There is no entry fee for the Daintree National Park at Cape Tribulation, it is free to enter, other than the privatised sections like the Mossman Gorge. However, you will have to pay (quite a lot) to use the ferry to enter the Daintree Rainforest north of the river. There are two main parts of the Daintree National Park, Mossman Gorge is south of the Daintree River, the Daintree Rainforest extends north of the river through Cape Tribulation. We’ll discuss admission, costs, charges, and tours in this local guide; we live nearby. This post may contain affiliate links.
In late 2026, visitors can enter the Daintree National Park (Rainforest) north of the Daintree River, and most attractions (like the Daintree Discovery Centre (book tickets here) are open. There are still some delays due to road repairs after the damage caused by Cyclone/Tropical Storm Jasper in the early wet season of 2023. We are approaching the wet season of 2026/2027, so things can change daily if we have severe storms. We are local, we will update as needed.
Tourists can cross the river by ferry into the Daintree Rainforest, in their own vehicles, or by tour bus. The ferry costs about $57 Au return for a car currently, but this varies by vehicle and may change.
The Cairns to Port Douglas road (Captain Cook Highway) is open, with ongoing roadworks delays.
You should be able to visit Cow Bay and Thornton Beach, and Daintree accommodation is mostly open. The boardwalks have been repaired/are under repair. These are free.
A creek crossing within the Daintree National Park
In this post, we explain the best ways to visit the Daintree National Park and how much it costs to visit. We also give you a useful map of attractions.
Daintree National Park. Where the rainforest meets the reef.
Daintree National Park views.
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The Daintree National Park is between 80 and 150 Km north of Cairns, in Tropical North Queensland. (source)
It is easy to enter the Daintree National Park in your car, or to take a guided tour.
A Daintree National Park viewpoint, with a view of the rainforest and the mouth of the Daintree River. This photo was taken at the Alexandra Lookout.
Daintree National Park is Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal Land or CYPAL and is made up of the Mossman Gorge and Cape Tribulation sections, with the Daintree River and Daintree Village cutting between the two.
Daintree National Park Map
We’ve marked the Daintree National Park’s location on the map here. We’ve added pins for the attractions in the Daintree.
Daintree National Park Admission Fees
While the Daintree National Park is free to visit, there is no admission charge, visitors do need to pay to visit Mossman Gorge, or to use the Daintree River Ferry to cross to the north side of the river.
South of the river you can’t really drive through the Daintree Rainforest, north of the river you can.
North of the river you will find the Daintree Discovery Centre, beautiful unspoiled beaches, designated boardwalks, a few natural swimming holes and a scattering of tourist facilities and hotels.
There are crocodiles in the Daintree National Park, so please don’t think these beaches are a good place for a swim. There are nearby swimming holes that are considered safe. You can swim at Port Douglas’s Four Mile Beach, check the status of Stinger Season.
The Daintree National Park is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Wet Tropics of Queensland, it was listed in 1988.
How To See Daintree National Park
It is very easy to visit the Daintree National Park from Cairns, Port Douglas, or Palm Cove. If you have your own car, you can simply drive up to the ferry, just north of Wonga Beach.
If you prefer to take a tour, we list some of the best ways to see, and experience, the Daintree National Park below.
Daintree National Park Tour Bus (Daintree Discovery Tours, our first choice below)
There is no to very little public transport in this region, you can’t easily catch a bus to the Daintree, and there is no train line north of Cairns. Your best options for visiting the Daintree are below.
Daintree National Park Tours and Tickets
We think the best Great Barrier Reef tour from Port Douglas, is this one.
Daintree Discovery Tours are a good choice as they take you to Mossman Gorge, for a cruise on the river, and to the Daintree north of the river on a day tour. This tour is only available from Port Douglas, people staying in Cairns or Palm Cove can drive up and join the tour in Port. This is a great tour, including an Aboriginal “welcome to country” with the Kuku Yalangi. Book here.
From Cairns, book a full-day tour to Mossman Gorge and Daintree, including an optional river cruise and indigenous experience. Book here.
From Port Douglas, book a half-day (morning or afternoon) tour to Mossman Gorge and the Daintree River. This is a cheaper option and great if you’re short of time. Book here.
To take a night walking tour in the Daintree Rainforest, spotting wildlife in the dark, go here. This particular tour is for families with young kids, there is also an adult tour.
It’s also possible to go trekking in the Daintree National Park, look here.
How Much Does it Cost To Visit Daintree National Park Using the Daintree Ferry?
At the time of updating (September 2026), the cost of the Daintree Ferry for a motor vehicle was $57 Au return. You can normally pay this at the ferry itself, or book online.
What’s the river ferry like to the Daintree National Park? This is it. It’s a drive on drive off ferry, the crossing takes about 10 minutes.
How Much Does it Cost To Visit Mossman Gorge? (Part of the Daintree National Park)
The admission price for Mossman Gorge (it is part of Daintree National Park) is currently $15.50 Au for an adult. This is actually the cost of the shuttle bus to the gorge from the car park and visitor centre. Visitors are not allowed to go to the Gorge without paying for the shuttle. Children are cheaper, babies, toddlers and infants are free.
Obviously, prices and terms change, please check for yourself at the Mossman Gorge website.
Do You Need a 4×4 or Offroad Vehicle to Enter the Daintree National Park?
A Creek crossing in the Daintree National Park, many years ago.
Many of the roads within the Daintree National Park are sealed and good today. You can drive for a long way into the park without a 4-wheel-drive vehicle. There may still be a few creek crossings further into the park.
Can You Stay in the Daintree National Park?
Yes, there are various hotels, campsites, lodges, and campgrounds within the Daintree National Park and near the park.
Accommodation options include the award-winning Daintree Eco Lodge (click through to check it out, but this one is expensive!). The Daintree Ecolodge is south of the Daintree River, making it convenient for Port Douglas if you plan to take a reef trip.
A cheaper place to stay in the Daintree is Daintree Heritage Lodge, this place has rainforest cabins at a moderate price point. It gets rave reviews, particularly for its natural freshwater swimming hole. See it here. This rainforest lodge also has family rooms.
For more information on the Daintree Rainforest, River, and National Park, hit the “Daintree” tab here. We also have tabs for Port Douglas information, for Cairns, and The Tablelands.
Alyson is a British medical scientist who jumped ship to chase dreams. A former Chief Biomedical Scientist in London hospitals, she started in website creation and travel writing in 2011, becoming a full-time blogger, travel writer and a published author.
A lifetime of wanderlust and over 6 years of full-time travel, plus a separate 12 month gap year, has given Alyson and the family some travel expert smarts to share with you on this world travel site.
Today the family travels extensively to update this site and continue the mission to visit every country, while running a self-sufficient homestead. (https://tropicalfoodgarden.com)
