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Cape Tribulation

• Renowned for it's scenic landscape, remote beaches and the world heritage rainforest of Daintree National Park

• Kulki (Cape Tribulation) Beach is on the northern side of Cape Tribulation headland

• This beach is the most sheltered location when the south-east trade winds are blowing

• The fringing reef is a great place to explore at low tide

• A range of accommodation and activities is available

Cape Tribulation  is towards the end of the sealed road, 35 kilometres north of the Daintree River Ferry.   The bitumen road ends at The Beach House, 1.5 km north of the Kulki turnoff.  North of Cape Tribulation the Bloomfield Track continues to Cooktown. It is suitable for 4WD only.   

Activities, tours and attractions - The rainforest can be explored by self-guided trails, guided walks and horse rides. The reef can be visited for a half day.

Cape Tribulation is also home to 2 interpretive walks - Dubuji Boardwalk (a 1.8 km boardwalk through the forest and mangroves) and Madja Botanical Walk (a boardwalk and pathway through the high value Daintree coastal rainforest). Madja is 10 minutes south of town while Dubuji is off the main street and exits onto Myall Beach.  

Accommodation - A good range of accommodation styles exists in the valley from eco-retreats, mid range and budget resorts, bed and breakfasts, holiday houses, farmstays and camping grounds. Accommodation houses offer rooms, set in natural surroundings, with something to suit everyone. 

Services - most conveniences are available at Cape Tribulation. There are two small supermarkets, bottleshops, cafes, ATMs and several restaurants all within walking distance. 

History - The name Cape Tribulation can be traced back to Lieutenant James Cook who was trying to find a way through, what he described as ‘the insane labyrinth’. His ship ran into Endeavour Reef, north-northeast of Cape Tribulation. He wrote: “I name this point Cape Tribulation, because here began all my troubles.”

Driving north to Cape Tribulation there are great views to the east, over the Great Barrier Reef, and north to the Cape itself. The road was only put through to Cape Tribulation in 1962.

The first person to drive to Cape Tribulation was Marion Swenson in an old, ex army, Bren gun carrier. She drove along Coconut Beach, across Myall Creek mouth (at low tide) and up into Mason’s property via the existing track to the wharf in Myall Creek. Later, the last section of road was completed, eliminating the need to drive on the beach.  

Equatorial climate - Cape Tribulation valley resembles a giant amphitheatre, with a semicircle of hills dominated by Mt Sorrow (850m) and Mt Hemmant (1000m). The southeastern rain, trapped by this valley, results in a tropical climate with high temperatures, humidity and rainfall - ideal for growing rare tropical fruit. Two farms at Cape Tribulation grow fruit normally found only in equatorial areas - tropical fruit tasting is at Cape Trib Farm.  

Pioneers - The Mason family were the first white people to settle in the valley having previously had an unsuccessful farming venture at Cow Bay. They arrived in 1932 and tried many things, including farming fruit and vegetables, timber cutting and cattle. For many years Hayles’ boat was the only real transport in and out of the area, passing Cape Tribulation on the way to Cooktown, and then returning, later in the week, on the way back to Cairns. All produce was shipped out by boat: Masons had their own boats during the timber cutting era. 

Early tourism - Backpackers ‘discovered’ Cape Tribulation in the early 1980s and it became a part of the India-Goa-Bali trail. Its status as an icon was reinforced during the 1982 - 84 Bloomfield Road protests that led to World Heritage listing in 1988. The first accommodation, ‘Pilgrim Sands’ (1977) was located on the site that is now Cape Trib Beach House. The first local tours were Mason’s Tours in 1981.