Explore the magic of the Daintree with this 3-day family itinerary

A favourite family holiday destination, the Daintree brings its ‘A game’ for young and old alike. Home to one of the oldest living rainforests on earth, it’s where two UNESCO World Heritage sites meet, and where some of the world’s rarest wildlife call home. To put it simply, the mighty Daintree Rainforest is the MVP of family holiday fun.

Three days here will spark the imagination of little ones. From enchanting rainforest waterfalls to vast golden beaches and croc spotting on the banks of the Daintree, keeping the kids entertained in Far North Queensland is a breeze. Make memories to last a lifetime with the perfect three-day family itinerary in the Daintree.

Day one

Morning

Touchdown at Cairns airport with the family in tow. You’ll want to be fairly independent over the next few days, so make sure to arrange a hire car from the airport. Set your nav to north, past Port Douglas, to the Daintree Village along the Great Barrier Reef Drive –  your destination is a 1.5 hour drive with stunning vistas along the way of the Coral Sea and Great Barrier Reef.

To make the most of your three days in the Daintree, base yourself in the vibrant coastal town of Port Douglas, or select accommodation in the heart of the rainforest. Not only is it convenient – and means less time in the car each day – it’s not every day you get to rest your head in an ancient rainforest. Both Cairns and Port Douglas are filled with family-friendly activities and also serve as great places to base yourself for a longer stay in the Wet Tropics region.

Get your bearings in Daintree Village. Fuel your day (and the fam) with an organic coffee from the Daintree Fan Palm Farm, and let the kids explore the beautiful boardwalk just behind the café, where soaring palm fans loom over the path and electric blue-hued butterflies as big as your hand float by.

It’s always humid in the Daintree – so treat the kids to ice cream at the Daintree Ice Cream Company (and what’s a family holiday without a scoop or two?), before heading deeper into Daintree country.

Dining in the Daintree is no afterthought. The region is home to some of the best growers and producers in the country, championing the region’s tropical produce and rich history. From curb side and beachside cafes the locals love, to fine dining under the Daintree’s lustrous canopy, foodies need only follow the Daintree Food Trail to keep suitably satiated.

Midday

Cross the Daintree River at the ferry crossing point and spend a couple of hours at the multi-award winning Daintree Discovery Centre. Learn about the centre’s conservation projects and see the Daintree up close – from the forest floor to the soaring canopy. Take a self-guided tour along the boardwalks to spot colourful butterflies, green tree frogs, maybe even a striped possum or cassowary, before making your way to the centre’s famous canopy tower and aerial walkway for striking views of the treetops.

Little ones still got energy to burn? Stop at the Jindalba Boardwalk, a few minutes east of the Discovery Centre. A gentle 45-minute boardwalk through breathtaking rainforest and winding rainforest pathways should do the trick.

Walu Wugirriga (Mount Alexandra) Lookout is a must-do before driving down the headland. Take in the sweeping views of the Coral Coast, the Great Barrier Reef and a carpet of dense green canopy below. Jump back in the car and head down the range to Cow Bay Beach for a lazy afternoon stroll along its golden sands.

For a more remote feel (and physical challenge) continue north along Cape Tribulation Road to Noah Beach. As well as boasting an equally stunning beach famous for its oceanside camping site, tackle the nearby Marrdja Boardwalk and its tangle of fig trees and misty mangroves. At only 1.2kms long, and completely wheelchair accessible, too, this short walk guides you through some of the rarer areas of the Daintree.

Evening

Float along the Daintree’s sparkling Daintree River as the sun sets. The local crocodiles love to bask along the riverbanks in the early morning and evening, making for easy spotting from your vessel. With birdsong and animal calls echoing across the riverbanks, watch as the sun sets behind the rainforest and the air turns to dusk. Crocodile Express and Bruce Belcher’s Daintree River Cruises offer both morning and afternoon excursions – a godsend when trying to stick to a flexible family routine on holidays.

