Daintree - how long to stay?
 

We are planning to stay around Cairns for 4 days and then take a 4-day cruise to the reef in September. Should we do a day trip to Daintree/Cape Tribulation or should we stay overnight?
If we do stay overnight, what places would you recommend? We prefer to have good selection of activities and something cheaper than Silky Oaks. Thank you!

You can do either, I'd prefer to stay overnight. Have a look at www.bnbnq.com.au under heading "north" for accommodation options that won't cost an arm and a leg.

Good advice from Pat - you could also look at the website of the Daintree Village Tourism Association (which is about to change it's name to Daintree Tourism Association) at www.daintreevillage.asn.au. There is a wide range of accommodation and activity options and the site has heaps of local information, maps etc.

It's a beautiful, and very diverse region with not only rainforest, river cruises, crocodiles and birds but also sugar-cane farming, tropical-fruit growing, beef cattle farming, plus beautiful scenery and magic beaches! Daintree is almost half-way between Cape Tribulation and Port Douglas so a good base for exploring everywhere. Enjoy your stay!

Hi Alisa23
yes, you can do either, however it depends what you are after. Most people do the Daintree in one day with one of the tours or charters going up there. You get a very good impression of the rainforest and the area. If you prefer to stay in the rainforest, remember that it is remote and there is no night life or town around. If you are up to that - go for it, otherwise, do it in one day. To get most out of it, maybe try a private charter. A good and beautiful base is Port Douglas, a nice little town, all tours depart from there too. You can find links to tour companies at www.wonderfulaustralia.com/linkseng.html

Hope it will help

Thank you for your suggestions and links to websites. One question on B&B vs. lodges. I believe that most of lodges have a range of activities with rainforest guided walks etc. If we stay at a small place or a B&B, how would we arrange such tours? Do B&B offer them as well?

Hi again Alisa23,
Following on from myaustralia's comments you will find that nearly all B&B's will be happy to advise and/or book any local activities at all. They are after all 'locals' and have heaps of local knowledge and can give impartial advice. They can often direct you to places off the beaten tourist track - our own guests often thank us for showing them some of the region's "best kept secrets"! Wherever you stay I'm sure you will have a wonderful experience - have fun!

Sunbird is so right - a B&B operator would be about the best person to give you unbiased guidance both for tours and "off the beaten track" spots, best places to eat, etc. After all they've lived for years in the area, which is not always the case with hotel/resort tour desk staff.

Thank you very much for the advise. A B&B would be perfect from your description. Can you recommend a B&B in Daintree or Cape Tribulation?

Alisa23,
This is a very beautiful and highly recommended B&B:
www.marae.com.au
Can only recommend it!

As myaustralia so rightly says, Marae is indeed lovely, but it is about 40 minutes south of Daintree Village and about an hour and a half from Cape Tribulation so you may want to find something a little closer. As recommended earlier check out www.daintreevillage.asn.au and also www.bnbnq.com.au under 'north' - plus www.dctta.com.au. I'm sure you will find something to suit you closer to where you want to be! Have fun!

Sunbird - you beat me to it again, you must get up earlier than me! Marae is indeed lovely, have stayed there many times as the previous owner is a friend but its still some distance from where you want to be. Notice Daintree Valley Haven had a marvellous write-up in this morning's Cairns Post.