Mossman Gorge Walk: Rainforest Trails and Cassowaries
After our first night in the campervan at Tropic Breeze Caravan Park, we kicked off the day with a visit to the Mossman Gorge Centre, located at the southern end of Daintree National Park. A Mossman Gorge walk is a must if you're in Cairns.
Cassowary Encounter on the Drive
The drive from Port Douglas was quick, easy and well worth it. En route, we encountered a male cassowary with its two baby chicks crossing the road! Only the male takes care of the chicks until they turn 16 months old.
These giant flightless birds are hard to observe with only 4,000 remaining in Australia, making them critically endangered. We were incredibly lucky to see 3 of them, and we hoped to see more during our Mossman Gorge walk.
Mossman Gorge Centre
As we arrived at the Indigenous ecotourism centre, we parked and started with a visit to the Indigenous Art gallery. The gallery promoted arts and crafts from the local Kuku Yalanji artists, the traditional owners of this land.
Shuttle buses departed from the visitor's centre every 15 minutes, but we elected to walk the 2 kilometers down to the Mossman Gorge walk and saved $9.50 each. The walk itself was pleasant through the rainforest edge.
Walking Through Ancient Rainforest
We passed the Aboriginal community, arrived at the entrance, and followed the signs through the rainforest. We strolled at a leisurely pace for almost 2 hours admiring the lush vegetation and occasional wildlife, including one Boyd's forest dragon.
The creature with its yellow dewlap under its chin was hard to spot as it stayed very still even when we were up close. This rainforest dragon is endemic to the Daintree region - another special sighting!
Swimming Warnings and Swollen Rivers
The weather was cloudy, hot and humid. Extreme weather in Cairns over the past few days had swollen the rivers. Swimming was not recommended as strong undercurrents in swimming holes made them extremely dangerous. Other visitors to the Mossman Gorge walk seemed to ignore the warnings - not a good idea!
Heading North to Cape Tribulation
After the hike, we jumped back into the campervan and kept venturing north into the Daintree Forest. After crossing the iconic Daintree cable ferry, we continued our journey to Cape Tribulation.
It definitely wasn't high season. We found ourselves alone in a deserted campsite lost in the middle of nowhere. No network connection. No neighbors to chat with. Just dozens of flying foxes at dusk streaming into the night sky in search of food - a spectacular sight!
Have you done the Mossman Gorge walk? Did you see any cassowaries or other wildlife? Did you take the shuttle or walk down? Did you brave swimming despite warnings? What did you think of the Daintree region? Share your Mossman Gorge experiences below!
Tips for Mossman Gorge Walk
- Shuttle bus: $9.50 per person each way OR walk the 2 km access road for free. Indigenous Art gallery at visitor center is worth browsing.
- Allow 2-3 hours for leisurely walk through rainforest. Trail is well-marked circuit through stunning vegetation. Go early for wildlife spotting and fewer crowds.
- Mossman Gorge is at southern end of Daintree National Park, ~20 minutes north of Port Douglas. Traditional land of Kuku Yalanji people. Part of Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.
- Cassowary spotting! Drive carefully - cassowaries cross roads, especially mornings/evenings. Males care for chicks. Only 4,000 left in Australia. Never approach or feed them - they're dangerous!
- Easy circuit walk suitable for most fitness levels. Boardwalks and paths well-maintained. Can be slippery when wet. Wear closed shoes with grip.
- Swimming warnings: After heavy rain, rivers swell and currents are deadly. Heed warning signs! Even in normal conditions, be cautious. Crocodiles can be present in Far North Queensland waterways.
- Look for Boyd's forest dragons (rainforest lizards with yellow dewlaps), tropical birds, and unique Daintree vegetation. This is ancient rainforest - over 135 million years old!
- Continue north to Cape Tribulation via Daintree River cable ferry. Small fee for vehicles. Ferry runs continuously during daylight. Gateway to where rainforest meets reef!
- Camping at Cape Tribulation: Basic campgrounds available. Expect no phone signal. Flying foxes at dusk are spectacular! Bring supplies - shops limited.
Note:
The Mossman Gorge walk was a perfect introduction to the Daintree. Seeing a cassowary family, spotting a Boyd's forest dragon, and walking through ancient rainforest made it unforgettable. Combined with continuing north to Cape Tribulation, it was a spectacular day exploring where the rainforest meets the reef!