Alexandra Falls is an incredible Daintree waterfall hidden deep in the Wet Tropics rainforest. The journey to Alexandra Falls was one of my favourite adventures in Cape Tribulation. Read this guide to find out how to get here, what to expect and photos from this jungle giant!
The Heritage Listed Wet Tropics Region of Daintree National Park is the oldest rainforest in the world. It’s also one of the wildest places in Australia. If you’re up for an off-the-beaten-path adventure wading up a pristine rainforest creek to a megalithic jungle waterfall, then add Alexandra Falls to your Cape Tribulation bucket list!
In this blog post, I’ll detail my experience hiking out to Alexandra Falls in the Daintree from Cape Tribulation. I’ll also include photos of my trip so that you know what to expect.
About Alexandra Falls, Daintree National Park
Alexandra Falls is a 150-metre+ waterfall located upstream on Alexandra Creek, deep in the Daintree National Park. While it is truly one of the most majestic waterfalls in the region, there isn't a dedicated or maintained track to reach it.
If you are adamant on checking out the waterfall, please be aware that this is technically wilderness terrain. I wouldn't recommend making an effort out to this Cape Tribulation waterfall unless you are confident and experienced in the Australian rainforest. My intent isn't to popularise this waterfall, but to share my experience in a way that I hope will better prepare those already determined to give it a crack.
The entire walk follows Alexendra Creek and you will be required to wade for most of the journey out to the falls. Therefore, planning conditions and being well-prepared is vital.
In saying all that, most people who are used to adventuring in Far North Queensland shouldn't have much of a problem as long as they're prepared.
Related: Cape Tribulation Horse Riding
Car Rentals in Far North Queensland
Cairns is one of the most popular travel destinations in Australia and car rentals quickly book out! I recommend booking well in advance. I always use RentalCars.com as they compare the widest range of rentals across dealerships in the Far North.
How To Get to Alexandra Falls
When I visited Alexandra Falls, there wasn't much information online about how to actually get here. I knew that the waterfall was somewhere upstream on Alexandra Creek, but actually getting to the creek was a bit confusing.
The access point to Alexandra Creek is via Turpentine Road, approximately 20 minutes south of Cape Tribulation or 25 minutes north of the Daintree River crossing. This is just inland from Thornton Beach in "Diwan".
I made a trip to the Heritage Lodge and Spa to ask if I could get access to the creek. However, it was clear that they did not want anyone walking through their resort to get to Alexandra Creek. Instead, there is a gate just 100 metres before Heritage Lodge and Spa with private vehicles only signs.
This is a private driveway which leads to Alexandra Creek. This is where the journey to Alexandra Falls begins.
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Related: (Review) Best Daintree Crocodile Tour
The Cape Tribulation Blue Pools
Just 50 metres downstream from this creek access is the Cape Tribulation "blue pools". This is a beautiful site with pristine clear, aqua rainforest waters. However, I had been told that swimming in the Blue Pools is discouraged by the traditional owners as this is a culturally significant birthing site for indigenous women.
We made a quick detour to admire this beautiful spot from afar. When we spotted it, we met some other travellers who were already swimming in the pools. In fact, we saw several groups heading to the pools on our visit. I'm not one to judge others' behaviour but personally, I didn't stick around long or swim in the waters out of respect for the traditional owners of the blue pools and the Daintree.
The Ultimate Cape Tribulation Travel Resource
Looking for more Cape Trib travel guides & adventure inspiration? Below are my most comprehensive blog posts that will serve as a great free resource for your trip.
The Alexandra Falls "Hike"
- Hiking Distance: 8.2 km return
- Duration: 3-4 hours return
- Elevation: 145m total elevation gain (mostly at the end)
- Difficulty: Moderate
The Alexandra Falls route begins at the creek crossing at Alexandra Creek (above). The route up to the waterfall follows this creek upstream for approximately 4 kilometres. You'll need to be aware that much of the walk will be wading through the water. The rocks are quite hard and slippery, so I'd definitely recommend wearing trail runners or other enclosed shoes.
We were pretty certain that crocodiles weren't wandering this far upstream. However, I certainly can't guarantee that this creek is completely crocodile-free.
