Cairns Connect Overview
Most people stop and visit the Daintree on the way to Cape Tribulation. The Daintree rainforest is considered to be one of the most ancient rainforests in the world. It is a World Heritage protected area and when you visit this timeless place you can easily see why. For nature lovers the Daintree will simply blow your mind. Doing a river cruise is essential and this is the most likely place to see a saltwater crocodile in the wild (keep your toes out of the water).

Population
Part of the Port Douglas Shire, 3800 people in total. In the actual Daintree there are only several hundred permanent residents living in this area.

Distance from closest major city
Approximately 110km north of Cairns (partially unsealed road). Once again the Daintree is well sign posted and easy to find.

Daintree River Crossing, Cape Tribulation

History
The Daintree Village was originally established as a logging town for timber workers seeking the valuable rainforest timbers, in particular, Red Cedar.

Main Industry
Tourism is by far the number one industry in the Daintree, however there is still considerable farming in the surrounding region.

Feel of the town
There are two parts to the Daintree. The first is the actual Daintree Village which is situated on the banks of the Daintree River. It is small, quaint and typically North Queensland. There are a few shops, galleries and general services. Buildings seem to be dispersed amongst dense tropical rainforest.

The second part of the Daintree is the river crossing which takes you to Cape Tribulation and on to Cooktown. The ferry operates from 6am to 12 midnight every day but it is closed periodically for maintenance. You can ring the Daintree Tourist Information Centre on (07) 4098 6133 for information.

Things to see
The main attraction is the Daintree River. A World Heritage listed area considered to be one of the best bird watching environments in Australia. There are walking tracks, rainforest interpretive centres and plenty of places to sit and take in the overwhelming atmosphere. There are a number of art galleries and shops in the village.

Daintree National Park, Daintree

Things to do
Daintree River cruises are the most common activity. There are over a dozen operators and you can book directly or with the tour booking services in the Village. There are also fishing trips and guided rainforest walks available. The Daintree is easily accessible in a conventional vehicle. There are numerous day tours available from Cairns and Port Douglas and Coral Coaches run scheduled services daily.

» Visit Tours To Go’s extensive range of Daintree tours

Places to Stay
Due to the increase in popularity of the Daintree area over the past few years there has been an increase in the type and quantity of accommodation available. There are a number of Bed and Breakfasts (B&B's), caravan parks and resort style accommodation properties available.

» Visit the Daintree Rainforest website’s selection of Daintree accommodation

Places to Eat
There are small cafes set in the rainforest and in the Village. The Daintree is a good place to try some of North Queensland's more unusual fruits.

» Visit Cairns Dining’s Daintree and Cape Tribulation sections

Services
There are only limited services available in the Daintree area. It is recommended that travellers stock up in Mossman or Port Douglas before travelling to the Daintree area.