Kuranda (park car at Freshwater Station): Kuranda Train Kuranda Skyrail journey to Caravonica Lakes Birdworld at Kuranda, Butterfly

y Sanctuary, Koala Gardens Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural park Boomerang/Spear throwing and Tjapukai Dance Troupe (nextdoor to skyrail station) Heritage markets at Kuranda Barron Falls (5km of Kuranda Village) Barron River Rafting

Cape Tribulation (Daintree National Park): Through Captain Cook Highway Daintree (cross river by cable ferry) Daintree Rainforest Alexandra Lookout Cape Tribulation beach/ Stingray Bay (Lone Soldier Mangrove)/ Emmagen Beach Daintree Ice Cream Company Cape Tribulation Exotic Fruit Farm Crocodile Express on Daintree River (saltwater crocodiles) Mossman Gorge Reef trips (Sandy Cay Undine Cay)

Cairns Highlands, Waterfalls and Paronella Park (Spanish Castle Ruins):

Paronella Park (Spanish Castle) Ma Mu Canopy Boardwalk (cantilever overlooking Johnston River Gorge) World Heritage Wooroonooren National Park

Mungalli Falls Milla Milla Falls and Milla Milla Lookout Curtain Fig Tree (near Yungaburra) Lake Barrine (wildlife cruise)/ Lake Tinaroo Granite Gorge (12km of Mareeba) (Granite Gorge Nature Park)

Ravenshoe: Millstreem Express Millstreem Falls Windy Hill Volcano (wind farm)

Port Douglas: Outer reef trips (from Marina Mirage) Agincourt Reef Opal Reef Snorkelling/Diving or Quicksilver Semi-Sub

1 Day Self Drive Itinerary

Updated: 03-May-2007 This self drive itinerary offers a handy guideline to base your day of exploring Cape Tribulation and the Daintree Rainforest. Depart Cairns 7:30am and Port Douglas at 8:30am approx.

Mossman Gorge 9:00am approx From Cairns, travel north for 80km along the Cook Highway to Mossman. In the centre of Mossman turn left into Johnston Road. This 5km bitumen road leads directly to the Mossman Gorge car park. Crystal clear water cascades over large granite boulders in the Mossman River gorge. There are two circuit tracks. A short, 400m track provides access to lookouts over the Mossman River. Beyond this is a 2.7km loop track through the rainforest.

Daintree River Cruise 10:00am approx There are many river tours operating frequently throughout the day, some offering a short crocodile and wildlife spotting experiences while other interpretive cruises cater for special interest groups such as birdwatchers, naturalists and photographers. Bookings not required.

Daintree Discovery Centre 11:00am approx The Daintree Discovery Centre is an award-winning world class interpretive facility that allows visitors easy access to this unique rainforest wilderness via boardwalk tours, a 23 metre high Canopy Tower, Aerial Walkway and comprehensive Display Centre. The Discovery Centre offers visitors an opportunity to learn about and explore one of the few remaining unspoiled pockets of lowland rainforest in Far North Queensland.

Lunch at Coconut Beach Resort 1:00pm approx Based on the design of an Indonesian long house, the Cape Restaurant and Bar enjoys views over the pool to the sands of Coconut Beach. It's a great venue for the busy explorer, a lunchtime salad and sandwich buffet is on offer, as well as a lunch and snack menu for those with a little more time to relax.

Cape Tribulation Beach 2:30pm approx This is the showcase beach of the area. Protected by the Cape Tribulation headland, the water here is almost always calm and crystal clear. Take the boardwalk up the headland to the view point that provides magnificent views of where the Rainforest meets the Reef.

Daintree Icecream Company 4:00pm approx Don't miss stopping at The Icecream Company on your journey home, it is a must for any daytrip to Cape Tribulation! All the ice creams are made on the premises from tropical fruits grown in the companys own orchards such as Black Sapote, Soursop, Wattle Seed and Jackfruit. The ice cream is primarily sold as a fixed sample pack - four flavours in a rather large cup for $5. Pretty good value, really!

Return to Port Douglas 5:30pm and Cairns at 6:30pm approx.

Tablelands Self Drive

Updated: 28-Feb-2007

Self Drive the Tablelands Self driving the Tablelands is highly recommended as this provides greater flexibility, with more options to be able to visit all the main attractions as well as some of the region's best kept secrets! There is an excellent road network, healthy rural towns for shopping and supplies, and plenty of accommodation options to choose from. The Tablelands are accessible from the coast via four major highways: the Palmerston Highway near Innisfail; the Gillies Highway near Gordonvale; the Kennedy Highway which passes through Kuranda and Smithfield to the north of Cairns; and the Rex Range Road near Mossman. Kuranda Highway: The Kuranda Highway is a gentle road and a pleasure to drive. Just north of Cairns City you will need to take the turnoff at the Smithfield Shopping Centre roundabout. This is the very start of the Kuranda Range Highway. As you climb the range you will travel through lush, green rainforest. The views of the Coral Sea are spectacular. At the top of the range is the village of Kuranda, but if you continue on your drive for a further 30 minutes you will eventually reach Mareeba. The flora along this road varies from thick rainforest to Australian scrub. If you intend to continue past Mareeba, you will turn left at the major intersection. This long straight road will take you to the tiny township of Tolga, and then onto Atherton or Lake Tinaroo. Along the Kennedy Highway between Kuranda and Mareeba are Davies Creek National Park and Emerald Creek Falls, both of which are set in the drier eucalypt forests and granite boulders of the Lamb Range. Gillies Highway: This route from Cairns to the Tablelands will take you up the Gillies Highway through the luscious rainforest. The Gillies Highway ascends the mountain ranges starting at the small town of Gordonvale (30km south of Cairns). Over the next 30 kilometres you climb some 600-1000 metres to the Atherton Tablelands encountering spectacular lookouts along the way which enable you to take in the view of the valleys deep in the Great Dividing Range. From Port Douglas, Mossman or Daintree Rainforest: The Rex Range is regarded as the most beautiful ways to travel to the Atherton Tablelands. This road begins at the base of the mountains near Port Douglas (69km north of Cairns), so it is ideal if youre visiting Port Douglas in the morning and then intend to head up the mountains in the afternoon. Alternatively, you could make this trip in reverse. Just south of Mossman, 12 kilometres north of Port Douglas, the Rex Highway will take you through the Mossman sugar cane paddocks before climbing the Rex Range to Julatten and Mt Molloy. It is a 75 kilometre trip to Mareeba. From Innisfail: Starting at Innisfail (93km south of Cairns), the Palmerston Highway stretches through rich Wet Tropics rainforests of Johnstone River Valley to Millaa Millaa. Picnic areas, waterfalls and spectacular lookouts can be found along the way. Although this is the longest route from Cairns to the Atherton Tablelands, many people beli

Rainforest Dome Reef Flights (Great Barrier Reef Heli, Down Under Heli, Quicksilver Heli, Daintree Air, Reef Watch,
Cairns Sea Planes)

Semi Submersibles ( Reef Magic, Sunlover Cruises, Great Adventures, Big Cat and Quciksilver) Glass bottom boat Pontoon Reef Trips