Mossman Gorge Daintree Experience Small Groups

We went with Tropic Tours. Our guide was Steve. We were the only ones on the tour today so we can’t thank Tropic Tours and Steve enough for taking us. We had an amazing day and Steve was extremely knowledgeable.

Simon is friendly, knowledgeable and loves what he provides for his lucky clients. He is most empathetic to the environment and indigenous culture. That quality is wonderful, considering the service he provides and the local history. We had a fantastic time and the small group theory is great. Thanks for a great day. Peter and Anne

I had an amazing time on this tour! It was one of the highlights of my trip. Simon and Steven were fantastic guides—friendly, professional, and incredibly knowledgeable. They shared so many interesting stories about the rainforest, wildlife, local history, and Aboriginal culture, which made the whole day much more meaningful. Mossman Gorge was definitely my favorite part. I honestly don’t think it would have been nearly as enjoyable without their guidance. They pointed out things I would have completely missed and explained the rainforest in such an engaging way. It felt like experiencing the place rather than just visiting it. Everything was well organized, the pace was relaxed, and the scenery was absolutely beautiful. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Cairns. Thank you, Simon and Steven, for making it such a memorable day!

From pickup to dropoff our family of 7 had a wonderful day on this tour. We saw many crocodiles in the Daintree river, swam in the majestic Mossman Gorge and drove through the buzzing Port Douglas., Simon explained the unique vegetation in an interesting and engaging way. We enjoyed learning about the indigenous story of the areas we visited and Simon’s love of the area shone through. The day was at a comfortable pace and, being a small tour Simon was able to adjust times at different places so we could experience the day to its fullest. We travelled with 2 young children and Simon catered the information to them and they really enjoyed their day. Definitely recommend this tour. A & A

Thank you very much Simon for share with my family all your knowledge about this unbelievable part of Australia. Everything was great and we have spent with you one of the best day of our family vacation.

We had a wonderful day! Karlos was a great guide and full of so much knowledge. You can tell that he really enjoys his job and is very approachable and happy to answer any questions. Even though a schedule needed to be kept, the day felt very relaxed and not rushed which was all down to the way Karlos approached the itinerary and the group. The homemade cake before the 1 hour Daintree river cruise to search for crocodiles was a much appreciated added touch and so delicious! The small group added to the personal experience and we enjoyed the day from beginning to end. I would highly recommend this excursion and you will learn so much more about the amazing rainforest and the Mossman Gorge. Thanks Karlos for a very memorable experience!

The tour was absolutely amazing - very engaging and full of beautiful places. We went on a river cruise where we saw crocodiles, walked through the tropical rainforest, and even swam in the river! We also learned a lot of interesting and useful facts about Australia, and overall had a fantastic time. Our guide, Simon, was very attentive, answered all our questions, and even recommended a few great places to visit outside of the tour. I highly recommend booking with Tropic Tours - the small group size, friendly atmosphere, and truly warm and passionate guide made the experience unforgettable!

Thank you so much, Simon, for giving Sarah and me such a wonderful private tour! Thanks to you, we were able to see most of Cairns. We really appreciated you taking photos for us at beautiful spots and giving us extra time whenever we wanted to stay longer somewhere. The snacks and lunch you prepared were also perfect! If we come back to Cairns again, we’ll definitely get in touch with you 😊

Simon made the trip feel like you were out with an exceedingly knowledgable friend who was willing to take time to ensure you made the most of the day. It was at our pace rather than his but we still saw and did everything on the itinerary with very personal details added. Our elevenses (morning tea) were included - the drink of your choice with his grandma’s recipe home made fruitcake (luckily there was enough for 2 servings each). Bruce (!), our river cruise guide was Simon’s friend and again very knowledgable (we saw 2 crocodiles). Our trip into Mossman’s Gorge followed a meal of our choice (included in price) and we learnt so much about the rain forest plants and fauna and how they all have their part to play in the ecology of the rainforest - we even saw Ulysses butterflies - so beautiful. My husband swam in the river - a beautiful spot and so peaceful. All in all a brilliant day out.

