The iconic Great Barrier Reef Drive reopened on Saturday 20 January, providing a coastal route to Port Douglas and the Daintree, in addition to the daily ferry service from Cairns and the scenic inland route via Mareeba and Mount Molloy.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland Chief Executive Officer Mark Olsen said the reopening was a significant milestone in the recovery for tourism operators north of Palm Cove and would help to increase the number of visitors in the region.
“Many tourism staff travel north for work, so the opening of the Great Barrier Reef Drive on the Captain Cook Highway reconnects businesses in Port Douglas with their teams. Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre has also reopened, giving visitors access to the southern section of Daintree National Park to see one of the world’s oldest rainforests on a Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk with a Kuku Yalanji guide. Daintree village is a popular touring option with lunch available at the Daintree Village Hotel while wildlife cruises on the Daintree River are operated by Solar Whisper and Croc Express.”
Kuku Yalanji Elder Uncle Roy Gibson, 67, whose dream led to the creation of the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre said the recent flooding had covered the Mosman River’s rocky bed in sand reminding him of his childhood days growing up in the Gorge.
“As the years go by the floods change the Gorge all the time and take away a lot of sand. It really came back with this big flood now, like it did 60 years ago. I heard a lot of rocks moving at night like thunder and it feels like the flood is right next to your bed because I sleep beside the Gorge. I could hear rumbling, boom, bang. I heard that a long time ago and I think, wow, I’ll never forget this. It’s unbelievable. The rocks have been moved. The story we were told was about the serpent that comes along the river. Up in the mountain when it gets darker, that is the time the serpent comes out and that’s when the old people said don’t go to the river now, he is going to come along and take you. That story tells us not to go down there because there is going to be a flash flood.”
Visitors are once again being welcomed throughout Tropical North Queensland, where the reef and rainforest is open for business. During the closure of the Great Barrier Reef Drive, many opted to take the scenic inland route from Cairns to Port Douglas via Mareeba and Julatten, whilst others enjoyed the Quicksilver daily boat service from Cairns to Port Douglas.
All of these operators offer tours in the Daintree:
- Back Country Bliss
- Billy Tea Safaris
- Cairns Adventure Group
- Daintree Discovery Tours
- Down Under Tours
- FNQ Nature Tours
- Reef Unlimited
- Tony’s Tropical Tours
- Tropic Wings
- Uncle Brian’s Tours
- Walkabout Cultural Adventures
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