Best Itinerary for 2 days in Cape Tribulation Queensland

Do places still exist where locals say nothing has changed for 30 years? Where nature is more beautiful than you have ever imagined, where beaches are deserted and animals that resemble the dinosaurs are lurking in the rivers?

Cape Tribulation Queensland is a perfect example of Australian towns back in the day. Where phone reception is a recent thing in 2021 and NBN is so new that it is still hard to come by.

If you are looking for peace and quiet, where time doesn’t really matter, things are a little rustic and some where remote but still accessible, then Cape Tribulation is the place for you.

From the moment you board the ferry taking you across the Daintree River you will be transported into a place that will leave you speechless and have you coming back for more.

Based on our recent travels through Cape Tribulation, we have crafted the most perfect 2 day itinerary for your trip to Cape Tribulation.

There aren’t many places where you can have the trip of a life time in just 2 days, but are you ready?

Travelling Thirties contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you make a purchase using one of these Amazon links, I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Day One: Welcome to Cape Tribulation Queensland

6am – Set your alarms

If you like a slow start to your morning, I suggest waking up at 6am to give yourself some time to slowly wake up and get ready for the day.

Or perhaps, you’re more like me and you prefer the extra bit of sleep and to throw on some clothes and walk out the door at the last possible minute.

7 – 8 am – Breakfast Time

There are plenty of places in Cape Tribulation to grab a bite to eat. However, some of the places may say online they are open but will have a sign out the front saying they are in fact closed.

Life in Cape Tribulation is pretty laid back so you need to go with an open-mind and a flexible schedule.

Turtle Rock Café is a great place for breakfast and has a wide range of food items on their menu, from a croissant to a full breakfast, you won’t be short of options. Prices are reasonable, with the full breakfast setting you back $18. There are also vegetarian options.

All seating is outside which is not a problem as I wouldn’t say it is ever cold in Cape Tribulation.

Turtle Rock Café is located next to the Ocean Safari departure point which means right before a Safari goes out or as one comes back it can be very busy.

Another option for breakfast is to purchase some groceries (see below) before you arrive in Cape Tribulation and make your own breakfast. We were quite happy with cereal each morning as we usually ate out for lunch.

8am – 9:00am Cape Tribulation Beach and Boardwalk

Panorama of Cape Tribulation Beach

Head to Cape Tribulation beach, where one world heritage listed site meets another, or in other words, the Daintree rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef.

There is no better place to see the Daintree meet the Great Barrier Reef than Cape Tribulation Beach. As you walk through the rainforest and out onto the pristine beach, be prepared for some incredible beauty.

There are no words to describe the first time you step onto Cape Tribulation Beach. The grand Daintree rainforest stands as a border for the sand, where it has stood for 180 million years. The sand is white and the water is blue, it is almost as though you have entered the set for Castaway or Survivor.

Your foot prints will be the first on the beach and you will have this incredible moment to yourself.

The quiet and calmness of the moment will only be interrupted by the sounds of the trees rustling and the waves lapping the shores.

Cape Tribulation where the rainforest meets the beach
Photos really don’t do it justice! You have to see it to believe it

Enjoy a walk along this remote and deserted beach. Although the temptation to see the moment through your camera will be strong, make sure you take in the atmosphere.

The beach is easy to find and there is plenty of parking. In the carpark you will find a toilet which is very clean and flushes (many toilets in the area are drop toilets).

DO NOT SWIM AT CAPE TRIBULATION BEACH. Although the beach is beautiful and the sparkling water will be calling you in, please follow the signs and do not swim at the beach.

During the summer months the water is filled with Box Jelly Fish and all year round the crocodiles use the ocean as a highway between the creeks and rivers.

Make sure you stay away from the waters edge, do not walk on the beach when it is dark and do not camp on the beach.

Kulki Boardwalk

A crocodile warning sign at the beginning of the Kulki Boardwalk

As you head towards Cape Tribulation beach from the car park, on the right hand side, you will see a boardwalk, this is Kulki Boardwalk.

The boardwalk is only about 300 meters and will take around 10 minutes return, of course, this depends on how often you stop for photos. The boardwalk is an easy walk and winds through the rainforest.

