8 Best Cape Tribulation Tours & Day Trips: Reef & Rainforest

Best Cape Tribulation Day Trip Tours From Cairns

Only have a day to spare and looking for an organised tour to Cape Tribulation from Cairns? While there are dozens that you can book online, I've narrowed the search down for you to just two.

With varying itineraries, these trips typically depart in the early morning, driving the scenic Great Barrier Reef drive and crossing the Daintree River before arriving in Cape Tribulation.

If you're short on time and don't want to read the full guide, below are my top 3 picks.

1. Daintree & Mossman Gorge with Cruise

An epic Daintree trip from Cairns covering the best highlights in Cape Tribulation and at Mossman Gorge - great if you don't have your own car.

2. Ocean Safari Great Barrier Reef Experience Top-rated

Experience the incredible Great Barrier Reef from Cape Tribulation. Visits amazing reef snorkeling spots to swim with turtles, eagle rays, giant clams, brilliant coral, starfish, & tropical fish!

3. Daintree Night Walk

Experience the unique wildlife of the Daintree at night with a professional wildlife guide in Cape Tribulation.

1. Daintree, Mossman Gorge & Cape Tribulation Tour From Cairns

This 4.5/5 star trip from Cairns Adventure Group is the most popular Cape Tribulation trip from Cairns. It’s an action-packed, full-day activity covering many of the highlights on this list plus a few more.

This day trip does a good job of combining the natural and cultural history of the Daintree, with rainforest guides and indigenous ceremonies being a part of the experience. Here’s a roundup:

• A short visit to Mossman Gorge
• A wildlife river cruise (crocodiles)
• Daintree River Ferry
• Lunch
• Witness a traditional smoke ceremony by the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people
• Cape Tribulation Ice Cream
• Alexandra Lookout
• Rainforest boardwalk

Why? This is one of the top-rated tours you can book on Tripadvisor, GetYourGuide, and Viator. It combines all the top attractions and is affordable for solo travelers and groups.

2. Billy Tea Safaris (4WD Tour)

This second option is one of the most popular, small-group options that also a little unique. Billy Tea Safaris run a 4WD organised tour to Cape Tribulation from both Cairns and Port Douglas and are among the best in the region!

If you’ve been around Cairns and Port Douglas for a while, you might have spotted the iconic 4WD vehicles by Billy Tea Safaris. Their unique military-style 4WDs are a Far North tourism icon. The 4WD trip differs from the one by Cairns Adventure Group and include:

• 1-hour guided Daintree cruise
• Alexandra Lookout
• Boardwalks
• Lunch at the animal refuge
• Emmagen Creek
• Cape Tribulation Beach

Why? If you're up for adventure a 4WD safari tour is great since you'll be able to reach some of the more difficult spots such as Emmagen Creek. This tour is also one of the top-rated in FNQ with hundreds of 5-star reviews.

Best Cape Tribulation Tour From Port Douglas (Day Trip)

If you're staying in Port Douglas and on the search for a day tour to Cape Tribulation, then you're in luck. The above Billy Tea Safaris tour includes pickups from hotel accommodations in Port Douglas. However, there is a dedicated tour for visitors to Port Douglas and includes:

• Includes a river cruise (croc spotting)
• Lunch and hotel pickup/drop-off by luxury vehicle
• Daintree Ferry included
• Daintree Ice Cream Company
• Thorntons Beach - where the rainforest meets the reef
• Swimming hole in Cape Tribulation

Why? This is one of the most comprehensive tours available and squeezes many attractions into a single, affordable day trip. It also has over 1,000+ positive reviews on Tripadvisor.

Best Half-Day Tours & Experiences in Cape Tribulation

If you've got your own car, or rented one in Cairns or Port Douglas, then there are many great experiences and tours you can book once you actually arrive at Cape Tribulation (and one you can do on the way).

1. Ocean Safari Great Barrier Reef Tour

A trip out to the Great Barrier Reef is one of the best tours on offer in Cape Tribulation. Due to its geographic proximity to the reef, Cape Tribulation offers one of the best opportunities to see the Great Barrier Reef on a day tour.

One of the only companies operating snorkelling trips to the reef from Cape Tribulation is Ocean Safari. These guys run tours daily and provide everything you need to snorkel on the reef. They also get you out there in just 25 minutes, so you can make the most of your precious time in the tropics!

2. Solar Whisper Wildlife & Crocodile Tour

A visit to the Daintree just isn't complete without spotting an estuarian (saltwater) crocodile. While it is possible to spot them in the wild at Cape Tribulation, this is quite rare as they are extremely good at hiding.

These are the largest crocodiles on earth and the best place to spot them reliably is on the Daintree River, just south of Cape Tribulation.

The best crocodile spotting tour is run by Solar Whisper. These guys are the only zero-emissions wildlife cruise in the Daintree, running silent, electric engines that allow you to get closer to the crocodiles without disturbing them in their natural environment.

You'll find the Solar Whisper boats right next to the Daintree River Ferry, which is perfect if you're planning to drive to Cape Tribulation yourself.

3. Cape Tribulation Horse Riding Tour

Is a beach horse ride experience on your bucket list? Cape Tribulation is one of the best places in Australia to tick it off!

Book best price: Cape Trib Horse Ride Afternoon
Morning ride: Cape Trib Horse Morning Ride

This Cape Tribulation tour departs twice daily and includes a guided horse ride through the Daintree Rainforest and on the golden sands of Myall Beach. This was one of my favourite bookable activities in Cape Tribulation and was surprisingly affordable too!

Photos from my trip: Cape Tribulation Horse Riding

4. Guided Night Walk (Wildlife Spotting)

The Daintree Rainforest is the oldest in the world and also one of the most biodiverse. Wildlife is a huge part of the Cape Tribulation experience and one of the most interesting ways to experience it is on a night walk!

You can either head down to one of the many boardwalks with a torch yourself or book a guided night walk with a professional wildlife spotter. I'll be honest, while I've done some night hiking and night photography in the Daintree independently, I haven't done this particular Cape Tribulation tour. However, based on the reviews, I have no problem recommending it.

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.

1. Wildwood Rainforest Cottages Luxury

Wildwood offers luxury rainforest cottages set on a rare exotic fruit orchard. Freely explore the 800+ trees on the property, picking & sampling any of the fruits in season

2. Daintree Crocodylus Hostel Budget

Located in Cow Bay, this hostel offers safari-tent style rooms that are built from wood and canvas, with high ceilings, fans and mosquito net.

3. Cape Tribulation Holiday House Family

The highest-rated holiday house in Cape Tribulation set on 5 acres of rainforest & includes a huge balcony, 2 bedrooms and a fully equipped kitchen!