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Cairns to Cape Tribulation map

Driving directions:

From Cairns: find Sheridan Street, the main road that goes through all of Cairns, and start heading north, Sheridan St. becomes the Cook Highway.
From Cairns airport or Port Douglas: turn right when you get to the highway and head north.
On the north side of Cairns you will go through at least a dozen roundabouts, if you are new to Australia remember that traffic entering the roundabout gives way to traffic that is already on the roundabout. On these roundabouts follow the signs for Mossman and Port Douglas.
After about one hour from Cairns you will pass Port Douglas on your right hand side, and another 15 minutes or so later you will pass through Mossman.
Keep heading north after Mossman and following the signs to Cape Tribulation. After 20 minutes or so you will see the sign below, indicating you will need to turn right to the ferry;

Once you are across the Daintree river it is another 36km. to Cape Tribulation, due to the speed limits and winding roads this can take you close to an hour, even without stops. Keep your speed down to save the wildlife, especially the cassowary.
On arrival in Cape Tribulation you will first see the signs for the Cape Trib shop/info centre, and 500 metre further the sign "Welcome to Cape Tribulation".
About 200 metres past this welcome sign turn left into Camelot Close, there is a sign on the corner pointing to Rainforest Hideaway.
If you arrive at night keep an eye out for the Ferntree Resort sign, this is the only one lit up on this corner.
Proceed up Camelot Close past the Dragonfly and Ferntree until you see the sign Rainforest Hideaway and the famous cassowary letterbox on your left.

Click here for a page with directions only (no maps) that is more printer friendly

Daintree river to Cape Tribulation map

Map of the "town" of Cape Tribulation

When driving yourself to Cape Tribulation you can either do it in 2.5 hours from Cairns or make a day of it, there are many attractions along the way such as:

- Rex Lookout, just north of Cairns, spectacular views over the Coral Sea
- Port Douglas, if you are passing through on a sunday check out the markets in the morning.
- Rainforest Habitat ( at the Port Douglas turnoff), have breakfast with the birds, see the famous cassowary and learn more about the rainforest
- Mossman Gorge.You can either do a self-guided walk along the gorge or book a guided tour with Kuku Yalanji Dreamtime Walks.An Aboriginal guide will take you on an easy 1 1/2 hour walk - cave paintings, special sites, traditional Aboriginal plant use, billy tea and damper. Learn about spiritual and cultural aspects of the Kuku Yalanji world view. Weekdays 10am, 12 noon, 2pm. Adult $16.50, child $8.25. Bookings 07 4098 2595 or 07 4098 1305. Mossman is also your last chance to find a bank, there are none in Cape Tribulation. If it happens to be lunch time try Goodies cafe in the main street.
- You can make a detour into Daintree Village, keen birdwatchers might like to spend a night at Redmill House and go on Dan Irby's early birdwatching tour but don't expect Daintree Village to be the gateway to the Daintree rainforest, the forest around the village was cut down a hundred years ago and now cows roam the green fields. There is a timber museum with photos of the giant red cedar trees they used to cut around here.
- Crocodile spotting cruises on the Daintree River or Coopers Creek, at the river you will find several booking offices for these cruises or for Cooper Creek phone (07) 40332052
- Alexandra Range Lookout (north of the Daintree river ferry), stunning views out to sea, Snapper Island and the mouth of the Daintree river
- Daintree Environmental Centre with its treetop tower, (as a guest of Rainforest Hideaway you get a discount on the entry fee, click here for your discount voucher)
- Daintree Icecream Company, despite its grand name is a small shop, a must for ice cream lovers, home grown fruit flavours such as mango, black sapote, sour sop, wattleseed.
- Fanpalm Road, opposite Lync Haven, just north of the Icecream Company, this road does a loop from the main road, anywhere you stop along Palm Road you will find thousands of majestic fanpalms by just stepping off the road, there are some houses along this road so pick a place that is not inhabited.
- The Daintree Tea plantation is visible on both sides of the road which grows a tannin and pesticide-free tea that is available in many outlets around Cape Tribulation, supermarkets elsewhere in Australia and even on the internet.
- Cafe on Sea, a nice lunch stop on Thorntons Beach.
- Noah Beach National Park Campground, walk through the camping area to find a huge long beach, most of the time deserted and all to yourself or maybe a couple of other people.
- Marrdja broadwalk, a good walk to get an introduction to both rainforest and mangrove ecosystems