GETTING TO CAPE TRIBULATION
Driving Times
Here are some approximate driving times starting from Cairns:-
From Cairns to Port Douglas - 60 minutes
From Port Douglas to Mossman - 15 minutes
From Mossman to Wonga Beach - 20 minutes
From Wonga Beach to either South of Daintree Ferry or Daintree Village - 15-20 min
From North of Ferry to Cow Bay/Diwan - 15-20 min
From Cow Bay/Diwan to Cape Tribulation - 20-25 min
The Daintree Ferry
The vehicle ferry is the only way to cross the Daintree River.
It takes about 30 vehicles and operates daily from 6am to midnight except Christmas Day (limited hours).
The crossing itself takes about 10 min but there can be waiting times especially during peak season (July to September). During these months the busiest hours tend to be mid morning to lunchtime, going north, and between mid afternoon and about 5 pm returning south.
The cost is $24 return. If, however, you are staying for a while there is a Multi-day Pass for $48, allowing for 5 return trips - a saving of $72.
Please be aware that ATM facilities only operate between 8 am and 5.30 pm - at other times it is cash only.
Road Conditions
The road is fully sealed all the way to Cape Trib Beach House – a 4WD vehicle is NOT required. Please adhere to road signs and speed limits as the area is home to a number of endangered species.
Car Hire
You can hire a normal sedan car to drive to Cape Tribulation. This is the best transport option as the activities and scenery are spread evenly across the 40km strip of beautiful coastline from Cow Bay to Cape Tribulation.
Public transport
There is no public transport to the Cape Tribulation area however Country Coaches do run a direct service coming up from Cairns on Mon/Wed/Fri and returning to Cairns on Tue/Thu/Sat. They pick up in Cairns around 7.30am and Port Douglas around 8.30am. The trip is dependent on conditions of the Bloomfield track to Cooktown so checking the schedules in the 'wet' season is a must
Coach tours
Tropics Explorer, Cape Trib Connections and Jungle Tours visit Cape Tribulation each day, and offer a variety of packages. The tours stop along the way and visit several attractions. All tours pick up in Cairns around 7.30am each day ONLY and return to Cairns between 5pm and 7pm. They also allow return days to be nominated for those who want to stay overnight or longer in the area.