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Head north for a full day exploring the best of the Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation, with Down Under Tours. This one ticks all the icon boxes with lots of inclusions. Scenic coastal drive from Cairns to Mossman Gorge, where you enjoy a light morning tea at Mayi Café in the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre. From here take a shuttle bus to Mossman Gorge, where the Down Under Tours guide provides a guided tour on pathways and elevated boardwalks, with stunning views of the gorge and Mossman River. Take a wildlife cruise on the Daintree River before continuing on into the Daintree Rainforest. Lunch at the Heritage Lodge, before a walk on a Cape Tribulation beach, where the Reef meets the Rainforest. Afternoon refreshment at the Daintree Ice-Cream Company, photo stop at Alexandra Lookout and crossing on the Daintree Ferry.
This tour includes return pick-ups from various Cairns City, Northern Beaches and Port Douglas locations, a knowledgeable guide who provides commentary throughout the day and travel in a comfortable air conditioned coach.
Big Day Tour. Mossman Gorge. Daintree River Wildlife Cruise. Cape Tribulation. Daintree Rainforest. Down Under Tours.
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Down Under Tours provide an extensive range of fully guided day tours to some of this region’s best destinations. They prioritise customer service and experience, through unique itineraries, professional guides and a fleet of modern, luxury touring coaches. Their Cape Tribulation, Daintree and Mossman Gorge day tour provides time to explore this ancient and vibrant environment, on boardwalks and beaches. It’s a big day on the bus and not suitable for children aged under 4 years old. Please note this tour includes walking components and participants should have reasonable mobility. Cairns pick-ups start from 6.45am and return around 6.30pm. Northern Beaches pick-ups start from 7.30am and return around 6pm. Port Douglas pick-ups start from 8.15am and return around 5pm. The tour price includes morning tea at the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre, lunch at the Heritage Lodge in the Daintree Rainforest and an ice-ceam sample cup at the Daintree Ice-Cream Company, as well as all of the tours and experiences detailed here, a knowledgeable local driver guide and transfers on an air conditioned coach.
The Daintree Rainforest is part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage area and is the world’s oldest continually surviving tropical rainforest. It’s home to ancient plants and animals, some of which are found nowhere else on earth. It’s a diverse environment encompassing closed-canopy rainforest, with towering trees and buttress roots, rainforest rivers, mountains, gorges and coastal mangroves. You’ll experience and explore all of this on the Down Under Tours Cape Tribulation, Daintree and Mossman Gorge day tour, with information provided by your experienced driver guide throughout the day. One of the highlights will be the Daintree River cruise, which allows you to see the rainforest from a different perspective.
Cape Tribulation is the iconic destination where the ‘Rainforest meets the Reef’. Walking out from the rainforest to the beach, you take in sweeping views of the Coral Sea to the front and are dwarfed by the towering Daintree Rainforest mountains behind. These tropical beaches played a historic part in Australia’s European history, as this is where Captain Cook struck his ship the Endeavour on the Great Barrier Reef way back in 1770, hence the beginning of his trials and tribulations. Lots of time for photos and reflection on the beauty of this wild, living landscape.
Explore the rainforest sustainably at Mossman Gorge, on a network of sealed walking paths, small bridges and elevated boardwalks. As you explore with your Down Under Tours guide, watch the tree trunks for Boyd’s Forest Dragons, small prehistoric-looking reptiles that are experts at blending into their surroundings. You may also catch sight of a brilliant blue Ulysses butterfly moving through the canopy. The walk continues to the upper section of the gorge, where a lookout provides sweeping views across Mossman Gorge and the Mossman River. This is a great way to explore the rainforest from the forest floor all the way up to the canopy.
Australia is renowned for its dangerous wildlife and on this tour, you’ll go searching for the famous saltwater crocodile on a guided cruise in the Daintree River. As well as being home to these prehistoric predators, the Daintree River is home to an abundance of other birdlife and wild creatures. Beyond the river, you’ll have the chance to see many rainforest residents during this full day tour including lizards, snakes, butterflies, spiders, stick insects and more. Southern Cassowaries are often spotted in the Daintree Rainforest, but of course this is not guaranteed as they are wild animals, in their natural environment.
This Cape Tribulation, Daintree and Mossman Gorge day tour itinerary is based around the ‘usual’ Down Under Tours itinerary. However, please note that exact times and order of activities can change pending weather and other circumstances. Tour pick-ups commence in Cairns from 6.45am and you return from 6.30pm. For the Northern Beaches, pick-ups commence at 7.30am and you return at 6pm. Port Douglas tour participant pick-ups start at 8.15am and you return at 5pm. Travel is in an air conditioned bus, with an experienced driver guide. The tour is fully guided and the ticket price covers everything outlined above, including morning tea at the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre, lunch at the Heritage Lodge and ice-cream at the Daintree Ice-Cream Company. Bring additional funds for additional drinks or souvenir purchases. This tour operates every day of the week.
