The Daintree
One of the oldest surviving rainforests in the world, where the forest meets white sand and reef, about 105 km north of Cairns by road.
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The Daintree is a rainforest region on the northeastern coast of Queensland, about 105 km north of Cairns by road. It is not officially defined, but it is generally taken to run from the Daintree River north to Cooktown, and from the coast west to the Great Dividing Range. It covers about 1,200 square kilometers and is part of the Wet Tropics of Queensland, the largest area of tropical rainforest in Australia. Much of the rainforest lies within a World Heritage Site listed by UNESCO in 1988.
The region combines tropical rainforest, white sand beaches and fringing reefs just offshore, a rare combination. The forest holds about 430 bird species, including the southern cassowary, which is rare and endangered. Daintree National Park has many walking tracks, and there is accommodation inside the rainforest itself. Attractions are spread far apart, so driving is usually the simplest way to get between them.
The Daintree in five
- Cross the Daintree River by ferryThe ferry operates from 5 AM to midnight daily. Buy tickets online or at the ferry, and check the status page first, because river and tidal conditions can affect operations.Daintree Ferry tickets
- Stay on the tracks and take rubbish outThe park asks visitors to stay on walking tracks and take their rubbish, including food scraps, with them. Cassowary behavior and road safety are covered in the Far North Queensland guide.Daintree National Park
- Treat every river as crocodile habitatQueensland advises swimming only in designated safe areas and keeping away from the water edge at night. An unsigned beach or creek is not safe by default.Dangerous marine life
- Add a guided walk at Mossman GorgeThe Cultural Centre at Mossman Gorge runs Ngadiku Dreamtime Walks with Kuku Yalanji guides on private tracks. It is 22 minutes from Port Douglas and 77 km north of Cairns.Dreamtime Walks
- Stay a night to see the forest at the edges of the dayDay trips from Port Douglas and Cairns lose hours to the ferry queue and the road north. An overnight at Cape Tribulation or Daintree village gives early-morning wildlife time.Port Douglas travel guide
Things to do in The Daintree
See all attractions in The Daintree
Need to know
- Airport
- Cairns (CNS), the nearest major airport
- Getting there
- Drive north, crossing the Daintree River by ferry for Cape Tribulation
- Getting around
- Hire car, or a guided day trip from Cairns or Port Douglas
- Best base
- Port Douglas for day trips; Cape Tribulation to sleep in the forest
- Time needed
- 1 long day or 2 nights
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain27 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Wet, stingersJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 621 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, stingers
- FebruaryRain23 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Wet, cyclone riskFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 407 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, cyclone risk
- MarchRain26 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°Wet, humidMarchRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 570 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, humid
- AprilRain25 rainy daysHigh28°Low22°Wet endsAprilRain
Poor
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 481 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet ends
- MayRain23 rainy daysHigh26°Low21°Drier, greenMayRain
Mixed
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 331 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drier, green
- JuneRain19 rainy daysHigh24°Low19°Dry, clearJuneRain
Good
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 223 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, clear
- JulyRain19 rainy daysHigh24°Low18°Dry, busyJulyRain
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 206 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, busy
- AugustRain17 rainy daysHigh25°Low18°Dry, clearAugustRain
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 170 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, clear
- SeptemberRain18 rainy daysHigh26°Low20°Dry, warmSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 152 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, warm
- OctoberRain15 rainy daysHigh29°Low21°Hot, dryOctoberRain
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 139 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- NovemberRain17 rainy daysHigh30°Low22°Build-upNovemberRain
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 148 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Build-up
- DecemberRain21 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Wet beginsDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 411 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet begins
Average daily high and low in The Daintree, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in The Daintree
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
23
- Feels like
- 27°
- Humidity
- 93%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 13%
The Daintree
08:38 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today30°21°13%Tuesday: Fog. High 30°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 13%.
- Wed31°21°0%Wednesday: Fog. High 31°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu31°20°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 31°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri31°21°4%Friday: Clear. High 31°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Sat31°22°8%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 31°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Sun31°21°22%Sunday: Clear. High 31°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 22%.
Updated 06:36 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 1.423 AUD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Mossman Gorgeabout 22 minutes from Port DouglasGranite boulders and a clear river in the southern section of Daintree National Park.
- Cape Tribulationnorth of the river by carLong beaches and lowland rainforest in the northern section of the park.
- Port Douglasan hour north of CairnsThe nearest town for reef boats, restaurants and a return from the forest.Read the guide
Before you go to The Daintree
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Rules for The Daintree, checked
- Daintree Ferry: operates daily from 5 AM to midnight; tickets can be bought online or at the ferry; return tickets are valid until 30 June.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- Daintree National Park: stay on walking tracks and take rubbish, including food scraps, with you. Slow down in cassowary habitat.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around The Daintree
The usual base, an hour north of Cairns
Read the guideCairnsAirport and the day-tour departures
Read the guideCairns and Far North QueenslandTablelands and Cassowary Coast loop
Read the guideGreat Barrier ReefRainforest and reef share this coast
Read the guideQueenslandHow to split days between coast, islands and north
Read the guideAll of AustraliaETA, regions, flights and money basics
Read the guideTravel insuranceCover for cancellations and remote travel
Read the guideThe Daintree FAQ
Can you visit the Daintree as a day trip?
Yes, from Port Douglas or Cairns, but the ferry, the slow road and walking stops fill the day. A guided tour handles the driving; staying a night at Cape Tribulation gives you the early and late hours when wildlife is most active.
How much does the Daintree ferry cost?
Fares are set by Douglas Shire Council and updated each 1 July, so check the ticket page for the current rate. Return tickets are valid until 30 June, and you can buy online or at the ferry.
Is the Daintree safe for swimming?
Not in unsigned water. Queensland says crocodiles live in fresh and salt water in the north and may be present even where there is no sign. Swim only in designated areas, and obey every sign.
When is the best time to visit the Daintree?
Go between May and September for easier roads and walks. In the wet season creeks flood and roads can close, and river conditions can affect the ferry, though the forest is at its greenest.
What is the difference between the Daintree and Mossman Gorge?
Mossman Gorge is the southern section of Daintree National Park, reached by road from Port Douglas. The Daintree Coast and Cape Tribulation lie north of the river and need the ferry.