I have to admit, we found it a little spooky (mainly due to all the signs regarding crocs in the area) but the boardwalk ends at an elevated lookout point which gives you iconic views over Cape Tribulation beach.

Kulki Lookout over Cape Tribulation Beach

Along the boardwalk, keep an eye out for Tree Kangaroos, Cassowaries (if you see one, give them plenty of space), buff-breasted paradise kingfishers and pied imperial-pigeons. When you are at the lookout point (you may need binoculars for this) look out for dolphins, whales, turtles and dugongs.

Take your time to look high up in the trees and at the diversity of plant species that are growing in this majestic rainforest.

9:15am – Visit PK Jungle Village

PK Jungle Village is across the road from the Turtle Rock Café and seems to be a pretty central hub for Cape Tribulation. At the Jungle Village you will find PK’s Bar which was under construction during our visit but by all accounts is a great place for a drink.

There is also a general store, Friendly Grocer Cape Tribulation which has basic items, some souvenirs and the man who owns the store is very helpful. If you are looking for some local tips, I suggest popping in and having a chat.

9:30am – Dubuji Boardwalk

Dubuji Boardwalk

Dubuji means place of spirits and it is a beautiful boardwalk which leads through the rainforest with a great amount of diversity. The boardwalk crosses spring-fed creeks and leads into swampy mangroves.

Along the boardwalk you will find signs which explain the diverse plants and animals and how they each survive in their habitats. If you are quiet and patient you might be lucky enough to spot a cassowary.

In the shallow pools or the overhanging branches you might find Kingfishers flitting around or the orange-footed scrubfowl scratching around on the forest floor.

One of the shallow pools in the Dubuji Boardwalk

The boardwalk takes you out onto Myall beach and if you are extremely lucky, in the winter months you may see humpback whales.

Myall beach does not have the impressive feeling that Cape Tribulation Beach has but it is still a beautiful beach and worth a look. As with Cape Tribulation Beach do not swim and stay away from the waters edge.

As you walk back from the beach towards the car park you will find an open grass space with picnic tables. Feel free to take a picnic and stop here for something to eat and to immerse yourself in nature.

Myall beach in Cape Tribulation

Allow 45 minutes to complete the 1.2km boardwalk – this does not include stopping for a picnic.

The car park has plenty of spaces and is well signed from the main road. There are also very clean toilets in the carpark with soap!

10:15am – Mason’s Café or the Camp ground

If you are following this itinerary for Cape Tribulation Queensland to the letter, I suggest stopping in at Mason’s Café or the Camping Ground for something to eat and drink as the next activity is horse riding.

On a Saturday until about 10:30am the Cape Tribulation Camp Ground serves Crepes and is open to the public.

They offer both sweet and savory crepes, and cash is preferred if possible. If the Crepe van is closed, or its not a Saturday, there is a small restaurant/bar at the Camp Ground or head to Mason’s Cafe.

We ended up going to Mason’s café. If you visit Mason’s Café (you will be coming back here later in the itinerary) I highly recommend the passionfruit smoothie, it was amazing!! The wedges, which are served with sour cream and sweet chili sauce are also delicious.

10:45am – 1pm – Cape Tribulation Horse Riding

Horses waiting at the stables

Cape Tribulation Horse Riding along Myall beach or through the Daintree rainforest is one of the most popular things to do in Cape Tribulation.

You need to book in advance for this activity as most slots fill up very quickly. You can either book online through Viator and pay a couple of days in advance, book online through Cape Tribulation Horse Riding or you can ring direct and speak with Steve who will book you in to one of the rides.

The Horse rides depart twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. You can book for either a beach ride or a rainforest ride. If needed, you can book for transport from selected locations.

We booked via Viator and our location was not listed so we chose the “I will pick my pickup location later” and ended up just driving directly to Cape Tribulation Horse rides. We also found this was easier because we could carry on about our day without having to return to our accommodation.

Horses riding along Myall beach in Cape Tribuation

It is very easy to find the stables from the main road, it is well signed. However, the drive up to the stables from the main road is a dirt road and a little rough so go slow and take it easy, especially if you are like us and you have hired the smallest possible car! Be mindful of the wee crossing over a small creak, the water flows over the road.

