Cairns to Cape Tribulation drive
Cairns to Cape Tribulation is about 140 km and takes about two and a half hours, with the Daintree River vehicle ferry on the way. The main road north of the ferry is sealed and does not require a 4WD, but the Bloomfield Track beyond Cape Tribulation is a different 4WD route.
Updated
Key facts
- Cairns to Cape Tribulation
- About 2.5 hours on the normal route
- Main northern road
- Sealed from the Daintree Ferry to Cape Tribulation
- Daintree crossing
- Vehicle ferry connects the road across the river
- Ferry hours
- Operates 5am to midnight daily
- Crossing time
- About 15 minutes including vehicle loading and unloading
- Bloomfield Track
- The alternative route from Cooktown is suitable for 4WD only
Cairns to Cape Tribulation
about 2.5 hours
Port Douglas
About 60 minutes from Cairns, before the Daintree River.
Daintree Ferry
The vehicle crossing takes about 15 minutes including loading and unloading.
Cape Tribulation
Reached on the sealed road north of the ferry.
Is Cape Tribulation a sealed-road 2WD trip?
The main road from the Daintree Ferry to Cape Tribulation is sealed. The roads are mostly sealed with some gravel residential streets, and they suit hire cars of all types. The drive from Cairns is around two and a half hours, and the ferry crossing is part of it. The Bloomfield Track beyond Cape Tribulation toward Cooktown is a separate route that can be steep, slippery and rough and requires 4WD; check that your rental agreement allows it before you consider it.
How should you plan the Daintree Ferry?
The vehicle ferry runs continuously between 5am and midnight daily. The crossing itself takes about 15 minutes including boarding and disembarking, but expect lengthy queues during school holidays. Tickets can be bought online in advance, at the ticket booth on the southern side, or aboard the ferry. Phone and internet reception can be patchy on the Daintree Coast, so save your ticket before you approach the river.
Can your hire car make the crossing?
The ferry carries vehicles, but the rental contract determines whether your particular car is allowed aboard and whether permission or a fee applies. Hertz's Australian terms, for example, allow vehicles on certain ferries only with prior permission from Hertz. Check your supplier's current terms for the Daintree crossing before collecting the car; approval to use a sealed road is a different question from ferry permission.
Which stops fit after the crossing?
Continue through the Daintree Coast toward Cape Tribulation. The Kulki Boardwalk looks across Cape Tribulation beach and the rainforest-clad mountains, and the Dubuji Boardwalk is a rainforest walk; select a stop based on the time left after the ferry queue. River and tidal conditions can affect the ferry, so check the ferry operator for service status and QLDTraffic for road conditions and flooding before setting out. Do not rely on the normal drive estimate if the crossing or road is disrupted.
Compare cars at Cairns Airport
Prices are shown in Australian dollars. Check the pickup point and what the agreement allows on the roads in this guide before you book.
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Questions people ask
How long is Cairns to Cape Tribulation?
About two and a half hours by the normal route, around 140 km from Cairns, with the Daintree Ferry on the way.
Do you need a 4WD for Cape Tribulation?
No for the main sealed road from the Daintree Ferry. The Bloomfield Track beyond Cape Tribulation is 4WD territory.
How often does the Daintree Ferry run?
It operates continuously from 5am to midnight daily, with a crossing taking about 15 minutes including loading.
Can I take a rental car on the Daintree Ferry?
Only if the rental agreement permits ferry travel. Check before you collect the vehicle in Cairns.
Can I buy a Daintree Ferry ticket on arrival?
Yes. Tickets can be bought online in advance, at the ticket booth on the southern side, or aboard the ferry. Allow for queues and check current operating updates before setting out.