The insanely beautiful swimming and walks at Mossman Gorge
The Mossman Gorge swimming opportunities, walks and Mossman Gorge itself ….what can I say? It’s unbelievably beautiful and you should absolutely make time to visit.
Located just 20 minutes from Port Douglas and 75 minutes from Cairns in Tropical North Queensland, it makes for a great day trip from both.
The Mossman Gorge Visitor Centre is your first introduction to the gorge and all visitors pass through on their way to the gorge. Scroll down a bit further for information on the visitor centre, swimming and walks at Mossman Gorge.
But first, here’s a short YouTube clip of our morning spent at Mossman Gorge where you can catch a glimpse of the swimming holes and walks.
The Mossman Gorge Centre
The Mossman Gorge Centre is your entrance to Mossman Gorge and its wonderful swimming and walking opportunities. It’s an Indigenous ecotourism development that offers a great introduction before you head up to the actual gorge.
It also offers a great bite to eat at Mayi Cafe, an awesome art gallery and gift shop, toilets and even showers for when you return from the gorge.
The shuttle bus service at Mossman Gorge
Visitors are required to use the provided shuttle bus service rather than walk through the community to access Mossman Gorge for swimming and walking. The shuttle bus departs every 15 minutes between 8 am and 5:30 pm daily and a family pass for two adults and two children was AUD $31.85 at the time of writing.
Swimming at Mossman Gorge
The visitor centre signage recommends that you don’t swim at Mossman Gorge so any swimming is done at your own risk. The reason for this is that Mossman Gorge is unsupervised and water conditions can change quickly and unexpectedly due to heavy rain in other areas.
This, of course, does not stop most people swimming here as Mossman Gorge is truly a beautiful place to cool off from the Northern Queensland heat. When we visited, the water was not flowing much at all and was just stunning, calm and completely clear. There were lots of families, couples and singles of all ages enjoying the cold water.
I would definitely think twice about swimming in Mossman Gorge after a spat of rain when the river is flowing more though!
Self-guided walks at Mossman Gorge (do this before swimming)
The self-guided walks are stunning and even the longest one is short enough to be family-friendly. All of the walking tracks are clearly signposted and I recommend doing the walks at Mossman Gorge first before cooling off back at the swimming hole section.
There are four walking tracks ranging from only 270 metres in length to a beautiful circuit walk at 2.4 kilometres return. The circuit walk is our favourite of the Mossman Gorge walks.
The Baral Marrjanga walk
The Baral Marrjanga is the shortest walk at an easy 270 metres in length. It begins at the shuttle stop and leads through the rainforest to a lookout with views of the Mossman River and the mountain ranges further afield. Many people do this short Mossman Gorge walk only and jump straight into the swimming.
This track is also wheelchair and stroller friendly.
The Lower River track
The Lower River Track also starts at the shuttle bus stop and winds along the Mossman River before joining the Baral Marrjanga Walk. It’s fairly short at 300 metres but passes several small lookouts with pretty views of the river.
The Rex Creek Bridge
The Rex Creek Bridge takes only around 10 minutes at 460 metres and sees you following the Baral Marrjanga walk to the lookout, and then taking a short, sign-posted track off to the left. It’s a pretty cool bridge!
The Rainforest Circuit track
The Rainforest Circuit Track begins on the other side of Rex Creek Bridge and is 2.4 kilometres return in length. The walk is beautiful with a few great features including a lookout, a giant fig, a gravity-defying giant boulder and ultra-clear freshwater streams. Although this walk isn’t particularly difficult, you will definitely appreciate the swimming afterwards at Mossman Gorge.
Guided walks at Mossman Gorge
Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, the guided Mossman Gorge Walks were on hold when we visited.
The Dreamtime Gorge Walk usually goes for 90 minutes and an Indigenous guide will demonstrate traditional plant use and identify bush food and traditions like ochre paint and bush soaps as you stroll through the beautiful rainforest.
I’m told that the walk meanders along private tracks and visits culturally significant sites, past traditional bark shelters and over some of the rainforest streams. You even get to enjoy traditional bush tea and damper at the end!
Mossman Gorge in the Heritage Listed Daintree National Park is truly a memorable place to visit, particularly for swimming and walking. As a result, it makes for a great family holiday destination in Tropical North Queensland.
While you’re up this far north, don’t forget to visit the Daintree Discovery Centre as well!
How to get to Mossman Gorge
Mossman Gorge is easy to get to. The best way is to self-drive from Cairns as the Captain Cook Highway is part of the Great Tropical Drive. However, it’s not the only way to get there.
The drive from Port Douglas to Mossman Gorge takes around 22 minutes and winds through beautiful tropical scenery. The drive from Cairns traverses part of the Great Tropical Drive and takes around 75 minutes.
If you prefer not to self-drive, there are plenty of half-day and full-day tours from both Cairns and Port Douglas to ensure you don’t miss out.
Looking for more Cairns family holiday inspiration?
Head back to our Cairns page for more inspiration on family holidays and activities in and around the Cairns region in Tropical North Queensland. Alternatively, explore our home page for more Australian and worldwide inspiration.
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Cairns holiday resources
Best time to visit Cairns
April to September is often touted as the best time to visit Cairns for a great mix of warm dry weather, affordable accommodation and not too many people around. Winter temperatures in Cairns are VERY comfortable! In fact, many use a Cairns holiday as a way to escape the winter cold in other areas.
Stinger season runs from November to March with December to March usually being the hot/wet season.
Where to stay
For budget-conscious families, the Cairns Central YHA is a great choice!
For mid-range apartment accommodation with plenty of space for families, the Park Regis City Quays is a great choice. (our top choice!)
If you’re looking for five-star, Riley a Crystalbrook Collection, is a great choice in a fantastic location near the Cairns Lagoon.
Getting to Cairns
Cairns is a long way from Australia’s capital cities. Located 1,678km North of Brisbane and 2,414km North of Sydney, it’s a long road trip to get there. If you can’t stand the thought of a long road trip with kids, or just don’t have the time, there are regular flights from the capital and major cities.
Find a great deal on Trip.com.
Getting around Cairns
Getting around Cairns on foot won’t be a problem if your goal is to spend time on the reef and see the city. Particularly if you’re accommodation is within walking distance to the marina and esplanade like the three recommended above.
To head further afield to chase waterfalls, visit the Daintree Rainforest or head even further north to Cape Tribulation, hiring a car is a great option.
