Mossman Gorge: Day Trips and Tours from Cairns

The great city of Cairns is known for being home to many great spots and hidden treasures in its own right, but it’s also the gateway to so many other remarkable wonders throughout Queensland and beyond.

One such example of this is the glorious Mossman Gorge, known as one of the area’s rural hubs for contemplation and serenity.

As the bright sky emerges through the trees it’s clear as day to see why this is a possible spot for those who visit the region.

Today, our specific goal is simple - to open up the door and investigate some of the very best Mossman Gorge tours, one of the best destinations for day trips from Cairns.

How long does it take to reach Mossman Gorge from Cairns?

While trying to utilize a bus or a short-journey helicopter flight may be something travelers contemplate, there are far more logical way to make the trip - up the Captain Cook Highway. It is quite literally known as the Cairns to Mossman passage with thousands upon thousands of tourists heading on up one of the final smooth roads before hitting the real definition of the countryside.

Mossman is actually the central point between Cairns and some of the better-known solo tours, which is probably one of the other reasons why it’s so overwhelmingly popular.

The venture between Cairns and Mossman Gorge tends to take around 1 hour 10 minutes to complete with the official distance clocking in at around 78km. It’s definitely possible to go a little bit faster than that, but it largely depends on traffic.

What is the typical itinerary of a day tour to Mossman Gorge?

At the core of most Mossman Gorge tours from Cairns will sit a combo option, and because of that, the tours will try and cram in as much as they possibly can. The overall time required to complete your Australian education will be around 11-12 hours, so expect an early wake-up so that you’re fit and ready for a long day ahead, beginning in the city of Cairns.

As previously noted it’ll take around an hour to get to where you want to go, but on some tours, that’ll be accompanied by a guide who will provide you with lots of cool information and facts.

There is lunch and refreshments regularly provided but it’s always important to bring your own cash, as there will be opportunities for purchases to be made. Tours of this nature will feature a few stop-off points, meaning there’s always a nice break-up between the road excursions.

What are the best things to do and see at Mossman Gorge?

There’s so very much to do and achieve upon arriving at Mossman Gorge, and these are just a few of our favourites.

Smoke Ceremony

The Kuku Yalanji people are the Aboriginal owners of this land and as it turns out, they can be pretty welcoming. One of the most surreal moments you could hope to have on a visit down under, and a visit to Mossman Gorge specifically, is to take part in a traditional smoke ceremony and everything that entails.

Hiking Tour

Between the calm walkways and hiking over the rocks, Mossman is going to be your friend when it comes to getting some exercise in. The best part about it is how easy it is to drift into completely new sections of the land, all the while discovering the Gorge too.

Centre Tour

The Mossman Gorge Centre isn’t quite as rugged or raw as the Gorge itself, but instead, serves as the opening you need to find out as much as you desire about this destination. Described as a “Indigenous ecotourism experience”, the Daintree Rainforest is right around the corner when you enter the Centre - but again, there’s so much more to it than that.

Are there any combo tours including other places to visit?

Mossman sits in an elite group of places that are regularly featured in different tours and as a result of that, there are plenty of combos to help you double up and see as much as possible.

Cape Tribulation

Cape Tribulation is a goldmine for those who really want to get in touch with nature and everything that genre entails. You can bask in the beauty of the rainforest, go bird-watching, see animals you’ve never been before and even catch a glimpse of a stunning croc or two in the waters.

Daintree Rainforest

The Daintree Rainforest is the godfather of many spots around Queensland and it isn’t hard to see why. It’s as breathtaking as it is large and even a river cruise isn’t going to be enough to fully appreciate how stunning it is. So sometimes, just reflecting on the peace in the air is good enough.

Port Douglas

The holiday resort of Port Douglas is secluded and that will immediately appeal to those who might want a slightly less chaotic version of Cairns in their lives. There are watersports, multiple restaurants and quite the ocean view.

Travel tips

• There’s actually a trail leading down to the perfect swimming spot in the centre of the Gorge, which isn’t a commodity many people try to seek out when they visit. If this sounds like something which may be appealing, make sure to pack your swimmers and always be ready to hop in and enjoy a quick dip.
• It’s important to space out the time you spend at Mossman because this could easily be described as a once in a lifetime experience. Our recommendation would be to set aside between two and five hours for all of the adventures you want to complete, because if you rush through it, getting lost in an area such as this becomes a whole lot easier.
• There’s a self-drive option for those who want to hit the road themselves but in a general sense, we’d suggest preparing for an interesting journey on the Highway. The roads have a tendency to twist and turn and it’s right next to the coast, which should ensure great views but even stronger winds.