How to do Mossman Gorge in Tropical North Queensland

Home to one of the world’s oldest living cultures, Mossman Gorge is a special place. Nestled in the World-Heritage listed Daintree Rainforest, it's where you'll connect with the land through the help of an Indigenous guide and leave with a better understanding of how culture and nature thrive together.

Ready to explore? Here’s how to do Mossman Gorge in Tropical North Queensland.

How to get to Mossman Gorge

Mossman Gorge is accessible and easy to get to.

From Cairns, take the scenic route on a 1hr and 15min self-drive down the Captain Cook Highway, renowned for its winding roads along the coast of the tropical seaside rainforest. There is free parking available at the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre when you arrive. For organised tours and coach transfers, enquire at one of the Visitor Information Centres when you arrive.

If you’re travelling from Port Douglas, the drive to Mossman Gorge takes just over 20 minutes with parking available at the Mossman Gorge Centre. There’s a half-day tour offered that includes pick up from any Port Douglas accommodation as well as the guided Dreamtime Gorge Walk with a Traditional Owner (we’ll get to that later).

Note: please be mindful of residents who live near Mossman Gorge, particularly along the side of the road between the Centre and the gorge. This is their home and their privacy should be respected. It's also vital to practise safety here. Parking on the side of the road and walking up the hill to the gorge is not recommended, as it can cause danger to yourself and other visitors driving on the narrow road.

What to do at Mossman Gorge

Once you’ve arrived, breathe in and take a moment. You're now on sacred ground.

Begin your trip by visiting the Mossman Gorge Centre, an Indigenous ecotourism centre. Grab a bite to eat at the Mayi Café, take a look at local Indigenous artwork, and join the guided Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk tour. The walks are led by the KuKu Yalanji people, the traditional owners of the land. Go on a journey and learn about their ancient culture and traditions while wandering through the rainforest. As Uncle Roy Gibson said “I want to share with you as much as I can” and that’s exactly what this tour delivers.

There’s a shuttle bus available that will transport you to the heart of the Gorge every 15 minutes between 8am and 5:30pm daily. Whether at you choose to go on one of the self-guided walks through the national park or on a guided walk with a Kuku Yalanji people on the Dreamtime Walk, the gorge is a special place to explore.

The shuttle bus will drop you at the start of the trail which leads into the rainforest. Breathe in the crisp rainforest air and follow the path to the waterhole.

For a self-guided walk, take the 2.4km Circuit Track which will take about 45 minutes to complete at a leisurely pace. Along the way, you’ll spot mountains, rainforet and impressive boulder formations surrounded by incredibly clear, fresh waters.

What to bring to Mossman Gorge

Mossman Gorge is outdoors so a hat, sunscreen and comfortable walking shoes are a must. You should also pack a water bottle and insect repellent. If you plan on going swimming, you’ll need to change into your swimmers at the Mossman Gorge Centre and bring a towel as there’s no change rooms within the park.

The water holes aren’t supervised and currents can be strong so swimming is at your own risk.