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Escape to the Daintree Rainforest Escape to the Daintree Rainforest
If you’re looking for a truly unforgettable Australian rainforest road trip, skip the crowds and head north from Cairns into one of the oldest and most biodiverse landscapes in the world — the Daintree Rainforest.
With Budget car hire Cairns, it’s easy to get on the road faster and explore this lush region at your own pace. From misty gorges to tropical wildlife, here’s how to turn a simple forest road trip into a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
Book your Budget car rental from Cairns today and get straight to the good stuff.
Start Your Daintree Rainforest Trip in Cairns
Kick off your journey in Cairns, a hub for exploring both the Great Barrier Reef and Far North Queensland’s scenic inland drives. Follow the coast north along the Captain Cook Highway — one of the most scenic rainforest drives in Australia — and arrive in Port Douglas in under an hour.
Before diving into the rainforest, take time to relax, snorkel, or dine on local seafood in this laid-back tropical town. Then head towards the Daintree rainforest which is one of the oldest surviving rainforests in the world. Here, you can see over 100 million years of history. The Daintree Rainforest contains the highest number of endemic animals in Australia, almost half of Australia’s bird species, almost a quarter of Australia’s frog species, and over 60% of Australia’s butterflies.
Start off right near Port Douglas, at Mossman Gorge. Note: from Port Douglas on, you’ll be driving on smaller roads, running parallel to the Coral Sea. Just twenty minutes north of Port Douglas, Mossman Gorge World Heritage Site is part of Daintree National Park, and is located on the Mossman River. Here, you can swim in a creek, explore the wildlife and birding, and take a guided tour with Aboriginal guides – locals from the Kuku Yalanji Mossman Gorge Community. You can learn more at the Mossman Gorge Centre – a remarkable place for ecotourism and a cultural/rainforest interpretive centre.
Next, drive north to Daintree Village. Located on the Daintree River, you will be able to see extraordinary birds – and spot some crocodiles. If you need to relax after all that nature, indulge in a rainforest spa. Once you’re back in the saddle again (indeed, like many of the early pioneers: gold rushers, timbermen, and farmers), take a river cruise, a rainforest safari, or a fishing tour. If spending that gold is more your thing, you’ve got plenty to choose from: an Aboriginal art gallery and local art and craft shops, all in the historic main street style of long ago.
Cross the Daintree River on a small cable river ferry, and head to the heart of this trip – Cape Tribulation, which is on a slim, curving headland (area of land on the ocean). This is a village that has the best of both worlds – the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. Most of the area is a National Park as well as being part of the Australian Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. The highlight of your journey may be here – at the Australian Tropical Research Foundation (Austrop Foundation), which is an independent, non-profit organization founded in 1992 which operates the Cape Tribulation Tropical Research Station. Here, you can see flying foxes (also known as fruit bats) – which are gentle, affectionate, and super loving. At the Bat House Visitor Center (entrance is $5 AU), you can meet fruit bats, and learn more about the region, as well as research activities of the station. Fruit bats are incredible animals, exhibiting the same emotions we have – jealousy, playing favorites, and loving attention. They are at least a foot long! I have a feeling you’ll have a difficult time pulling yourself away from this close and loving interaction with nature.
From here, the road becomes more rugged — a 4WD is needed beyond Cape Tribulation if you plan to travel further to Bloomfield Falls or Cooktown. But for many, Cape Tribulation is the perfect final stop on their Daintree Rainforest trip.
Road Trip Notes:
Hire a car in Cairns to make the most of your time — no waiting for group tours or transfers
Bring Supplies: Be sure that you are road-prepared – your car has plenty of fuel and all fluids have been checked; you have water and food if you need them; and you have a cell phone or communications device in case of emergency.
Watch for wildlife: While in Australia, we need to watch out for kangaroos, up in this neck of the woods, we also need to watch out for Cassowaries. They are enormous prehistoric birds – one of the world’s largest flightless birds! – and they can do a lot of damage to you and your car (as well as themselves). Best to avoid a collision – keep your eyes on the road and the sides of the road at all times.
Avoid stingers: During the wet season (Nov–May), wear a stinger suit if swimming in coastal waters, or stick to safe freshwater creeks
As with any travels, the more you talk with locals, the more you’ll learn. This area is full of both Aboriginal guides and locals committed to living in and preserving this incredible natural resource.
Drive the Daintree with Budget
Whether you're chasing waterfalls, meeting fruit bats, or cruising rainforest roads, Budget makes it easy to enjoy a hassle-free rainforest road trip. With reliable vehicles, flexible booking, and local support, you’ll spend less time sorting logistics and more time soaking up the view. Ready to hit the road? Book your Budget car rental now and get to the good stuff — fast.
