Daintree Rainforest Hikes, the Great Barrier Reef and other stunning places

We hiked through the lush Daintree Rainforest, explored the ancient Undara Lava Tubes, and snorkelled among vibrant marine life at the Great Barrier Reef.

Port Douglas

Port Douglas, Far North Queensland, is a tropical gem. Its stunning beaches and warm climate provide the perfect backdrop for swimming, Daintree Rainforest hikes, golf, and Great Barrier Reef cruises. The town’s relaxed main street offers a delightful mix of shops, cafes, and galleries.

During our week in Port Douglas, we loved swimming and strolling along Four Mile Beach. Went hiking through Mossman Gorge, and discovering the area’s many nearby attractions.

In the evening, we walked to the Wharf and had drinks or dinner at one of the restaurants or clubs. This time, we were at Port Douglas Yacht Club.

Our evenings in Port Douglas were wonderfully relaxed, with walks to the wharf for dinner or drinks at the waterfront. The Port Douglas Yacht Club became a favourite spot, where we’d enjoy refreshing drinks and stunning views.

We had a great time exploring the World Heritage Daintree Rainforest in Mossman Gorge. There are various short walks and the 45-minute Rainforest Circuit Track.

We had an amazing time exploring the World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest in Mossman Gorge, where we enjoyed scenic short walks and the beautiful 45-minute Rainforest Circuit Track.

There are large buttress roots along the Daintree rainforest circuit track.

Along the Daintree Rainforest Circuit Track, we encountered towering trees with massive buttress roots, helping them stay upright in shallow soil and withstand strong winds.

The Mossman Gorge Swimming Hole , in the daintree rainforest,is a great spot for a swim after a walk through the George on a hot day.

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of diving into the Mossman Gorge Swimming Hole after a walk through the gorge on a hot day. It was perfect!

Following our gorge hikes, we embarked on a 90-minute cruise along the Daintree River. During the cruise, we spotted a variety of wildlife, including impressive crocodiles and snakes.

Daintree

The Daintree Rainforest, one of the world’s oldest rainforests, is millions of years old. It’s home to an incredible diversity of plant and animal life, many of which exist nowhere else on Earth. It harbours around 30% of Australia’s frog, marsupial, and reptile species, along with 65% of its bat and butterfly species. It’s an excellent site to spot unique wildlife, including cassowaries, tree kangaroos, and saltwater crocodiles. In addition, there are excellent hiking trails. It’s a paradise for nature lovers and adventurers alike.

A good two-hour drive north from Port Douglas will bring you to the Daintree River and the famous Daintree River ferry crossing.

We stayed at the Daintree Rainforest Retreat at Cow Bay for two days. It was quiet, and the owner was helpful and nice. We were puzzled by the parked cars, with all doors wide open, and the large number of incense sticks in the room when we arrived. It's the humidity, with any airflow, everything would become mouldy. — Photo from Daintree Rainforest Retreat

Those two days at the Daintree Rainforest Retreat in Cow Bay were simply lovely, and we enjoyed every moment.

We were lucky to see a cassowary near our accommodation, in the daintree rainforest. These remarkable birds can live for up to 40 years, living in solitude, and only come together during the mating season.

We were lucky to spot a cassowary near our accommodation. These magnificent birds can live up to 40 years and only come together during the mating season.

Cape Tribulation’s Madja boardwalk, meaning ‘rainforest’ or ‘jungle’, is a 45-minute circuit through the Daintree rainforest and muddy mangrove at Noah Creek.

Dubuji (meaning ‘place of spirits’) boardwalk, is another nice walk through mangrove swamps with many signs about plants and animals.

The Dubuji, meaning ‘place of spirits’, boardwalk offers a pleasant stroll through mangrove swamps, with many signs describing the wildlife and plants.

The Jindalba (meaning ‘foot of the mountain’) is an easy walk through the Daintree rainforest at the foothills of Mount Alexandra.

While walking at Cow Beach in Cape Tribulation, we found this wonderful piece of art.

