Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation drive: Distance & best stops
The drive from Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation is 84km in distance, with a driving time of around 1h47m. Top road trip attractions along the route include Mossman Gorge, Daintree crocodile cruises and the Marrdja Boardwalk.
The Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation drive is an accessible adventure into the World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest. It can easily be tackled as a day trip, but you might be tempted into staying the night at Cape Tribulation. There’s plenty to do in this quirky jungle outpost.
If you don’t want to drive yourself, there are day tours from Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation. These tours tick off most of the highlights and should be booked in advance.
Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation distance and driving time
The driving distance from Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation is 84km – meaning a Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation driving time of around one hours and 47 minutes.
9 Port Douglas experiences to boost your holiday
- Great Barrier Reef snorkelling tour – visiting three amazing snorkelling sites on the Outer Reef. This is the one for seeing the very best of the Reef.
- Visit Agincourt Reef – with a cruise, underwater observatory and coral viewing in a semi-submersible. This is the best Port Douglas Reef tour for less confident swimmers.
- Half-day Low Isles snorkelling tour – ideal for those with less time.
- Daintree River wildlife cruise combo – see lots of crocs, then visit the cascades of Mossman Gorge.
- Sunset sailing cruise – with welcome drinks and appetisers aboard a luxury catamaran.
- Scenic helicopter flight – see the Great Barrier Reef from above.
- Go fishing at a barramundi farm – with lunch included.
- Aboriginal cultural walk – including bush tucker tasting and traditional hunting techniques.
- Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas – meet all manner of native Australian animals.
The drive leaves Port Douglas, running parallel to Four Mile Beach and passing the Port Douglas Wildlife Habitat, before meeting the Captain Cook Highway at Craiglie.
7 Cape Tribulation experiences you should book in advance
- ▶️ An attraction-packed Cape Tribulation day tour from Cairns or Port Douglas.
- ▶️ (Highly recommended ✅) Small group reef snorkelling – on the Ocean Safari Great Barrier Reef tour.
- ▶️ See the Daintree come to life – on a guided rainforest night walk.
- ▶️ Uncover jungle secrets – on a small group rainforest trekking adventure.
- ▶️ Whizz through the trees – on a thrill-a-minute zipline adventure course.
- ▶️ Saddle up, and go horse-riding along the beach.
- ▶️ Stretch those legs on a full day waterfall hike.
Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation: Mossman Gorge
The drive from Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation then swings past Mossman Gorge. This is a beautifully photogenic rainforest area, and the tourist experience has changed significantly in recent years. The area’s traditional owners are now in charge, and it’s a fine place to have an Indigenous cultural experience. These Dreamtime walks include explanations of what plants are traditionally used for.
Soon after Mossman Gorge is the Daintree River, where several Daintree crocodile cruises ply their trade. These are worth doing to see often huge crocodiles in the wild.
Why you should do a Daintree River cruise
- You ARE going to see crocodiles. Probably several of them.
- It’s not just crocs – it’s a glimpse of the whole Daintree ecosystem, with snakes and birds too.
- The tours take an hour or so – you can fit in plenty more on the same day.
You’ll then need to cross the river on the Daintree River Ferry.
Click through for the next section: North of the Daintree River.