Down Under Tours commences its tour pick-ups from various Cairns city locations. Exact pick-up times are confirmed closer to travel time.
If you are staying at the Northern Beaches pick-ups commence from 7.30am, if you are in Port Douglas they commence from 8.15am
Arrive at Mossman Gorge and enjoy morning tea at the Mayi Café, part of the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre. Afterwards, explore this spectacular rainforest location on pathways and elevated boardwalks with your and the Down Under Tours guide. Keep your eyes peeled for local wildlife, including forest dragons and butterflies.
All aboard for a wildlife cruise on the Daintree River. This 1 hour cruise is fully guided providing information on the river, its habitat, flora and fauna. Alight from the boat on the other side of the river, where your Down Under Tours guide is waiting.
Enjoy a tropical lunch at the open air restaurant at the Heritage Lodge in the Daintree. Ideally situated alongside the clear waters of Cooper Creek and surrounded by rainforest.
Time to get sandy feet on one of Cape Tribulation’s tropical beaches. This is an iconic destination, rich with history and culture. It’s also where the’ Rainforest meets the Reef’.
The Daintree Ice-Cream Company is famous for its exotic flavours and handmade ice-creams, sorbets and gelatos. Enjoy tasting one of their Signature Cups, showcasing 4 unique tropical flavours. These change daily depending on what’s in season and complimentary flavours. Gluten / dairy free options available.
Stop for photos at the Alexandra Lookout, which provides sweeping views over the Daintree Valley, Daintree River and out to the Coral Sea beyond, all framed by tree ferns and lush rainforest vegetation. From here the coach boards the Daintree Ferry, to cross the Daintree River, and commence the return journey.
The final drop-offs commence in Cairns. If you were staying in Port Douglas, your drop-offs would have been around 5pm and 6pm for Cairns’ Northern Beaches.
The tour includes return transfers from selected Cairns, Northern Beaches and Port Douglas locations, travel in an air-conditioned coach and commentary from an experienced Down Under Tours driver guide. It also includes morning tea at the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre, a guided visit to Mossman Gorge, a 1 hour Daintree River wildlife cruise, lunch at Heritage Lodge, time at Cape Tribulation beach, an ice-cream tasting at the Daintree Ice-Cream Company, photo stop at Alexandra Lookout and Daintree River Ferry crossing.
The itinerary includes Mossman Gorge, the Daintree River, the Daintree Heritage Lodge, a Cape Tribulation beach, the Daintree Ice-Cream Company and Alexandra Lookout. The tour also crosses the Daintree River by ferry and travels through the World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest.
This tour operates every day of the week, subject to availability and local conditions. Return transfers are available from selected locations in Cairns, the Northern Beaches and Port Douglas.
This is a full-day tour. Cairns pickups begin from approximately 6.45am, with return around 6.30pm. Northern Beaches pickups commence from approximately 7.30am, with return around 6pm. Port Douglas pickups begin from approximately 8.15am, with return around 5pm. Exact times depend on your pickup location and the day’s operating conditions.
The tour includes walking on sealed rainforest paths, small bridges and elevated boardwalks at Mossman Gorge, as well as a walk on the sand at Cape Tribulation beach. Guests should have reasonable mobility and be comfortable getting on and off the coach, shuttle bus and river cruise vessel throughout the day.
We do not think this tour is not suitable for children aged under 4 years. It is a long day with considerable coach travel, several walking components and multiple stops. Families should consider whether their children will be comfortable with an early start and a full-day itinerary.
Swimming is not included in the scheduled itinerary. The Mossman Gorge visit focuses on a guided rainforest walk and views of the Mossman River, while the Cape Tribulation stop provides time to walk on the beach, take photographs and experience the place where the Rainforest meets the Reef.
Saltwater crocodiles live in and around the Daintree River, and the cruise guides actively look for them. However, crocodile sightings cannot be guaranteed because they are wild animals in their natural habitat. Depending on the conditions, you may also see birds, reptiles and other wildlife along the river.
The tour includes a light morning tea at Mayi Café at the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre, a tropical lunch at Heritage Lodge and a four-flavour Signature Cup at the Daintree Ice-Cream Company. Ice-cream flavours vary according to seasonal produce, and gluten-free or dairy-free options are available. Guests should advise of dietary requirements when booking.
Wear comfortable walking shoes and lightweight clothing suitable for tropical conditions. Bring a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, a reusable water bottle and a rain jacket or umbrella during wetter weather. A camera is recommended, and additional money may be useful for drinks or souvenirs. Motion sickness prevention may also be worth considering if you are sensitive to winding roads.
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