Unless you are doing the transport option, arrive to the stables at 10:45am. This will give you plenty of time to put on sunscreen, get your helmet, have a chat to the staff about your abilities and get ready for your ride.

If you have a keys, a phone, sunscreen etc. they have bum bags (fanny packs) for you to use for your ride. Make sure you wear closed toe shoes and longer shorts or pants to make your ride more comfortable.

If you have never ridden a horse or it’s been a while you will feel at ease. The staff will put you on a horse that suits your ability and the ride is very slow and calm.

The ride starts at the stables and takes you across the main road and through the rainforest onto Myall Beach. Along the way you pass a creek and if you are lucky you might see a crocodile relaxing on the banks at the waters edge as you pass through crocodile alley.

Once on the beach, you will walk along the beach before stopping to have your photo taken with your travelling party and your horses.

As you walk back towards the rainforest you will get the chance to walk your horse through the water. Depending on the weather, the water can get as high as your horses belly.

If you have any questions about the area or the horses feel free to ask your guides. They are very helpful and more than happy to answer your questions.

As with most things in Cape Tribulation, the horse riding experience is not a polished experience you may have in the city but it is a bucket list experience. The horses are ex-racing horses and when they’re not on a ride they are free to roam the property.

There are no toilets or places to buy drinks and food so make sure you make a stop before-hand if you need the loo or something to eat.

1:00 – 2:15pm – Lunch at Thornton’s Café

Blue stools under a bench looking out to the ocean

After horse riding we were more than ready for lunch. We headed to Thornton’s Café for two reasons. One we had seen the café on our drive into Cape Tribulation and thought it looked super cute sitting on the beach and we also wanted to book our river cruise for the follow day.

If you are hoping to book a river cruise, book and pay at the Café a day in advance to make sure you get your chosen time.

Thornton’s Café has a great range of food and like most things in Cape Tribulation, the prices are reasonable. It is lovely to sit on their deck over looking the beach and the ocean. Just be aware that due to staffing, they do not make coffee during the lunch-time rush (between 12:30 and 2pm).

Salad sitting on a table over looking the beach

While you are Thornton’s Café take the opportunity to explore Thornton’s beach. There is plenty of parking off the road and there are toilets which are clean and have soap. GIN BAR

2:15pm – 3:30pm – Explore Cow Bay Beach

The beach at cow bay in Cape Tribulation Queensland

From Thornton’s Beach head to Cow Bay Beach. Make sure you put Cow Bay Beach into google maps before you leave Thornton’s Beach. We did just put Cow Bay into our maps and ended up in the middle of no where and there was no reception.

Once you arrive at the beach, there is little parking but this not an overly populated beach – there were maybe 10 people on the beach when we visited. There are unisex toilets which are not the cleanest but there is soap.

The rocks at Cow Bay Beach

Walk to the end of the beach towards the rocks and you can add your own balancing rocks to the pile. Be mindful of the tides when you are walking around the rocks as you don’t want to get stuck.

Cow Bay Beach is one of those idyllic Australian beaches seen on postcards. The sand is perfectly white and the water is clear and as blue as can be. The white sand is surrounded by the beautiful Daintree rainforest.

Swing at Cow Bay Beach

Along the beach you will find a rope swing for you to enjoy and this just adds to the beauty of this beach.

3:30pm – 4:00pm – Cool Down with an ice cream at the Daintree Ice Cream Company

A black board listing flavours of icecream

From Cow Bay Beach you will head towards the main area of Cape Tribulation. On the way you will pass the Daintree Ice Cream Company on the left hand side.

This was the busiest place we visited in the whole of Cape Tribulation as a couple of small tour buses were here at the same time. Despite the number of people, the wait was not long at all and we didn’t feel over crowded.

The Daintree Ice Cream Company grow all of their own fruit and make 4 – 5 flavours daily depending on the fruit in season.

You can buy a cup with a single flavour such as mango, coconut, vanilla, soursop and milk chocolate. A cup with a single flavour costs $6. If you feel like being a little adventurous I recommend trying the Signature cup for $7.50.

An ice cream cup sitting on a table surrounded by plants

In the sample cup you will receive four flavours and the flavours depend on the day. When we visited the four flavours were coconut, Jackfruit, Soursop and Wattle seed. There serving sizes are big but the ice cream is amazing, you won’t have any left over, it is well worth the price.

