One of the most exciting adventures in the Daintree Rainforest is a river cruise!
The Daintree Rainforest is millions of years old and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It has a large, winding river dividing one part of the rainforest from the other. In order to cross the river, you’ll have to take a Daintree River cruise!
How Long is the Cruise?
The Daintree River cruise can take anywhere between 1 to 1.5 hours. Rather than directly crossing the river, you’ll have the opportunity to coast along the water. You will have a local guide on board who will eagerly tell you about the rainforests history and various flora and fauna to try and spot.
The river begins in the Great Dividing Range in the national park and cuts through the rainforest. There are two tributaries connecting to the river before it reaches the Cairns Marine National Park and ends in the Coral Sea.
Things to Keep an Eye Out For
Since it’s such a massive rainforest, there is an infinite number of flora and fauna to see. Specifically on the cruise, you can keep an eye out for cassowaries, fish and saltwater crocodiles.
If you happen to pass by any fascinating critters on the cruise, your guide will point it out to make sure that nobody misses out!
Best Time of the Year to Go
There is really no wrong time to enjoy a Daintree River Cruise. The cruise operates every day of the week, with departure times five times per day. The time of year that you choose to go will just offer a slightly different experience.
If you travel during the wet season, from November to April, the river will be large and bold. There may be more rain, but there will probably be fewer travellers. It will also be easier to spot saltwater crocodiles lounging on the river banks.
If you travel during the dry season, from May to October, there likely won’t be any rain. You will be able to spot heaps of wildlife during this time as well. Regardless of when you choose to travel, you’ll have a great time on the cruise.
What to Bring
If you’re travelling during the wet season, you’ll probably want to bring a poncho or umbrella just to be safe. You should also bring sunscreen to wear even if the sky is cloudy. Finally, you’ll want to bring your camera to take some photos to remember the experience.
Join a Daintree Rainforest Tour
If you want to take a Daintree River cruise as part of a tour, consider this Daintree Rainforest tour!
The tour will depart from Cairns and take you into the gorgeous rainforest. The first stop is Mossman Gorge, where you can take a refreshing dip in the pristine waters. Then we will take a cable ferry to Cape Tribulation and enjoy the scenery from the Alexandra Range Lookout. You will then take a stroll to view wildlife, before jumping on a Daintree River cruise. After an exciting day, we will visit one more lookout then make our way back to Cairns.
The Daintree River Cruise is a fun, eco-friendly activity to enjoy while visiting the rainforest. Don’t miss out on this exciting activity when visiting the Daintree Rainforest!