Everything about this tour was perfect! If you appreciate really understanding everything you are seeing, the history, flora/fauna and enjoy a good yarn, then you will not be disappointed. This is a small group tour and as such it is not a ‘bus tour’ with photo stops. There was an element of flexibility throughout the day, depending on our groups ability, interests and the prevailing weather conditions. All done to provide the best possible experience. Thank you Simon for a terrific day. We really appreciated your passion for and knowledge about this truly amazing part of Australia. “Yalada”

Our guide Simon was passionate and knowledgeable. We learned a great deal about the Daintree, Mossman Gorge and its cultural significance to the Kuku Walanji people and the flora and fauna of the entire region. The small group allowed for an immersive and curated experience. Homemade ice tea and fruit cake was incredible. We never felt rushed.or crowded.

My wife and I just returned from the Mossman Gorge Daintree Experience Small Group tour. This is a don’t miss tour . Simon, our guide was incredibly knowledgeable about the nature, the history and the ecosystems. He was flexible in finding what we wanted to see by letting us choose one of multiple length routes there was to choose from. He kept the information interesting and fun. We felt like we spent the day with an old friend. He went out of his way on our route back to the hotel to find Wallabies because my wife wanted to see them. The homemade snacks, an old family recipe were delicious. Bring your bathing suit for the dip in Rex Creek. Wonderful personal experience.

Simon is fantastic! A wealth of knowledge. A great hike through a magical rainforest! Lunch was fabulous too. Not a ‘bougie’ tour at all 👍 lol

Tropic Tours owner, Simon, was adopted into an Indigenous community as a very young man. Though he has since married and moved away, he remains deeply connected to his mob. His knowledge of the land and community is second to none, and what an extraordinary storyteller he is. The tours were brilliant from start to finish, and the Mossman Gorge and Daintree Experience lunch was to die for. I wholeheartedly, without reservation, recommend these small-group tours, especially the two my friend and I joined: the Mossman Gorge & Daintree Experience and the Cassowary Coast Waterfall & Culture Tour.

We had a perfect day! Our tourgide Simon was very kind, personal and he shared a lot of his knowledge, where he is passionate about. The lunch was delicious, same as the refreshing swin we had in de Rainforest. I recommend this tour to everyone!

We had a great time with our guide Simon. He showed us the best spots and provided lots of information to al kind of topics.

Perfect! Small group, personal touch. Simon has a lot of knowledge en it was a fantastic experience. We will support you all to choose this trip

An intimate, wonderful trip. Our guide, Karlos, was passionate, knowledgeable, and fun . Best Mossman rainforest walk, delicious lunch, and 🐊 🐊 crocodile river cruise Megan & Joe

The small van is the way to go for this somewhat long journey but went by so fast with guide Karlos who provided in-depth coverage of the rain forest trail and was excellent story teller. The one hour river cruise was fantastic by observing animals in their natural state.

Karlos was our guide, and he was fantastic! The trip included a crocodile boat ride on the River, a rainforest guided walk, and a fresh and local lunch at a cafe supporting the Aboriginal communities. The ride in the group van to and from pickup was also full of educational information with a nice dose of humor and adventure storytelling.

Carlos was a wonderful guide. He was a wealth of knowledge and answered all of our questions to the best of his ability. It was pretty amazing walking through the ancient forest and learning about the various plants and trees. 10/10 recommend.

Avoid small private tour companies like this at all costs! Everything seems fine until something goes wrong—then it’s all denial, blame-shifting, and lies. I paid AUD $360 for Tropic Tours’ Mossman Gorge Daintree Tour on July 10, 2025, booked through their official website. The tour included the “Dreamtime Walk,” a third-party experience offered directly via their site. After the walk, the guide Simon clearly told me to return to Sandy Beach by 2:30 PM. I followed instructions exactly. But no staff or group members showed up. I spent nearly an hour running between the beach and the visitor centre in distress, trying to find the group. Simon later admitted the group was delayed because a 9-year-old child slowed down their 2.4km walk. They didn’t arrive until 3:20 PM and then stayed to swim for 40 minutes. I have photo and video proof showing the group at the beach at that time. Despite this, the company falsely accused me of causing a “40-minute delay.” This is a complete distortion of facts. To make matters worse, Simon was visibly sick during the tour—coughing all day while seated next to me in the front passenger seat without a mask. He later admitted he had Influenza A. Tropic Tours refused to refund me—not even partially. Instead, they offered a discount on future trips, knowing I was leaving the next day. Their email response twisted the facts, denied responsibility, and blamed me. ⚠️ I’m extremely disappointed and angry. I strongly advise against booking with Tropic Tours. They are unreliable, dishonest, and show no accountability when things go wrong.

