About Cape Tribulation

Cape Tribulation is a headland and locality in northern Queensland, Australia 110km north of Cairns. It is located within the Daintree National Park and the Wet Tropics World Heritage area.

The locality contains a small number of tourism resorts and backpacker hostels. A sealed road provides access to the area from the south via the Daintree River ferry. North from Cape Tribulation Beach House, a four-wheel drive road - unsealed - continues to the Bloomfield River, Wujal Wujal and Cooktown, and is often closed during the wet season (Feb-Apr).

The traditional owners of the area are the Kuku Yalanji people. Cape Tribulation was named by British explorer, Captain James Cook, as this was the area his vessel, the Endeavour, ran aground on the Great Barrier Reef on 10 June 1770, "because here began all our Troubles". He named the reef “Endeavour Reef” after his ship. Other places he named also reflected his despair at the time and include Mt Sorrow and Weary Bay.

Not much happened for the next 200 years until people discovered that Cape Tribulation is a unique place where the pristine Daintree rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef. These two World Heritage icons, separated by wide sandy beaches have become a great place for young people to visit, experience and to have a fun time.

The Great Barrier Reef is some 19kms due east. It was World Heritage listed in 1981 and is one of the seven natural wonders of the world, stretching some 2,000 km along the Queensland Coast and is on the only living thing visible from outer space.

The village has 2 small supermarkets, two cash dispensing machines, one takeaway food outlet and 5 restaurants. Typical activities include horseriding, jungle surfing, guided nightwalks, 4 wheel drive tours, kayaking, and crocodile cruises to name a few.