Cairns to Cooktown via the Daintree

Port Douglas, Mossman Gorge, the Daintree ferry and Cape Tribulation, then the rough Bloomfield Track north to Cooktown in the dry season.

Distance: 245 km (152 mi)
Driving: 2 h 40 min
Suggested days: 4
Stops: 12
States: Queensland
Updated: May 1, 2026

At a glance: 4-day road trip of about 245 km (152 mi) with 12 stops, from Cairns to James Cook Museum, Cooktown. About 2 h 40 min of driving in total.

More road trips in Queensland · More road trips from Cairns

Route description

Drive the Captain Cook Highway north from Cairns, about 67 km to Port Douglas, with Palm Cove and the sea on your right. Four Mile Beach is patrolled in season; swim only in the signed area, as stingers and crocodiles are possible, especially from November to May. Mossman Gorge, 20 km on, has a 2.4 km walk and is run by Eastern Kuku Yalanji people. The road is sealed and busy; fuel in Port Douglas.

At Daintree Village, join a small-boat river cruise for crocodiles and birds, the safe way to see them. Then continue to the Daintree River cable ferry, the only road link north, a crossing of a few minutes. From the ferry it is roughly 35 km of sealed road through Daintree National Park to Cape Tribulation. Watch for cassowaries and keep to the posted limits on the forest roads.

Spend time at Kulki and Cape Tribulation beach, with boardwalks and a lookout where rainforest meets reef. Do not swim here: crocodiles, and in summer stingers, are present. In the dry season the Bloomfield Track north to Wujal Wujal and Cooktown, about 130 km, is possible for 4WDs and suitable vehicles; it has steep sections and creek crossings and closes after heavy rain. Check local road reports and fuel up before leaving.

Stop at Bloomfield Falls beside Wujal Wujal, visiting with respect, then at the historic Lions Den Hotel near Helenvale. Cooktown is where James Cook beached the Endeavour in 1770. Climb Grassy Hill for the view, then visit the James Cook Museum in the 1888 convent. You can return to Cairns by the inland Mulligan Highway, about 330 km, which is mostly sealed; check conditions in the wet season.

Stop-by-stop itinerary

In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.

1

Cairns
Queensland
Start
2

Port Douglas
Queensland
71 km
3

Mossman Gorge
NaturePort Douglas, Queensland
Boulder-strewn river in the southern block of Daintree National Park, with a 2.4 km loop walk crossing a suspension bridge. Eastern Kuku Yalanji people welcome visitors at the gateway centre; heed signs, as currents and flash floods are real.
17 km
4

Daintree River Cruises
NaturePort Douglas, Queensland
Small boat cruises from Daintree Village on the Daintree River, the safest way to see saltwater crocodiles, tree snakes and kingfishers from a distance. Early morning is cooler and the birdlife is best; never swim in the river.
30 km
5

Daintree River Ferry
OdditiesCape Tribulation, Queensland
Cable ferry across the Daintree River, the only road link north to Cape Tribulation, a short crossing of a few minutes. It runs most of the day into the evening; check for floods and queues in peak season before heading north.
12 km
6

Cape Tribulation
Queensland
23 km
7

Cape Tribulation Beach and Kulki
NatureCape Tribulation, Queensland
Rainforest meets reef at Kulki, with a beach, boardwalks and a lookout at Cape Tribulation. Do not swim: crocodiles and, in summer, stingers are present. Walk the beach, watch for cassowaries and keep to the marked tracks.
2 km
8

Bloomfield Falls, Wujal Wujal
NatureCape Tribulation, Queensland
Waterfall on the Bloomfield River beside the Aboriginal community of Wujal Wujal, a highlight on the Bloomfield Track. Visit with respect, follow local signs and guidance, and avoid swimming where crocodile warnings apply.
26 km
9

Lions Den Hotel
OdditiesCooktown, Queensland
Historic bush pub at Helenvale between Cooktown and the Bloomfield Track, crammed with memorabilia and graffiti. A characterful break on the way north, with camping beside it; check road conditions before continuing.
24 km
10

Cooktown
Queensland
39 km
11

Grassy Hill Lookout
ViewsCooktown, Queensland
Lookout above Cooktown with wide views over the Endeavour River mouth, the town and the reef beyond, beside an old lighthouse. James Cook climbed here in 1770 to look for a way out through the reef.
1 km
12

James Cook Museum, Cooktown
HistoryCooktown, Queensland
Museum in the former Sisters of Mercy convent of 1888, with displays on Cook’s weeks beaching the Endeavour here in 1770, including an anchor and cannon recovered from the reef, plus Guugu Yimithirr heritage and gold-rush history.
1 km

Suggested stages and overnight stops

4 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.

Day 1: Cairns → Port Douglas · 71 km · 0 h 46 min
Day 2: Port Douglas → Daintree River Cruises · 47 km · 0 h 31 minOn the way: Mossman Gorge.
Day 3: Daintree River Cruises → Bloomfield Falls, Wujal Wujal · 63 km · 0 h 41 minOn the way: Daintree River Ferry, Cape Tribulation, Cape Tribulation Beach and Kulki.
Day 4: Bloomfield Falls, Wujal Wujal → James Cook Museum, Cooktown · 64 km · 0 h 42 minOn the way: Lions Den Hotel, Cooktown, Grassy Hill Lookout.

Best time to go

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in February–May and October–November. Hot in January. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.

Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons

FAQs

How long is Cairns to Cooktown via the Daintree?

4-day road trip of about 245 km (152 mi) with 12 stops, from Cairns to James Cook Museum, Cooktown. About 2 h 40 min of driving in total.

How many days do you need for Cairns to Cooktown via the Daintree?

We suggest 4 days: about 2 h 40 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

Where does Cairns to Cooktown via the Daintree start and end?

It starts in Cairns and ends in James Cook Museum, Cooktown.

Which states does Cairns to Cooktown via the Daintree pass through?

Queensland.

When is the best time for Cairns to Cooktown via the Daintree?

The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in February–May and October–November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)