The best Cape Tribulation accommodation for a tropical stay

Emily MurphyBy Emily Murphy
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Want to see the only place in the world where two UNESCO World Heritage sites collide? The best Cape Tribulation accommodation will guide you.

Cape Tribulation is known as the place where the Daintree Rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef, and the good news is that Cape Tribulation accommodation caters to travellers of all sorts.

It’s important to note that phone service is super limited up here, but you can find patchy coverage along Cape Tribulation Road near Turtle Rock Cafe within Safari Lodge (more on this popular spot further below). Be prepared to log off with offline maps and a couple of good books before heading off, because most of the area’s stays don’t offer Wi-Fi. However, luxury digs and budget accommodation at caravan parks and camp sites (take a squiz at our Cape Tribulation camping guide for top spots) means there’s something for everyone. Presenting our favourites.

1. Alkira Resort House and Rainforest Retreat

the Alkira Resort House and Rainforest Retreat exterior
The stunning Alkira Resort House and Rainforest Retreat was designed to withstand Category 5 cyclones. (Image: Supplied)

Alkira is an architectural masterpiece in the heart of the Daintree. The award-winning, off-grid, carbon-neutral property is powered by renewable energy, the astonishing work of acclaimed Aussie architect Charles Wright. The property is made up of six cantilevered wings that emerge from the lake as though they’re rising from its depths, perfected as Category 5 cyclone-proof to ensure total peace of mind no matter the season you visit.

If you’ve got a big group going, this Cape Tribulation accommodation is a winner, sleeping up to 12 guests in its six bedrooms and treating all to unparalleled luxury through a central swimming pool, state-of-the-art gym, an outdoor jacuzzi and a private beach that stretches out over 1.2 kilometres.

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2. mist

the kitchen and dining at Mist Eco-Lodge, Cape Tribulation
The spacious eco-lodge opens up to an outdoor deck. (Image: Toby Stanley Photography)

Home to just three freestanding, self-contained pavilions, mist is one of the most luxurious and spacious Cape Tribulation accommodation picks out there. Each pavilion boasts a covered outdoor deck and a day bed to pop you right into the thick of your surroundings. Inside, it’s air-conditioned (thank goodness), plus there’s a king-size bed, three-seater lounge, walk-in rain shower and well-equipped kitchenette to help you switch into holiday mode quick sticks.

The eco-lodge sits at the base of Mount Sorrow, named after the literal mist that envelops its peak. Completely off-grid, mist uses solar power to run the property, and in even better news, there’s a bit of Wi-Fi to lap up if you struggle to disconnect entirely.

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3. Ferntree Rainforest Lodge

the Ferntree Rainforest Lodge accommodation in Cape Tribulation
Thriving flora and fauna envelop the 28-acre property. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Ferntree Rainforest Lodge is a family-owned, environmentally friendly resort where guests can spy endemic nature and wildlife right from their room. The Cape Tribulation accommodation offers six room types, spanning luxury garden lofts to the ‘Budget Room’ which still comes with a king bed and ensuite bathroom.

Ferntree’s in-house Cassowary Bar & Restaurant features Balinese-style decor and dishes up truly Australian dishes like a ‘Great Aussie Grill Platter’ collating kangaroo, crocodile and local whiting among other delicacies. The 28-acre property also has a swimming pool and picturesque gardens filled with thriving flora and fauna including a bioluminescent fungi, more commonly known as ghost mushrooms, that glows in the dark. For real.

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4. Cape Trib Beach House

the pool at Cape Trib Beach House
Cool off in the outdoor pool in the middle of the rainforest. (Image: Cape Trib Beach House)

Offering direct access to Cape Tribulation Beach, plus its own restaurant, bar and saltwater swimming pool (because you don’t want to swim in a croc-infested ocean, right?), Cape Trib Beach House welcomes people from all walks of life. With no Wi-Fi or phone service, the Cape Tribulation accommodation is super peaceful, ensuring you thoroughly disconnect.

