Can the Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation easily be seen on one's own if have a rental car, or is it better to sign up for a tour (for logistics and/or for information imparted)? We can go there either from Cairns or Port Douglas. If a tour, any recommendations of a good one?

Thanks,

Judilie

Road is sealed all the way to Cape Tribulation (but not beyond) and its not a difficult drive. But you'll have to stay on the beaten track with everyone else.

Its an area where you need a knowledgeable guide with access to private areas - Pete Baxendell (Heritage and Interpretive Tours) is recommended highly here, as is David Armbrust who utilises his own rainforest property for part of his trip.

Hi Judilie,

Both guides mentioned by Pat are excellent.

If you didn't want to take an organised tour it is a very easy area to explore at your own leisure, especially if you avoid the peak Daintree ferry hours - around 10 am going north and 4-5pm coming back - this is roughly when all the tour buses use the crossing.

Although of course a guide will give you much more information there is much interpretive signage along the way, and the Daintree Discovery Centre gives heaps of information.

Most people easily spend a very full day exploring the boardwalks through the rainforest, magnificent Cape Tribulation beach, the icecream factory, guided rainforest walks, sea-kayaking, etc. Many of our guests are now also reporting seeing cassowaries as they drive along.

The Daintree region actually extends from Mossman Gorge in the south to beyond Cape Tribulation in the north and it is well worthwhile, before turning off to the ferry, exploring the lovely region between the Mossman and Daintree Rivers and heading on into tiny, laid-back Daintree Village with it's quiet atmosphere, galleries, restaurants, several excellent Daintree River crocodile- and wildlife-watching cruises, and lovely scenic drives through the valleys. The Daintree Village Tourism Association website is http://www.daintreevillage.asn.au

However you decide to explore - have a wonderful time!

I recommend that you get a guide. We drove the road ourselves and didn't see any animals (except flying foxes which was great) and when we got to Cape Tribulation, it was just a beach. A guide could have given us the information we would have liked to make the drive "come alive" and taken us off the road to find some animals and learn something about what we were just seeing. This is the one regret of our trip in 2004, don't make it yours! Oh, darn, now we "have" to come back to Cairns our next trip, just to do this (and maybe do a little snorkeling, just cuz we're there.)
Sally in Seattle

We just returned from Australia and took Pete Baxendell's rainforest tour last Sunday. It was very informative and gave us much more information than we could have gathered on our own.