When we visited in the shoulder season, there had been a bit of rain but it was relatively dry. The creek was manageable to walk up the entire way with the deepest section only being about waist height. However, seeing the erosion on the sides of the banks, it's clear that this creek can flow fiercely, especially in the wet season.
The aim is to follow Alexandra Creek the entire way to the waterfall. However, the creek forks in several sections, which can make finding the way a little difficult. The best way to approach it is to simply follow the main creek and avoid any detours or smaller creek tributaries.
The hike is relatively flat for most of the walk. However, in the last kilometre or so, you'll need to start a gentle boulder scramble up to the waterfall. This isn't steep, but it can be slippery. In one section near the end, it seemed as if the creek had completely dried up.
However, it was obvious once we got past this section that the creek must have been flowing underneath the boulders.
Route: Strava
What to Expect
The route up to Alexandra Falls in the Daintree was one of my absolute favourite adventures in Cape Tribulation. This was for me at least, a real taste of the Daintree.
Alexandra Creek is full of beautiful sections of deep, aquatic-blue water holes. We passed many on the way up to the waterfall and I can comfortably say that they are much more beautiful and serene than even the popular Mason's Waterhole and Emmagen Waterhole at Cape Tribulation.
There were sections when we needed to walk along the creek bank to avoid deeper water. There was evidence of a warn trail to follow in these stretches but no markers or ribbons. Overall, the route to the waterfall is fairly clear when wading through the creek, but is full of wild vines and wait a while as soon as you enter the scrub.
We also noticed that there were hoses and pipes leading to the creek. This was unfortunate to see as I'm fairly certain that diverting freshwater streams in a national park is illegal. Of course, I can't guess who might be responsible for this but it was disappointing to see.
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Alexandra Falls - An Epic Hidden Gem in the Daintree Rainforest
After roughly 4 kilometres, you'll slowly approach Alexandra Falls in the Daintree Rainforest. This giant waterfall has a pretty lower tier with a deep swimming pool and stacked log. However, the main event is at the top of a small scree climb beyond.
It's difficult to say exactly how tall Alexandra Falls is, but I'd say the accumulated drop of all three top tiers is more than 150 metres– truly an impressive Cape Tribulation waterfall!
Alexandra Falls is in an exposed clearing and has its own shallow pool beneath it where you can cool off. The waterfall is also framed perfectly by two towering palms, which almost look like they were planted there!
After spending close to an hour relaxing by the waterfall and snapping photos, we turned around for the return trip back to the car. We managed to complete the walk in just under 4 hours, which I'd say was at a fairly leisurely pace.
Where to Say at Cape Tribulation
Below I've included some tips on the best places to stay on your trip to Cape Tribulation. If you'd like more suggestions with photos, read my comprehensive accommodation guide to Cape Tribulation.
- Incredible rainforest stay: Wildwood Rainforest Cottages - Located in the heart of Cape Tribulation, Wildwood is set on a rare exotic fruit orchard. Guests have exclusive access to the orchard and can freely explore the 800+ trees on the property, picking and sampling any of the fruits in season. All rooms provide access to a landscaped garden and fire pits for guests to cook out under the stars.
- Best Hostel in Cape Trib: Daintree Crocodylus Hostel - Backpackers and those on a budget who would prefer a bit more of a raw Daintree experience, I'd recommend the Crocodylus hostel. Located in Cow Bay, closer to the ferry, but just a short hop from Cape Tribulation and Myall Beach, this hostel offers safari-tent style rooms which are built from wood and canvas, with high ceilings, fans and mosquito net.
- Epic Holiday House For Groups: Cape Tribulation Holiday House - With a group or prefer a big house in the rainforest all to yourself? This accommodation is the highest-rated holiday house in Cape Tribulation. It's set on 5 acres of rainforest and includes a huge balcony, 2 bedrooms, and a fully equipped kitchen!
More Photos From My Trip
More Cape Tribulation and Far North Adventure Inspiration
I hope you enjoyed this blog post about my experience at Alexandra Falls, Daintree National Park (Cape Tribulation). If you're looking for more adventure ideas and travel inspiration from the cape and Far North Queensland, make sure to check out some of my other posts below!
For more waterfalls and hikes check out: Best Waterfalls in FNQ and my list of Epic Hikes in FNQ.