If you’re looking for a truly unforgettable Australian rainforest road trip, skip the crowds and head north from Cairns into one of the oldest and most biodiverse landscapes in the world — the Daintree Rainforest.
With Budget car hire Cairns, it’s easy to get on the road faster and explore this lush region at your own pace. From misty gorges to tropical wildlife, here’s how to turn a simple forest road trip into a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
Book your Budget car rental from Cairns today and get straight to the good stuff.
Start Your Daintree Rainforest Trip in Cairns
Kick off your journey in Cairns, a hub for exploring both the Great Barrier Reef and Far North Queensland’s scenic inland drives. Follow the coast north along the Captain Cook Highway — one of the most scenic rainforest drives in Australia — and arrive in Port Douglas in under an hour.
Before diving into the rainforest, take time to relax, snorkel, or dine on local seafood in this laid-back tropical town. Then head towards the Daintree rainforest which is one of the oldest surviving rainforests in the world. Here, you can see over 100 million years of history. The Daintree Rainforest contains the highest number of endemic animals in Australia, almost half of Australia’s bird species, almost a quarter of Australia’s frog species, and over 60% of Australia’s butterflies.
Start off right near Port Douglas, at Mossman Gorge. Note: from Port Douglas on, you’ll be driving on smaller roads, running parallel to the Coral Sea. Just twenty minutes north of Port Douglas, Mossman Gorge World Heritage Site is part of Daintree National Park, and is located on the Mossman River. Here, you can swim in a creek, explore the wildlife and birding, and take a guided tour with Aboriginal guides – locals from the Kuku Yalanji Mossman Gorge Community. You can learn more at the Mossman Gorge Centre – a remarkable place for ecotourism and a cultural/rainforest interpretive centre.
Next, drive north to Daintree Village. Located on the Daintree River, you will be able to see extraordinary birds – and spot some crocodiles. If you need to relax after all that nature, indulge in a rainforest spa. Once you’re back in the saddle again (indeed, like many of the early pioneers: gold rushers, timbermen, and farmers), take a river cruise, a rainforest safari, or a fishing tour. If spending that gold is more your thing, you’ve got plenty to choose from: an Aboriginal art gallery and local art and craft shops, all in the historic main street style of long ago.
Cross the Daintree River on a small cable river ferry, and head to the heart of this trip – Cape Tribulation, which is on a slim, curving headland (area of land on the ocean). This is a village that has the best of both worlds – the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. Most of the area is a National Park as well as being part of the Australian Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. The highlight of your journey may be here – at the Australian Tropical Research Foundation (Austrop Foundation), which is an independent, non-profit organization founded in 1992 which operates the Cape Tribulation Tropical Research Station. Here, you can see flying foxes (also known as fruit bats) – which are gentle, affectionate, and super loving. At the Bat House Visitor Center (entrance is $5 AU), you can meet fruit bats, and learn more about the region, as well as research activities of the station. Fruit bats are incredible animals, exhibiting the same emotions we have – jealousy, playing favorites, and loving attention. They are at least a foot long! I have a feeling you’ll have a difficult time pulling yourself away from this close and loving interaction with nature.
From here, the road becomes more rugged — a 4WD is needed beyond Cape Tribulation if you plan to travel further to Bloomfield Falls or Cooktown. But for many, Cape Tribulation is the perfect final stop on their Daintree Rainforest trip.
Road Trip Notes:
Hire a car in Cairns to make the most of your time — no waiting for group tours or transfers
Bring Supplies: Be sure that you are road-prepared – your car has plenty of fuel and all fluids have been checked; you have water and food if you need them; and you have a cell phone or communications device in case of emergency.
Watch for wildlife: While in Australia, we need to watch out for kangaroos, up in this neck of the woods, we also need to watch out for Cassowaries. They are enormous prehistoric birds – one of the world’s largest flightless birds! – and they can do a lot of damage to you and your car (as well as themselves). Best to avoid a collision – keep your eyes on the road and the sides of the road at all times.
Avoid stingers: During the wet season (Nov–May), wear a stinger suit if swimming in coastal waters, or stick to safe freshwater creeks
As with any travels, the more you talk with locals, the more you’ll learn. This area is full of both Aboriginal guides and locals committed to living in and preserving this incredible natural resource.
Drive the Daintree with Budget
Whether you're chasing waterfalls, meeting fruit bats, or cruising rainforest roads, Budget makes it easy to enjoy a hassle-free rainforest road trip. With reliable vehicles, flexible booking, and local support, you’ll spend less time sorting logistics and more time soaking up the view. Ready to hit the road? Book your Budget car rental now and get to the good stuff — fast.