Cairns & the Daintree Rainforest - Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef - page 579

The white-sand Cow Bay Beach lies at the end of the sealed Buchanan Creek Rd (also
called Cow Bay Rd, or simply 'the road to the beach') and rivals any coastal paradise.
Also known as Jungle Bugs & Butterflies, the Daintree Entomological Museum MAP (
07-4098 9045; www.daintreemuseum.com.au ; Turpentine Rd; adult/child $10/5; 10am-5pm) displays a large
private collection of local and exotic bugs, butterflies and spiders.
Book ahead for a walk with Cooper Creek Wilderness MAP ( 07-4098 9126; www.ccwild.com ;
Cape Tribulation Rd; guided walks $55-250) . Bring your togs for the day walks (departing 9am, 2pm
and 3pm), which take you through Daintree rainforest and include a dip in Cooper Creek.
Night walks (departing at 8pm) focus on spotting nocturnal wildlife. There's also a full
day tour including lunch and a river cruise ($130).

Cape Tribulation Wilderness Cruises MAP ( 0457 731 000; www.capetribcruises.com ; Cape Tribulation Rd;
adult/child from $28/20) has one-hour mangrove cruises where you can go in search of cro-
codiles.

Sleeping & Eating
The best-value accommodation in the area is at Daintree Rainforest Bungalows MAP ( 07-4098
9229; www.daintreerainforestbungalows.com ; Lot 40, Spurwood Rd; d $110) . Its free-standing wooden cab-
ins are simple but stylish, with en suites and covered decks overlooking the rainforest.
Minimum stay is two nights.
Also in the Cow Bay area, Epiphyte B&B MAP ( 07-4098 9039; www.rainforestbb.com ; 22 Silkwood
Rd; s/d/cabins from $75/110/135) is situated on a 3.5-hectare property with individually styled
rooms with en suites and their own verandahs. The spacious cabin has a patio, kitchenette
and sunken bathroom. From the front deck of the house you can kick back with views of
imposing Thornton Peak (1975m). Rates include breakfast.
The boutique motel rooms at Daintree Rainforest Retreat Motel MAP ( 07-4098 9101;
www.daintreeretreat.com.au ; 1473 Cape Tribulation Rd; r $110-240, cabin $550; ) have tropical colour
schemes and glossy woodwork. Some have kitchenettes, or guests can dine at its restaur-
ant Tree Frogs (mains $15-40; dinner Mon-Sat) .
The Cow Bay Hotel MAP ( 07-4098 9011; Cape Tribulation Rd; mains $14-30; 11am-3pm & 6-9.30pm) ,
adjacent to the turn-off to the beach, is the only real pub in the whole Daintree region.
Down towards the beach on Buchanan Creek Rd, the jungly Crocodylus Village

MAP (

) hostel also has 07-4098 9166; www.crocodyluscapetrib.com ; Buchanan Creek Rd; dm $25 d $75-110;