Whether you’re visiting Cairns and Port Douglas in the school holidays or just looking to escape for a while, the Daintree Rainforest can be a fantastic place to explore. Bring along the entire family and discover how to do the Daintree with kids. From the educational to the tasty to the interactive, our rainforest has it all. For more Daintree family ideas, read on…
1. River Drift Snorkelling Tour with Back Country Bliss Adventures
Combining the best of the rainforest through swimming, snorkelling, drifting and walking, the River Drift Snorkelling tour by Back Country Bliss Adventures is (in our humble opinion) one of the best ways to experience the Daintree with kids. Popular with children and adults alike, this half-day tour will see you floating down the relaxing Mossman River, snorkelling with the diverse range of freshwater fish and gaining a greater understanding for this incredible world heritage listed area.
The River Drift Snorkelling tour is generally suitable for ages 3 and older with a range of swimming abilities when the river is low (which is most of the year). During our wetter months when the river level is higher, the faster flowing water is only suitable for people 15 years and older with strong swimming abilities. If you’re not sure, please get in touch and we’ll gladly assist you.
2. Daintree Discovery Centre
The Daintree Discovery Centre is a great way to slip a bit of education into your family holiday. This multi-level rainforest interpretation centre allows you to explore the forest floor right up to the tips of the rainforest canopy. Your ticket also includes a self-guided audio tour with a children’s audio tour designed for children aged 5 to 9 years old making it a great stop to add on your Daintree with kids holiday.
3. Daintree Ferry
An exciting activity for the younger kids is simply the method of getting to the Daintree. The Daintree Ferry connects the northern Daintree Rainforest with Port Douglas and Cairns. Operating daily, the ferry takes a quick 5 minutes to cross the river but makes for an exciting adventure for the kids.
4. Daintree Ice Cream
Who could turn away ice cream? Not us. The Daintree Ice Cream Company is a unique ice creamery in the Daintree. Serving an exotic range of flavours, the choice of the day changes daily depending on what is in season and what is particularly yummy. Work off the sugar high afterwards with a walk through the surrounding orchard.
5. Crocodile spotting on the Daintree River
While visiting the Daintree with kids you can’t go pass a crocodile spotting tour. We recommend Bruce Belcher’s Daintree River Cruises where over the course of an hour you’ll cruise along the Daintree River spotting crocodiles from the safety of the boat. This is a family friendly Daintree activity that will thrill both kids and adults alike.
6. Mossman Gorge
Want to make sure that when you visit the Daintree with kids they take something away from the experience? Then you need to visit Mossman Gorge. Only a 20 minute drive from Port Douglas, Mossman Gorge is home to the Kuku Yalanji people and is not only incredibly beautiful but a brilliant place to connect with the Kuku Yalanji culture on a Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk.
You can book your Mossman Gorge experience in alongside your River Drift Snorkelling with the Back Country Bliss Adventures’ Mossman Gorge Adventure Day. This is a great way to see both the Mossman River and Mossman Gorge in the Daintree with kids as you will spend more time in the rainforest than any other Tropical North Queensland day tour.
7. Cape Tribulation Boardwalk
Show your family two world heritage sites in one location with a visit to Cape Tribulation. Walk along the Cape Tribulation boardwalk through the rainforest plants before arriving at the beach overlooking the Coral Sea and the Great Barrier Reef. By visiting Cape Tribulation and the Daintree with kids, your children will see with their own eyes the environments they are learning about in school.
8. Explore the Great Barrier Reef from the Daintree
There’s no reason why visiting the Great Barrier Reef and visiting the Daintree with kids have to be kept seperate! Departing from Cape Tribulation, you can explore the Great Barrier Reef with Ocean Safari on a half-day Great Barrier Reef tour.