Attracting solo adventurers, families and groups since 2000, the digs range from studio-style and multi-bedroom cottages to the six-person-friendly ‘Endeavour Family Cabin’ which also offers a private balcony. An absolute bucket list moment when you stay here is waking up early to watch the sunrise on the beach, located just mere steps away from the rooms.

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5. PK’s Jungle Village

an aerial view of PK’s Jungle Village, Cape Tribulation accommodation
The lush accommodation is just a short walk from the beach. (Image: PK’s Jungle Village)

If you’re venturing up this way on a shoestring, PK’s Jungle Village is a budget Cape Tribulation accommodation option in the hustle and bustle of it all. Offering private cabins and dormitory-style accommodation with air-con, as well as camping and caravanning, the hot spot is just a short walk from the beach. Hit up the large pool in the afternoon before kicking the party on to The Jungle Bar where real holiday memories are made. It’s rocking until midnight every night, with pizzas flying hot out of the oven until 9pm. Keen for an earlier night? An affordable dinner menu is available from 5.30pm to 8pm.

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6. Safari Lodge

Centrally located Safari Lodge offers cabins and camping, including powered sites for caravans and motorhomes, plus a swimming pool and the Turtle Rock Cafe, which sells Wi-Fi access for a small fee. Sleep in the jungle and enjoy the sounds of the rainforest at night — just make sure you rise early enough to experience sunrise over beautiful Myall Beach.

The Cape Tribulation accommodation is operated by Ocean Safari, a tour company facilitating some of the best things to do in Cape Tribulation. Choose from three boat charters taking guests out to the best Great Barrier Reef snorkelling spots, including morning expeditions, afternoon ones and private journeys.

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7. Cape Tribulation Camping

an aerial view of a beach in Cape Tribulation, Tropical North Queensland
Sleep right on the beach. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Have tent, will rough it? Consider Cape Tribulation Camping, which serves as the only true beachfront camping in the region. Just a short walk from the centre of town, the site offers unpowered sites and powered sites to set up motorhomes and caravans. Joining the party in 2025 are six even fancier options, the ‘Beach Huts’ which come with air-con, queen beds, optional sofa beds if you’ve got kids, all linen, a fridge, and tea and coffee-making facilities. While there are no bathrooms in there, they do have their own private outdoor shower, and the amenities block is just beyond a paved footpath.

Elsewhere on site, there’s a restaurant open until 8pm every evening, plus barbecue facilities and the team can even whip you up a barbecue pack of food if you’re happy to let somebody else steer for a change.

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Originally written by Emily Murphy with updates by Kristie Lau-Adams

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Emily Murphy
Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
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5 of the best Sunshine Coast day trips

    Kate BettesBy Kate Bettes
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    City buzz, gourmet trails, surf breaks and art scenes are all at your fingertips.

    When it comes to planning a trip, picking a holiday destination is the easy part. The real dilemma is where to set yourself up for the night. Do you go coastal, city, or countryside? Somewhere remote and rugged, or right in the action? Luckily, the Sunshine Coast, and huge number of amazing Sunshine Coast day trips, have kindly made the choice for you.

    Ditch the hotel-hopping and suitcase-lugging. Instead, base yourself at Novotel Sunshine Coast or Mantra Mooloolaba , where big-city culture, vine-covered valleys, and theme parks are all within a two-hour drive.

    1. Sunshine Coast to Brisbane

    Drive time: 1 hour 20 minutes (105km)

    Shake off the sand from your sandals and swap the beach for the throb of the Queensland capital. Ease in gently with a bougainvillea-filled stroll through South Bank, iced latte in hand, before cooling off at Streets Beach lagoon – Brisbane’s answer to the coast (but without the waves).

    Once firmly in big-city mode, hit up the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) , home to Australia’s largest collection of modern and contemporary artworks. Dive into the past at the Queensland Museum, where prehistoric fossils of Australian dinosaurs and megafauna collide with First Nations cultural collections and interactive science exhibits.

