Daintree National Park
Daintree
National Park protects the oldest rainforests in the world.
Daintree is actually not exactly in Cape York, it is just south of it. But because you are likely to drive through it on your Cape York trip, I included it in this website.
It is the most famous national park in the area, and it is the most famous of all Australian tropical rainforests.
And there is a good reason for that - it protects the oldest rainforests in the world!!!
There is another great thing - it is made very easily accessible for everyone, and included in all rainforest tours that you can take from Cairns.
So What's in Daintree National Park ...
There is also all kinds of accommodation and other tourism infrastructure, which makes it much easier to visit than other, more remote tropical rainforests in Cape York.
Daintree Rainforest
Daintree rainforests cover a large area that is actually vaguely defined. And, not all of it is national park. The areas around Daintree Village for example don't belong to the national park, and these are also the areas that were cleared for agriculture in the old days, although some rainforest still remains.
Mossman Gorge Section
As you drive north from Cairns and past Port Douglas, the national park starts at Mossman. This is the southern section of the park, the so-called Mossman Gorge Section, which is actually larger than the northern section but seems smaller because only a small part of it - the Mossman Gorge itself - is accessible.
Cape Tribulation Section
The northern section - the Cape Tribulation section - starts at Daintree River in south and ends at the actual headland of Cape Tribulation, just north of the Cape Tribulation Village. The whole area is quite commercialised but still lovely to visit.
Daintree National Park Plants
Like in other rainfroests, there is an upper layer of tall trees that close the canopy. Under the canopy, every plant tries to get higher up to the light. Vines climb on trees, epiphytes live up in trees. Some of the plant species are common with all Australian tropical rainforests, others are unique to Daintree.
Daintree Animals
It is the same with animals - most of which are common with the species in the rest of the so-called Wet Tropics rainforests, while some, such as tree kangaroos, striped possums and some species of ringtail possums are endemic to the Daintree area.
Daintree National Park Birds
While there are many, many birds in Daintree, some of the more known ones are orange footed scrubfowls, imperial pigeons, paradise kingfishers, and of course, the famous cassowary bird - which is found between Mission Beach and Iron Range National Park.
Things to Do
There are heaps of things to do in Daintree, from wildlife and bird watching to horse riding, board walking as well as visiting lookout points and swimming in rainforest waterholes.. or just walking the beaches or driving through the area, under the dense rainforest canopy.
Walking Tracks
There are many different walks in this national park, from easy beach strolls and the many different rainforest boardwalks at Cape Tribulation to walking tracks at Mossman Gorge and finally the more challenging bush walking such as the Mount Sorrow walk which takes hours and requires good fitness.
Tours in Daintree National Park
There is also a myriad of tours, all from rainforest bushwalks, wildlife and bird watching to four wheel driving, horse riding and fishing and boating.. One of the best things to do is to take a crocodile tour on Daintree River - where you have good chances to see the deadly Australian Saltwater Crocodiles.
Camping
Camping is at least as popular as in the rest of Australia, and there are many options even in Daintree. It is always cheap to stay at national park camping grounds, and these are located on Noah Beach south of Cape Tribulation. But many accommodation places also have a camping ground.
Other Daintree Accommodation
There is a huge amount of hotels, motels, backpacker hostels and bed and breakfast accommodation.. you just pick and choose, the places are everywhere, particularly in the section between Daintree River and Cape Tribulation. And many of them have camping grounds as well.
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