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Cape Tribulation is a stunning place to spend a few days. It is often referred to as where the Rainforest meets the Reef because it features the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. So many visitors see the Daintree on a day trip from Cairns on Port Douglas, but we think you should spend a few days exploring this quieter, magical, off the grid area.
Also Read: How to Become a Sustainable Traveler
There is no cellular service in Cape Tribulation and most of the hotels are eco-hotels that have to create their own electricity and water. Cape Tribulation is also the point where the sealed road ends and to head north, you need a 4WD vehicle. There are so many places to explore around Cape Tribulation – read our full post on the Best Things to do in Cape Trib.
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Where to Stay in Cape Tribulation
We knew we wanted a few days away from the hustle and bustle of Cairns. Where is the best place to stay in Cape Tribulation? We wanted to sleep in the rainforest where we could wake up to the sounds of the jungle. We got all this and more at Cape Trib Beach House, where we spent two amazing nights. Here is our detailed Cape Trib Beach House review.
Why Cape Trib Beach House?
I had read about this place on another blog and fell in love with the place. I loved the idea of a cabin in the jungle, with direct access to a deserted beach and the nightly bonfires where we could meet other travelers.
I like staying places that are unique and have a spirit. I like staying in places that cater to travelers, not necessarily tourists.
Cape Trib Beach House is located just north of Cape Tribulation in the Daintree Rainforest. The property is really spread out, but it is located on its very own beautiful beach. It is an eco-hotel that offers guests a really unique Daintree rainforest accommodation.
The Accommodation
There are a range of accommodation options from dorms to deluxe cabins. We stayed in a Family Escape Cabin, which had a double bed and two single beds. The cabin was small for a family, but it was perfectly adequate. You have to remember that you are staying in the rainforest and it is not a five star hotel. The decor and furnishings were simple, but clean.
Our cabin in the rainforest
The view of the jungle from our cabin
Cabins were basic, but clean and will everything we needed
We loved having a balcony to relax on in the evenings. Inside, the room had a fridge, kettle and coffee and tea, which were all great to have. The rooms were cleaned daily. The cabin did have A/C, although we found we didn’t need it. The room may have been small, but it definitely had character. The cabins are spread out down a hill towards the beach. You will wake up to hear birds chirping, and the wind blowing through the trees.
The Restaurant
You really don’t have much choice about where to eat unless you want to drive off in the dark. BUT we loved the restaurant at Cape Tribulation Beach House. They have a Backpacker Menu where for $16 you can get dinner and a beer or glass of wine. It didn’t take us long to figure out if the whole family ordered off this menu, Mom and Dad would each get a few drinks. The Backpacker Menu features a burger, nachos and ceasar salad, all available in vegetarian. We also ordered off the regular menu and they have some great seafood options like beautiful tuna and barramundi.
Aside from the food being good, we loved the atmosphere at the restaurant. At night it is a gathering point of fellow travelers. There are board games to play, drink specials and the sunset and beach are just a few meters away. We got into the habit of having dinner, playing cards and then migrating over to the nightly bonfire.
We were really surprised by the quality of the food at the restaurant
The Backpackers Menu was super value
Ordering our dinner at the Cape Trib Beach House restaurant
The Location
Cape Trib attractions are quite spread out, so I would definitely recommend having a car so you can independently explore. Most activities do provide pickups, so it is possible to get around without a car. It takes about 3 hours to drive to Cape Trib from Cairns, although there are so many great places to stop along the way. Give yourself some extra time to explore the deserted beaches, boardwalks and swimming holes as you head north.
The Beach House is set right in the rainforest and right on the beach, adding to the atmosphere. The beach is virtually deserted and it feels a million miles away from bustling Cairns.
The deserted beach at the Beach House
Facilities
Northern Queensland can get quite hot and it is really nice to have a pool to cool down in.
The pool in the jungle was a great place to cool down
Since the Beach House has dorms and backpacking accommodation, they have a communal kitchen. This was really handy and we prepared our own breakfast one morning. The kitchen has everything you would need to prepare a meal.
The hotel can organize any of the tours you would like to do while in the area, from visiting the Great Barrier Reef to jungle surfing through the canopy.
The shared kitchen space
Service
The staff are mostly transient working holiday young adults from all over the world. We found every one really friendly and helpful. I didn’t expect the cabins to be cleaned daily, so was quite surprised that they completely made up the room each day. At the restaurant, you order at the bar and they use an electronic beeper for when your food is ready.
We left one of our kids’ jackets there and they kindly sent it to us by mail.
Cost
Cabins start from $150 and dorms start from $29/night. You do need to remember that the Beach House has to make all their own electricity and water and house their staff. You are paying a premium to stay in the rainforest in this remote location. It really was a wonderful and unique place to stay with a lovely vibe.
We loved the ambiance of the restaurant and the chance to meet other travellers
Families
The Escape Family cabins are perfect for families of 3-4. They have a double bed and two single beds. The cabins are quite small, but you really aren’t going to spend much time inside your cabin. Our family of 5 squeezed into an Escape cabin with our two youngest sharing a bed. They could easily convert some of the single beds to bunk beds, making it more suitable for larger families.
The kids loved the pool, games at the restaurant, playing and walking the beach and finding jungle creatures. We would definitely choose Cape Trib Beach House again for a great family friendly Daintree accommodation option.
We loved hanging out in the restaurant area and playing games
Our Verdict
We love staying in unique accommodation from a houseboat in Amsterdam to this rainforest eco-resort in Cape Tribulation. We loved waking up to the jungle sounds, meeting other travelers, walking the deserted beach and using it as a base to explore the Daintree rainforest.
Click here to see the latest prices at Cape Trib Beach House.
You can also check out other great Cape Tribulation accommodation here.
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Note: we were not hosted, nor did we receive any compensation from Cape Trib Beach House. All opinions are 100% our own.