Booking choice: The Daintree and Mossman Gorge day from Cairns, 11 hours from Cairns. Book this Tour details
Mossman Gorge is the first stop on most Daintree day tours, and for good reason: clear water over granite boulders, an easy boardwalk, and Kuku Yalanji Country explained by the people who belong to it.
You reach it by shuttle bus from the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre. The park itself has no entry fee. The shuttle ticket is where the 2026 change lands.
The quick answer
From 18 October 2026, a per-person Queensland Government fee is added to every Mossman Gorge shuttle ticket. It pays for the care of the gorge and Daintree National Park, and the Cultural Centre does not keep it. The Centre also runs new electric shuttle buses, and the Rainforest circuit track is due for an upgrade. The advice on swimming has not changed: stay out of the water.
What is the new Mossman Gorge fee from 18 October 2026?
A per-person Queensland Government fee, added to every shuttle ticket bought from 18 October 2026.
The Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre says the fee "supports the conservation and management of Mossman Gorge and Daintree National Park" and is not retained by the Centre. It applies to all shuttle ticket purchases, so it is charged per person, on top of the usual fare. The Centre's page shows the current amounts.
The shuttle fare itself changes each year on 1 April. A ticket lets you ride up and down as often as you like, but only on the day you buy it.
How does the Mossman Gorge shuttle work?
Buses leave the Cultural Centre every 15 minutes from 8am. The Centre gives 5pm as closing and 4:30pm for the last bus back from the gorge.
The ride is about 2 km. There is no footpath on the narrow access road, and the Centre asks visitors to use the bus rather than walk it. There is no service on Christmas Day. Queensland Parks and Wildlife lists slightly later hours, so if you plan a late walk, ask at the Centre when you arrive.
The fleet is new too. The Centre now shows two electric shuttle buses. Same route, quieter ride.
Can you swim at Mossman Gorge?
Queensland Parks and Wildlife asks you not to. It says people have died at the gorge and others have been seriously injured.
The park safety page is blunt: "Swimming at Mossman Gorge at any time can be dangerous." The water can rise fast without warning, currents are strong and boulders hide under the surface. The Cultural Centre also advises against swimming and warns that flash floods can come down even when it is not raining at the gorge.
Some tour listings still put a swim on the itinerary, including the Cairns day tour. Our view: walk the boardwalk, enjoy the view of the river, and save the swim for a calmer creek stop later in the day. Some tours build one in.
What is happening to the Rainforest circuit track?
It is getting a State-funded upgrade to its surface, drainage and stairs. Tenders were called in July 2026, and no closure dates have been published.
The Rainforest circuit is the longer loop off the Rex Creek bridge track, about 3.4 km and two hours. Local news reported the funding in July 2026, with the gorge drawing around 300,000 visitors a year. Queensland Parks and Wildlife already notes that this track may close at times in the wet season, for flooding or maintenance.
Day tours mostly use the shorter walks, so a closure would change little on a tour. If you visit on your own, check the park alerts before you go.
| Walk at Mossman Gorge | Length | Time | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baral Marrjanga boardwalk | 660 m return | About 30 min | Wheelchair access to the river lookout |
| Lower river track | 640 m return | About 40 min | Short, easy grade |
| Rex Creek bridge track | 1.4 km return | About 1 hour | Ends at a suspension bridge |
| Rainforest circuit | 3.4 km loop | About 2 hours | Upgrade planned; may close in the wet |
Mossman Gorge with a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony, then the river and Cape Tribulation.
Book thisWhat is the Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk?
A guided walk of about 1.5 hours with Kuku Yalanji guides, on private tracks near the gorge. It starts with a smoking ceremony and ends with bush tea and damper.
Ngadiku means stories and legends from a long time ago. The Cultural Centre runs it daily at 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm, in groups of about 15. The return shuttle is part of the ticket. It is the best short way to hear the gorge described as Country rather than scenery.
If you want a whole day of that, the Kuku Yalanji cultural tour from Port Douglas is led by Traditional Custodians. The listing includes a ceremony, a cultural walk at Mossman Gorge, bush foods and the coast north to Cape Tribulation.
A full day on Kuku Yalanji Country, in a group of ten at most, from Port Douglas.
Book this Tour detailsDo Daintree day tours include Mossman Gorge fees?
The day tours on this site list Mossman Gorge in their inclusions. How the new state fee is handled is a question for each listing.
The Cairns day tour lists all national park fees and a smoking ceremony at the gorge. The Best of Daintree tour lists Mossman Gorge entry, and the premium small-group day includes a guided walk there. If you want to be sure how the new fee is handled, check the listing before you book.
Driving yourself is simple: park at the Cultural Centre, buy the shuttle ticket, and allow at least an hour at the gorge. Our guide to doing the Daintree with or without a tour compares the two.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mossman Gorge free?
The national park has no entry fee, but you reach the gorge by the paid shuttle from the Cultural Centre. From 18 October 2026 the shuttle ticket also carries a per-person Queensland Government fee.
Can you walk or drive to Mossman Gorge instead of taking the shuttle?
The Cultural Centre says there is no footpath on the narrow road and asks visitors to use the shuttle. Visitors park at the Centre.
How long do you need at Mossman Gorge?
About an hour covers the boardwalk and the river lookout. Allow two hours or more for the Rex Creek bridge track or the Rainforest circuit.
Is the swimming at Mossman Gorge safe?
No. Queensland Parks and Wildlife says people have died there and asks visitors not to jump, dive or enter the water.
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Choose your tour
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Check the live listing for your date.
Daintree & Mossman Gorge Day Tour
- Hotel pickup from 35 Cairns stops
- Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony
- One-hour river cruise and the ferry
Indigenous Cultural Day Tour: Daintree & Mossman Gorge
The forest explained by its Traditional Custodians
Best of Daintree Rainforest Day Tour
Ten guests, a creek swim and lunch at a rainforest lodge
