Cape Tribulation is located within the Daintree National Park and the Wet Tropics World Heritage area about 110km north of Cairns. The region is a tropical wonderland that includes 95kms of magnificent coastal rainforest and pristine tropical beaches stretching from the sugar town of Mossman in the south to the Bloomfield River in the north. The Daintree has been left relatively untouched by the world of urban development, noise and air pollution allowing visitors to experience the purity of the natural surroundings. Most business operators are committed to eco-tourism activities and visitors will find wonderful opportunities of outdoor activities without the glitz of greedy commercialism.
This trek note provides a self-drive route along sealed roads with a vehicular ferry service transporting visitors across the Daintree River and a bridge over Cooper Creek making all weather access year round for all vehicles including 2WDs and caravans. Cape Tribulation is at the end of the sealed road, 35km from the Daintree River Ferry. The road is narrow and winding so take your time to do the drive safely. It is best to allow faster traffic to pass but only stop where you can pull off the road safely. Drivers should also watch for wildlife, particularly cassowaries.
Most people visit the area during the dry season with the peak period between July and November. (Please note that access north of Cape Tribulation is 4WD only via the Bloomfield Track and is often closed during the wet season February to April).
How to Use this Trek Note
- To download this information and the route file for offline use on a phone, tablet, headunit or laptop, go to the app store and purchase ExplorOz Traveller. This app enables offline navigation and mapping and will show where you are as you travel along the route. For more info see the ExplorOz Traveller webpage and the EOTopo webpage.
Environment
The Daintree Rainforest encompasses the Cape Tribulation section of the Daintree National Park and is Australia's largest remaining tropical lowland rainforest. At at over 100 million years of age it is perhaps the oldest rainforest anywhere in the world. The rainforest eco-system and microclimate support primitive and ancient plant species and many rare native mammals, birds and butterflies. In 1988 the Daintree was declared a World Heritage area.
Taking a cruise on the Daintree River will allow you to view crocodiles and birdlife.
History
Prior the invasion of the Europeans, the
Cape Tribulation area was occupied by Aboriginal people called Kuku Yalanji.
Captain James
Cook named
Cape Tribulation, "because here began all our troubles", when his ship ran aground on what is now known as Endeavour reef off the coast in 1770, however the area was not settled by Europeans until the 1920s, despite earlier timber cutting of red cedar and tropical agriculture.
Tourism began in the 1970s but by 1981 recognition of the area's significance led to the declaration of the
Cape Tribulation National Park and by 1988 the
Cape Tribulation area was included in the Wet Tropics World
Heritage Area.
The road to
Cape Tribulation was only built in 1962. The first person to drive to
Cape Tribulation was Marion Swenson in an old, ex army, Bren gun carrier. She drove along Coconut Beach, across Myall Creek mouth (at low tide) and up into Mason’s property via the existing track to
the wharf in Myall Creek. Later, the last section of road was completed, eliminating the need to drive on
the beach.
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