Purchase an ice cream and then sit and eat you ice cream surrounded by the rainforest and enjoy the sun.

If you have some time, ask the staff for a map and explore the property including the fruit orchards.

4:00pm – 5:00pm – Cape Tribulation Beach House

A sign reading the hart of cape trib covered in flowers

After a full day of travelling around Cape Tribulation you well and truly deserve a drink and a wee rest. Cape Tribulation Beach House is located to the north of Cape Tribulation and well signed from the main road.

Cape Tribulation Beach House contains cabins and is located on the beach. However, they also have a restaurant which is open to the public. From the car park, follow the path straight down and you will find the restaurant on the left hand side nestled in among the trees.

A heart covered in flowers hanging from a tree at the beach

The fairy lights that are strung across the decking give it such a beautiful atmosphere and makes it a great place to end the day.

Before settling in with a drink, head passed the restaurant onto the beach and look for the “Hart of Cape Trib”. This makes for a beautiful photo spot, especially as the sun is going down and the sky is changing colours.

5:00pm onwards – Dinner time

If you are enjoying the Cape Tribulation Beach House I recommend staying here for dinner, otherwise you can head to the Cape Tribulation Camp Ground for Woodfired Pizzas or Whet for dinner.

We loved our accommodation at Wildwood and wanted to finish our day cooking some Fajitas on the balcony of our treehouse.

The rest of the night is yours, either call it an early one and spend some time relaxing in your accommodation or head to PK’s Jungle Bar for some drinks.

Just be ready for another early wake up call tomorrow morning.

Day 2 – Waterholes and Crocodiles

6:30am – Wake ups and sunrises

Sunrise at Cape Tribulation Beach

This morning grab something for breakfast and head to Cape Tribulation beach. As we had visited the supermarket on our way to Cape Tribulation we had cereal and borrowed some bowls from our accommodation and had cereal on the beach for breakfast.

Stepping onto to the beach for a second morning in a row had the same feeling as the day before. The beach was deserted and once again, our foot steps were the first on the sand, the water was lapping at the shore, the air was warm and the sun hadn’t quite risen above the horizon.

Someone holding a bowl of cereal on a beach at sunrise

Sit and enjoy a quiet, calm breakfast and maybe take another stroll along the beach as the sky begins to change colours.

7:30am – 9:00am – Get Ready for the day

We often find that we spend money on accommodation and never spend time there. So we decided today after an early walk up call to head back to our accommodation to get ready for the day and spend a little time relaxing before hitting the road once again.

9:00am – 9:45am – Mason’s Swimming Hole

Mason's swimming hole

This one of my favourite things to do in Cape Tribulation (how many times have I already said that?) There are not many places that you can swim in Cape Tribulation due to the crocodiles and jelly fish. However, Mason’s Swimming Hole is croc free and a beautiful place to swim.

Located at Mason’s Café, Mason’s Swimming Hole is on private property but the owners have opened the swimming hole to every body. Be mindful that this is an unmanned swimming hole and the water can be fast moving further away from the entrance. Be aware of your own swimming abilities and I never recommend swimming alone.

A warning sign at Mason's Swimming Hole

From the carpark, walk passed the café (or stop and grab something to eat, their food is very good). You will see a small tin on a post and you will need to pay $1 per person to enter the swimming hole. This is an honesty system so please be a good human and put your $1 per person into the tin.

Follow the path into the trees and you will see the swimming hole. Walk down the stairs and there is small landing where you can put your clothes and belongings. The landing is not huge so don’t bring a lot of things with you.

The swimming hole is absolutely beautiful. The water is cold and like every where else you are surrounded by the beautiful rainforest. Step into the water for a beautiful swim and see how many fish you can find.

Mason's Swimming Hole

Arriving first thing in the morning you will need to take a minute to get use to the freshness of the water but you will also have the swimming hole to yourself. However, I felt it was the first time since we arrived in Far North Queensland that my body had the chance to properly cool down.

We swam at the swimming hole for a good half an hour and no one else was around. You can access the swimming hole at any time during daylight hours. Even if the café and the shop are closed as long as it is light, you are welcome to swim.