Atherton Tablelands

The Tablelands, also known as the Atherton Tablelands, is a highland region located approximately 250 km inland from Cairns. With an average elevation of about 800 meters, it is home to Queensland’s highest peak, Mount Bartle Frere, which rises to 1,622 meters. This region boasts lush rainforests, breathtaking waterfalls, and stunning volcanic crater lakes. It is a haven for diverse wildlife, including cassowaries, tree kangaroos, and the elusive platypus. The Tablelands also has a strong agricultural industry, producing coffee and a variety of tropical fruits such as bananas, lychees, and mangoes.

The next three days we stayed at the Cedar Park Rainforest Resort near Kuranda. We enjoyed exploring the 10-acre property and watching the wildlife. The restaurant, which is surrounded by rainforest, was beautiful, and the food was excellent.

We then checked in at the Cedar Park Rainforest Resort near Kuranda for a three-night stay. The resort was deep in the heart of the rainforest The restaurant offered a breathtaking setting and the cuisine was outstanding

The Granite Gorge Nature Park is near Mareeba. You can walk through the granite, with is beautiful, but can be challenging and involves scrambling and jumping over large rocks.

We walked through Granite Gorge Nature Park near Mareeba. While the park is beautiful, it can also be challenging, involving scrambling and jumping over large rocks.

There are many rock wallabies, and you can hand feed them, but I think it's not a good idea.

The park is home to many rock wallabies, and while you can hand-feed them, I don’t think it’s a good idea.

The historic village of Herberton is a museum with between 50 and 60 original buildings, including a post office, pharmacy, car repair shop, and a lot of timber, farming, and mining history.

We then visited the historic village of Herberton. It is an open-air museum with 50 to 60 vintage buildings. You can explore a post office, pharmacy and many other shops. And a big collection of timber and farm machinery as well.

The village is so interesting and beautiful that you could easily spend a whole day there.

We stayed at the Atherton Tablelands Holiday Park for three days to explore the area. The curtain fig tree, near Yungaburra, is over 500 years old, 50 metres tall, and has a trunk circumference of 39 metres.

We explored other areas of the Atherton Tablelands, including the impressive Curtain Fig Tree near Yungaburra. This ancient tree is over 500 years old, standing 50 meters tall with a massive trunk circumference of 39 meters.

Today we booked a tour to see the stunning Undara lava tubs

Then, we did the Lake Barrine Circuit Track. It’s a 2-hour, grade 3 hike in Crater Lakes National Park’s Atherton Tableland. The trail goes through the rainforest and provides a great lake view. A tea house and a short side track lead to the twin Kauri trees.

These twin Kauris are estimated to be over 1,000 years old.

These twin Kauris are thought to be more than a thousand years old.

The wonder of the rainforest, with blossoms growing from a tree stem. Lake Barrine.

Then, at Lake Barrine, we found a wonder in the rainforest, blossoms growing from a tree stem. It is Syzygium cormiflorum, commonly known as the bumpy satinash.

Hasties Swamp, which is not far out of Atherton, is a large wetland with a large range of resident and migratory birds. There are bird hides where you can watch the birds without disturbing them.

Hasties Swamp isn’t far from Atherton. It’s a large wetland with many resident and migratory birds. Visitors can observe the birds from bird hides without causing any disturbance.

The best time to watch is at dawn or dust. We saw numerous Magpie Geese and Whistling Ducks.

The best time to observe the waterbirds is at dawn or dusk. During our visit, we spotted flocks of Magpie Geese and Whistling Ducks.

The Mount Hypipamee Crater is a 30-minute drive from Atherton. The granite walls are 58 metres above the lake, which is 82 metres deep.

Mount Hypipamee Crater is located a 30-minute drive from Atherton. The crater features granite walls that rise 58 meters above the lake, which has a depth of 82 meters.

The Dinner Falls are a nice walk from the Mount Hypipamee Crater and are a good place to have a picnic or take a bath.

Dinner Falls is a scenic and enjoyable walk from Mount Hypipamee Crater, offering a great spot for a picnic or a refreshing swim.

Undara Lava Tubes

The Undara Lava Tubes, in the rugged Gulf Savannah of North Queensland, gives a glimpse into Earth’s fiery past. Created by volcanic eruptions 190,000 years ago. These lava tubes are a network of underground tunnels, some of which are large enough to walk through. They are one of Australia’s most remarkable geological formations.

