Cape Tribulation
Just an hour and a half north of Cairns in the heart of Daintree National Park is Cape Tribulation, a headland situated on the northern side of the Daintree River. Cape Tribulation and the nearby town of Port Douglas are located at the only point where two World Heritage sites, the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef meet.
The area was named by explorer Captain James Cook in the 1700's when his ship, ‘The Endeavour’ scraped a reef and he named that point Cape Tribulation, because there began all his troubles. Still an off the beaten track destination, you can explore the awe-inspiring region by 4WD or walk in the footsteps of Captain Cook.
In 1983, Cape Tribulation became iconic due to the Bloomfield Track blockade. Protests erupted when the local government planned a coastal road through the rainforest to connect Cape Tribulation to Cooktown. This lead to the recognition of the Daintree Rainforest’s value, resulting in the region surrounding Cape Tribulation gaining World Heritage listing in 1988.
The gorgeous surrounding rainforest is home to a diverse range of plants and animals including over 3,000 plant species and the world's largest fern tree. Here you’ll find the adorable small tree-kangaroo, varieties of birds and reptiles with many animal species still being discovered.