Next door to the Café is a small tourist information center and a small general store. We really felt as though we were stepping back in time as we entered both of these. The tourist information lady was very friendly and helpful and gave us a paper map of the area. Neither of these open until 12:00pm so if you need anything you will want to come back later in the day.

9:45am – Morning tea time

We headed back to Thornton’s beach and spent some time walking on the beach and enjoying the morning before heading to Thornton’s Café for some morning tea and to use the toilets.

If you don’t want to go to the café or the toilets there is a carpark for the beach just before you hit the café. If you follow the signs to Thornton’s beach you will find a little picnic area and access to the beach.

10:20am – 11:30am – Cooper Creek River Cruise

Cooper Creek in Cape Tribulation Queensland

Make sure you book your tickets in advance for the river cruise as spots are limited and the tours only depart at 10:30am, 11:30am and 2:00pm. Tickets can be bought from the Thornton’s Café and are $35 per adult.

The departure point for the river cruise is on the side of the road. As you are driving south towards Cairns, you will see a sign on the side of the road that says river cruise. This is the departure point and the parking is here on the side of the road.

If you have are expecting a perfectly polished commercial river cruise with snacks and drinks then you want to head to the other side of the Daintree River and take one of the cruises from there.

However, if you are happy with rustic and a local tour guide then this is the perfect tour for you. Your guide Neil will meet you on the side of the road and walk you along the road and down a dirt track through the rainforest to a clearing on Cooper Creek.

From here you will board the boat and Neil will take you along Cooper Creek. This is the only river cruise on the Cape Tribulation side of the river so you will not be sharing the creek with other tour boats.

A crocodile laying on the beach at Cooper Creek

Along the creek you will be on the lookout for crocodiles and Neil will give you insights into the crocodiles behaviour, which crocodiles live in which parts of the creek, stories of crocodile attacks, information on the ecology of the rainforest and how Kukuk Yalangi people are integral to the systems of the ancient rainforest.

Obviously, crocodile sightings are not guaranteed. They are wild animals and they will do their own things. However, there are over 30 crocodiles living in the creek so your chances of seeing a crocodile are very high. We were lucky enough to see four crocodiles, including a huge 4 metre croc bathing in the sun.

If you are on the 10:30am tour, Neil will say his farewells from the boat and you and your group will walk back to your car as Neil waits at the boat for the next group.

This tour is authentic and a great way to spend an hour. If you have any crocodile questions, or general questions about the area, then Neil is the person to ask!

11:30am – 1:30pm – Daintree Discovery Center

A wire walkway running through the rainforest

This was the most touristy thing we did in Cape Tribulation. The Daintree Discovery Center is, as the name suggests, located in the Daintree Rainforest and is further south towards Cairns.

The center is made up of several elevated boardwalks that wind around the Daintree. Before you start your walk you will be provided with an audio guide. Along the boardwalk you will find numbers and once these are entered into the audio guide you will be provided with information about the forest, its inhabits or the rainforest of a time gone by.

Learn about how the indigenous people used the forest for education, food, medication and protection, or the dinosaurs that used to the roam the earth once upon a time.

As part of the boardwalk you can climb a tower 23m above the rainforest canopy and see the forest from a birds eye view.

Canopy Tower at the Daintree Discovery Center

The Discovery Center is part of the rainforest and is not closed off to animals making their way in and out of the center. As such, keep lookout as cassowaries are known to come and go. Remember, they are wild animals and have not been tamed in any way so please keep your distance, especially if they have their offspring in tow.

The entry fee to the Daintree Discovery Center is $37 per adult and $18 per child. Allow an hour to an hour and a half to ensure you have to time to listen to all of the excerpts on the audio guide.

There is plenty of parking at the center, some of the parking is across the road and does require a short walk. There are also toilets, a café and a small gift shop.

1:30pm – 2:30pm – Late Lunch at Turtle Rock Café

As we were heading from nearly one end of Cape Tribulation to the top end we decided to stop almost half way for lunch at Turtle Rock Café.

You can either choose some “Grab ‘n’ Go” options toasted cheese sandwiches, pies or croissants or you can choose to have a more substantial meal such as a burger. If you choose to sit in and eat, grab a seat on the outside of the deck facing onto the road so you can watch the world go by.