On our way to the Undara Lava Tubes, we stopped at the Big Millstream Falls, one of Australia’s widest waterfalls.

We stayed here for two days in Mount Surprise, not at the cemetery, in Bedrock caravan park. The accommodations were very nice, and from there we took a bus tour to the Undarra Lava Tubes.

While in Surprise for two days, we didn’t book at the cemetery but at Discovery Parks. The accommodations were very nice, and from there we took a bus tour to the Undara Lava Tubes.

Sunset at Mount Surprise.

It included a walk around the Kalkani Crater rim and a guided tour through three sections of the Undara Lava Tubes. Moderate fitness is required because there will be some climbing over rocks.

The guided tour featured a walk around the Kalkani Crater rim, offering scenic views of the landscape. It also explored all three sections of the Undara Lava Tubes. A reasonable level of fitness is required, as the tour includes walking on uneven terrain and some rock climbing within the tubes.

Inside the Undara lava tubes we saw a colony of microbats.

As we went further into the depths of the Undara lava tubes, the light of our torches found a hidden colony of delicate microbats.

Another photo inside the Undara Lava tubes.

Waterfalls Circuit

The Waterfalls Circuit in the Atherton is a popular tourist route and is a must-visit for nature lovers. On the route are seven stunning and accessible waterfalls to discover.

On the way back to Cairns we visited the Millaa Millaa Waterfalls, which is close to the town Millaa Millaa, about 45 minutes drive from Atherton. The falls are surrounded by lush rainforest and have a nice picnic area. Take a photo or take a dip in the pool.

First, we visited the Millaa Millaa Waterfalls, which are near the town of Millaa Millaa, about 45 minutes from Atherton. The falls are surrounded by lush rainforest and have a nice picnic area. It is a nice place for taking photos or having a dip in the pool.

A short drive on the Waterfalls Circuit are the spectacular Zillie Falls.

Just a short drive further on the Waterfalls Circuit, we reached the picturesque Zillie Falls.

Ellinjaa Falls is another beautiful waterfall of the Waterfalls Circuit, with easy access and a nice spot for a picnic or refreshing dip.

The Ellinjaa Falls is another stunning waterfall along the Waterfalls Circuit. It’s easily accessible and a perfect spot for a picnic or a refreshing swim.

The Mungalli Falls are a short drive away from the Milla Milla.

Mungalli Falls lies just a short 14 minutes drive from Millaa Millaa Falls. It’s the highest fall in the Atherton Tablelands. There are two viewing platforms – watch out, you may see platypus.

Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem, renowned for its breathtaking marine biodiversity. It is home to hundreds of coral species, 1,500 species of fish, as well as sea turtles, sharks, and rays. Each year, millions of visitors explore its vibrant underwater world through boat trips, snorkelling, and scuba diving. However, this natural wonder faces significant threats from rising sea temperatures and pollution, putting its future at risk.

We are now back in Cairns, where our trip began. We tried unsuccessfully to reach the reef from Port Douglas, but the wind was too strong. The weather is perfect, and we booked a reef tour on our last day before flying home.

We finally returned to Cairns, where our trip began. Although we had planned to visit the reef from Port Douglas, strong winds forced us to postpone. With perfect weather on our final day, we took the opportunity and booked a reef tour before flying home.

We had plenty of time before we arrived at the reef. We had morning tea and enjoyed the fantastic views.

We had plenty of time before reaching the reef, so we had a nice morning tea while enjoying the stunning views.

We did two snorkelling sessions, one from our boat, and the other from a sand cay, which was full of seabirds.

We enjoyed two snorkelling sessions one directly from our boat and the other from a sand cay full of seabirds.

View the underwater world

We enjoyed north queensland. The lava tubes and snorkel tour were fantastic

On the way back to Cairns, everyone was relaxed and satisfied after a fantastic day on the reef. The Passions of Paradise tour was exceptionally well-organized, providing high-quality snorkelling gear, a guided reef tour, and a delicious tropical buffet.

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