Daintree Rainforest Discovery Centre Family Pass & Walks

Summary

Family Day at Daintree Discovery Centre with Canopy Walk

Step into the heart of the Daintree Rainforest with your family pass and climb above ancient trees on the canopy tower. Taste rainforest air, listen for cassowaries on winding trails, and explore interactive exhibits at your own pace. With self-guided audio tours and friendly staff around, you’ll find moments here that stick long after muddy shoes are washed clean.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll be honest — we almost missed the turnoff because my youngest was convinced she saw a cassowary on the side of the road (it was just a log, but try telling her that). The drive up from Cairns is as twisty as everyone says, and by the time we pulled into the Daintree Discovery Centre car park, I was ready for some air. The rainforest smell hit me first — wet leaves, something sweet underneath, maybe from those weird orange fruits our guide Li pointed out later. He said you can eat them if you know what you’re doing. I definitely don’t.

We started with the canopy tower — 23 meters sounds high until you’re actually climbing it with kids who keep stopping to point out every ant and lizard. Up top, it’s all green and birdsong, except for this sudden hush when the wind drops. I didn’t expect to feel so small up there. The self-guided audio tour (they had one in German for my partner’s mum) kept us moving along, but honestly I kept pausing just to look down through all those layers of trees. There’s something about seeing sunlight filter through that makes you forget your phone even exists.

The Cassowary Circuit was muddy in spots (bring shoes you don’t mind wrecking), but we did spot a real cassowary — or at least its blue head vanishing into the ferns. Li laughed when I tried to say its name in Mandarin — probably butchered it. My son kept pressing every button in the Interpretive Display Centre; he loved the dinosaur stuff more than he’ll admit. We wandered off-trail once by accident and ended up on the Bush Tucker Trail, which turned out fine because we learned about native plants from another family who’d done this before. Sometimes getting a bit lost is part of it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Daintree Rainforest

• Visit Discovery Centre
• Climb Canopy Tower
• Walk Aerial Walkway
• Explore Interpretive Display Centre
• Hike Jurassic Forest Trail
• Follow Cassowary Circuit Walk

Top questions

How far is the Daintree Discovery Centre from Cairns?

The Daintree Discovery Centre is about a 2-hour drive north of Cairns.

Is there wheelchair access at the Daintree Discovery Centre?

Yes, the centre is wheelchair accessible.

Are strollers or prams allowed inside?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller throughout the centre.

Is there an audio guide available?

Yes, self-guided audio tours are available in 8 languages.

What’s included in the family pass ticket?

The ticket includes admission to all areas of the Discovery Centre.

Can service animals enter with visitors?

Yes, service animals are allowed inside.

Are there activities suitable for young children?

Yes, children can enjoy interactive displays and easy walking trails.

What’s included

Your day includes admission tickets for your whole family to explore every part of the Daintree Discovery Centre: climb up to the canopy tower, stroll aerial walkways and forest trails like Cassowary Circuit and Bush Tucker Trail, use self-guided audio tours in multiple languages, and check out interactive exhibits — all at your own pace before heading back down that wild coastal road.