Watch the 4WD roll into town covered in red dirt as they return from Cape York, the most Northern Point of Australia. It is a great place to watch the world go by as you eat some lunch.

As I mentioned earlier, the Turtle Rock Café is located right next to the Ocean Safari and so it was very very busy when we arrived at 2pm for lunch. However, when we were leaving at 2:30pm the lunch rush had finished. If you have the time, maybe wait a little longer to miss the rush.

2:30pm – 4:30pm – Emmagen Creek Swimming Hole

A warning sign on a dirt road in Cape Tribulation

Emmagen Creek Swimming Hole is the only other place you swim in Cape Tribulation but it is not as easily accessed as Mason’s Swimming Hole.

When you are at Turtle Rock Café you will still have reception so type Emmagen Creek into Google Maps. You will drive North along the main Cape Tribulation road, after the Cape Tribulation Beach House you will hit a dirt road.

Just before you hit the dirt road there will be a sign that says 4WD only from this point. However, all cars (we had the tiniest car ever) will manage the journey to Emmagen Creek, it will be a little bumpy, windy and steep so take it easy.

As you drive down the dirt road when maps says there is still 180 meters to go, there will be a place on the right hand side of the road where you can park. The parking place will be right in front of a sign that says 4WD only from this point – they really mean it this time.

A 4WD covered in red dirt in front of a sign saying 4WD only

Park your car and wander down to where the river crosses the road, down to the right there is a beautiful view of Emmagen Creek (do not swim here, crocs have been reported in the creek). However, if you cross the road there is a track just up the hill a little bit from the river crossing the road.

A photo of Emmagen Creek in Cape Tribulation

Follow the track along, it is pretty rugged but we were wearing thongs and managed the track just fine, just be careful of your step. About 100 meters along the track you will come to a fork in the road, take the fork to the right.

You will then come to a second fork in the road, to begin with take the fork to the left and you will come to the main swimming hole.

The swimming hole is absolutely stunning. The water is clear and two shades of green/blue and the forest surrounding the waterhole provides the perfect shade to protect you from the sun. There is a rope swing to help you swing into the middle of the waterhole or if you’re a wee bit short to reach the swing you can clamber down the trees roots and jump into the swimming hole.

The bright green swimming hole of Emmagen Creek

Despite not being super easy to access there were plenty of people on the trail and quite a few people at the swimming hole. The ten minute walk to the swimming hole is made worth it the moment you lay eyes on the water.

Once you have finished swimming in the main swimming hole go back to the fork in the path and then take the other track. Follow the track until you reach the water again.

This time you will be greeted with a smaller swimming hole that is less crowded and has a pebble beach for you to sit on. This water hole is much shallower to begin with and makes it easier to get into the water.

Emmagen Creek Swimming hole

Although the water hole is gaining in popularity, it is still mainly locals that visit Emmagen Creek water hole.

Make sure you are not visiting the water hole near dark as you will need to navigate along the track and take note of the turns you make so you can make your way back to the car. There is no phone service so do not rely on your google maps to get you back to the car.

If you have more time in Cape Tribulation

The itinerary above covers most of the things to do in Cape Tribulation. However, if we had more (or to be honest, if we had have booked in advance) we would have done the Ocean Safari.

During the Ocean Safari you will take a speed boat about 20 minutes off the Daintree Coast where you can snorkel in pristine waters in untouched parts of the Great Barrier Reef. Snorkelling over the gorgeous reef with the colourful fish, the beautiful coral and if you’re lucky you might spot a turtle or seven.

The morning tour has check-in at 8:00am and returns at 12:30pm and the afternoon tour has check in at 12:00pm and returns at 4:30pm. Ocean Safari Tours cost $163 per adult and $104 per child.

Your tour gives you the opportunity to visit Mackay and Undine Reefs, includes the hire of all snorkelling equipment and snorkelling instruction if you have never snorkeled before, you need a refresher or you’re feeling a bit nervous about snorkelling.

When we return to Cape Tribulation we will definitely be booking a tour on the Ocean Safari. Learn from our mistake and book in advance to avoid missing out.

What are you most looking forward to on your trip to Cape Tribulation? Let me know in the comments below

Fiona xoxo

Share It!

Pinterest Graphic for Cape Tribulation Queensland

Similar Posts