    All this learning got you hungry? Howard Smith Wharves calls. Here, riverside dining delivers breweries with meat-forward menus, Japanese fine dining and overwater bars. If you’ve got room for more, Fortitude Valley’s shopping boutiques await you and your wallet.

    woman walking around Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)
    Wander the Gallery of Modern Art. (Image: TEQ)

    2. Sunshine Coast to the Scenic Rim

    Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (170km)

    Make your way inland to the Scenic Rim for the state’s best vineyards and age-old volcanic slopes. Start your day early (like, sparrow’s breakfast early) at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park . Here, take a treetop walk through the canopy and hand-feed the wild birds who flock here.

    Next, it’s your turn to eat. Here, the food scene operates where locally sourced produce is an expectation, not an exception. Order a picnic basket crammed with regional wine and cheese to devour next to the creek at Canungra Valley Vineyards . Or perhaps a grazing platter of vegan and non-vegan cheeses at Witches Falls Winery .

    Feeling bold? Tackle the Twin Falls circuit in Springbrook National Park. Or keep the gourmet life going with a Scenic Rim Brewery tasting paddle, best enjoyed while taking in the rise of the Great Dividing Range.

    woman with cheese and wine at Witches Falls Winery
    Enjoy a cheese platter at Witches Falls Winery. (Image: TEQ)

    3. Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast

    Drive time: 2 hours (180km)

    Surf, sand and sparkling skylines might be the Gold Coast’s MO, but there’s more to Surfers Paradise and beyond. Kick things off with a beachfront coffee at Burleigh Heads, then hike through Burleigh Head National Park to look over the ocean and whale sightings (dependent on the season, of course).

    Cool off in the calm waters of Tallebudgera Creek before chowing down on the famously buttery Moreton Bay bug rolls at Rick Shores . Travelling with the kids? Then you can’t miss Australia’s theme park capital, with Dreamworld ’s big rides and Warner Bros. Movie World ’s Hollywood treatment at hand to keep the family entertained.

    aerial view of Tallebudgera Creek
    Dive into Tallebudgera Creek. (Image: TEQ)

    4. Sunshine Coast to Tweed Heads

    Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (200km)

    Dare to cross enemy lines? Then welcome to New South Wales. Tweed Heads blends the laid-back attitude of the Northern Rivers with high-quality dining, experimental art, and farm-fresh indulgence – a combo worth the drive.

    Start strong with a long, lazy brunch at Tweed River House , then swing by Tropical Fruit World for exotic finds like red dragon fruit, handfuls of lychees and black sapote. Next, hit M|Arts Precinct – an art deco hub of micro galleries, artist workshops and one-off boutiques.

    Round off the day with sunset drinks at Husk Distillers among the glowing cane fields, and order one with their famous Ink Gin. You’ll thank us later.

    exterior of Husk Distillers
    Taste the famous Ink Gin at Husk Distillers. (Image: Destination NSW)

    5. Sunshine Coast Hinterland

    Drive time: 1 hour (70km)

    Strap on those hiking boots and make tracks inland, where volcanic peaks, misty rainforest and hinterland townships beckon. Ease in with the Glass House Mountains Lookout Walk, or, if you have energy to burn, tackle the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk for a 360-degree sight of the surrounding summits.

    Next: Montville. This township delivers European-style architecture and old-world appeal. Nearby, settle in at Flame Hill Vineyard, where a large pour of estate-grown wine comes with encompassing views of the countryside.

    Not ready to leave the hinterland villages just yet? Of course not. Meander past art galleries and indie shops at Maleny. Nab some fudge from Sweets on Maple for a sweet fix. Or go salty at Maleny Dairies with a farm tour and a chunky wedge of their deliciously creamy cheese.

    End the day among the eucalypts and rainforests of Kondalilla National Park. Here, the Kondalilla Falls Circuit winds down through trees humming with life to a rock pool beneath a waterfall – as if designed for soaking tired feet before heading back to the coast.

    view of Mount Ngungun on the scenic rim queensland
    Take on the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk (Image: TEQ)

    Start planning your Sunshine home base at all.com.