Day two

Morning

This morning, immerse yourself in the culture of the area’s Traditional Owners, the Kuku Yalanji people. Walkabout Cultural Adventures gives you and the kids the chance to get hands-on; learning about the surrounding environment, the food and traditional medicine, and Aboriginal hunting practices used for thousands of years. Have a go at boomerang and spear throwing, and try catching a mud crab amongst the mangroves.

Alternatively, go Daintree Dreaming with Adventure North Australia’s Down Under tours, immersing yourself in local Aboriginal art and culture. Walk through the dense mangroves of the Daintree Coast while hearing stories of the Kuku Yalanji people, before tackling the footpath to the mighty Mossman Gorge.

Midday

Take the afternoon to explore the delights of the Daintree at your own pace. Fans of hiking? Scale the infamous Mount Sorrow Ridge hiking trail for unbelievable views across the entire Daintree region (and for some serious bragging rights). This 7km hike is best suited for families with older kids; the forest can be dense and unforgiving in parts, but the views from the summit (and wild cassowary sightings) are world class.

If Mount Sorrow gets your vote, make sure to stock up on food and water supplies before heading out. Turtle Rock Café’s smoothies and house made sausage rolls are legendary in Cape Tribulation – stopping in for a hearty breakfast bowl and coffee pre-hike is an excellent idea.

Evening

See (and hear) the Daintree come alive at night. FNQ Nature Tours takes small groups through some of the wildest areas of the Daintree, exploring on foot and by boat areas of Cape Tribulation’s mountain ranges, rivers and freshwater valleys before settling in for a unique dinner after dark in the heart of the forest. Guests are then treated to a walk after dark to spot the array of incredible nocturnal wildlife in the region.

Day three

Morning

Day three in the Daintree and it’s time to unleash your crew’s adventurous streak. Got a few thrill-seekers in the family? Tackle the Daintree from its canopy on Daintree Discovery’s Ultimate Daintree Zipline Tour. Their full day excursion takes in some of the very best (and most famous) Daintree locations but throws in a ziplining experience 15m high in the canopy.

Experience where the rainforest meets the reef and go completely off-grid with Ocean Safari’s half-day eco tour off the Daintree Coast. Start at Cape Tribulation Beach, before being whisked out to two locations on Mackay Reef where you’ll swim and snorkel with turtles and rainbow-hued fish that call the Great Barrier Reef home.

Perhaps one of the most unique experiences in the Daintree (or, anywhere) is river drift snorkelling. On individual inflatable river sleds, let the gentle current of the Mossman River take you downstream along crystal-clear waters, while you spot fish, turtles, even the elusive platypus if you’re very lucky.

Midday

All this exploring makes for hungry bellies, so make a pit stop at Masons Café Cape Trib for the freshest local fruit smoothies, produce and kid-approved menu. There’s also a general store on site to replenish the car snacks, and a gorgeous freshwater swimming hole out the back, perfect for a quick dip.

For the ultimate swim in the Daintree, however, head roughly 5kms north to one of the region’s prettiest freshwater pools; Emmagen Creek. Spend a few hours cooling off in the crystal-clear waters, perfect for younger kids to splash around. The smooth rocks lining the creek are Mother Nature’s loungers – so kick back and relax amongst the sounds of the rainforest.

Evening

After exploring the most incredible, breathtaking places in the Daintree, your last evening deserves to be spent tasting the flavours of the Wet Tropics. Book a table for the whole family at Julaymba Restaurant at Daintree Ecolodge. The menu is a love letter to the Daintree, chock full of hyper local, seasonal, sustainable produce, meaning there’s something for everyone.

For dinner with views out to sea, try Tides Bar & Restaurant at Cape Trib Beach House. With an equally diverse menu full of local produce, and a beachfront location, this is hard-to-beat Daintree dining.

Not ready to say goodbye to the Tropical North just yet. Extend your stay by a few days and explore the rugged, untamed environment of the Bloomfield Track. A 4WD enthusiasts’ dream, you can choose to self-drive or enlist the expertise of a local 4WD tour guide to show you the sites, taking you all the way up to the aboriginal community of Wujal Wujal, where the track ends.