park - Cape Tribulation Lookout & Beach Walk
  • Daintree Rainforest - Nature Walk with Local Guide
  • Daintree National Park - Cooper Creek wildlife cruise
  • Daintree National Park - Heritage Restaurant lunch
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

Enjoy a day to explore this tropical paradise at your own pace. There are tonnes of activities on offer today, so be sure to talk to your leader about your options when it comes to snorkelling, reef tours, and nature experiences. Your leader will also be on hand today to provide a transfer to Port Douglas town (and back) at 10 am and 6.30 pm if you want to spend the day shopping or grab dinner. If you’d prefer to move as little as possible, you could always take a day to unwind with spa treatments at the resort or chill by the pool with a book.
Accommodation
  • Resort (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Grab breakfast before leaving the resort at 8.15 am for a guided walk through the rainforest of Mossman Gorge. Work up an appetite on this gentle 1.5-hour hike, then grab morning tea (not included) before heading to Kuyu Kuyu (Cooya Beach) for an educational experience with a member of the local Kuku Yalanji community. Learn to throw a spear, which plants are edible and how Kuku Yalanji people live in harmony with the ever-shifting landscape. Enjoy lunch, then join an Aboriginal painting class in the afternoon. Learn about the significance of traditional and contemporary art and storytelling to First Nations people and leave with a small souvenir. Return to the resort in the early evening and enjoy a few free hours to relax. Grab dinner tonight with your group and toast to the beauty of the country around you.
Accommodation
  • Resort (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Mossman Gorge - Guided rainforest walk
  • Kuyu Kuyu (Cooya Beach) - Kuku Yalanji Cultural Habitat tour
  • Kuyu Kuyu (Cooya Beach) - Aboriginal Painting Class
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Enjoy breakfast and time for one last swim before a 10 am departure for Cairns. We will make one drop-off stop at Cairns Airport and then continue back to Cairns where your trip comes to an end at approximately 12pm.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

4 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle, Ferry

Accommodation

Resort (4 nights)

Included activities

  • Barron Gorge National Park - Din Din Barron Falls lookout
  • Port Douglas - Local Dinner
  • Port Douglas - Leader-lead Orientation Walk
  • Port Douglas - Trinity Bay lookout
  • Kuranda - Kuranda Village Visit
  • Daintree National Park - Cape Tribulation Lookout & Beach Walk
  • Daintree Rainforest - Nature Walk with Local Guide
  • Daintree National Park - Cooper Creek wildlife cruise
  • Daintree National Park - Heritage Restaurant lunch
  • Mossman Gorge - Guided rainforest walk
  • Kuyu Kuyu (Cooya Beach) - Kuku Yalanji Cultural Habitat tour
  • Kuyu Kuyu (Cooya Beach) - Aboriginal Painting Class

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Queensland Daintree Explorer trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

START & END TIME
Your trip starts with a welcome meeting at 11am on day 1, and finishes upon arrival back into Cairns on the last day at around 12pm.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

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