Karlos was our guide, very friendly and knowledgeable. Small group of 5 allowed for flexibility in our day. We were lucky enough to see 4 crocodiles close up on our river cruise, and so much better to just observe them in natural habitat. Thanks to Bruce Belcher Crocodile Cruise! Daintree walk was beautiful, peaceful and informative. We didn’t get to do the entire walk loop, but managed a very refreshing dip in the “beach” area of the Mossman River. Highly recommend if you just want a Cairns to Daintree day trip with more time in the Daintree and less time driving.

If you like small group tours, where you really get to see the good stuff, don’t waste your time waiting for everyone else to get on the coach, and like a bit of adventure, this is the tour for you. With a nine-hour agenda, it’s also amazing value, and you get picked up and dropped off from wherever you’re staying in Cairns. Simon was our guide and really focused on the personal experience, creating a relaxed and friendly atmosphere and tailoring the tour to suit the small group’s preferences. He is very knowledgeable and interested in everyone’s story, as well as teaching you about the places you’re visiting. The itinerary itself was just right, mixing general sightseeing and viewpoints, with a crocodile spotting trip on the Daintree river, a walk through the rainforest in Mossman Gorge, and a swim in the pristine river at the end. Overall a really fulfilling day out, at a reasonable price!

Utterly brilliant experience at the Daintree Rainforest and Mossman Gorge. Simon was knowledgeable, personable, made huge efforts to make every member of our small group feel extremely valued and we had a wonderful time. We loved the crocodile river cruise, seeing a wide range of crocs in their natural habitat, and learnt and saw a lot in our walk around the Daintree Rainforest. The food at the Mossman cafe was truly delicious and Simon had even brought homemade tea and cakes for us which was a lovely and eco-friendly touch (no packaging.) The highlight for us was the swim in the Mossman Gorge, which was magical, and we also especially valued that Simon went to great lengths to show us other spots in Cairns on the drive so we felt like we had really had a tour of the entire region rather than a tour which simply consists of drive-look-drive-home. Can’t recommend this experience enough!!

We had a fantastic experience with Carlos on this tour - tbh he was the star! His love of the rainforest and his stories made this tour a highlight of our Australia vacation. Thanks!

Incredible day - learnt so much about the rainforest from Carlos our super knowledgeable guide. Swimming in Mossman Gorge was magical. Seeing crocodiles in their natural habitat along the Daintree River was amazing. Small group so loads of time to see and do everything we wanted.

Highly recommend this small group, immersive tour that gives you time to connect with and explore the rainforest without being rushed and in a crowd. Simon has extensive knowledge of the local area’s history, flora and fauna. He took the extra time and energy to ensure the experience was personalised and memorable and genuinely knows so much from his 11 years living in various places in Aus on country. I learnt so much and can confidently say it’s the best tour I’ve been on. A must do! The beautiful Mossman gorge was such a breathtaking experience swimming (especially as a lady on woman’s country; it was so spiritual). I loved hearing about and seeing a 260 million year old plant species among other fascinating ones - as other large tours rushed past us so unaware. So grateful Simon was our guide and I didn’t end up on another tour. I joined solo and felt instantly at home and looked after. Thanks Tropic Tours - looking forward to joining another one soon.

Simon’s small group experience is welcoming, educational, and made us feel connected to the land. Plus the food was 5*!

Very professional small tour company. Good communication. Easy booking experience. Knowledgeable guide/driver. Can highly recommend.

You can tell the tour operators are locals, they know all the best spots/views to go. Our guide Simon spoke with so much passion and knowledge about the land he is on while still being super light and friendly. We learnt about all kinds of history of the area- natural, indigenous, and post-settler. I personally loved that the crocodile experience was spotting them wild on a boat tour rather than going to a farm, I felt I was getting the real experience. We even spotted little babies! I love trying new foods too so it was really cool to have the option to try Crocodile after for lunch. At Mossman Gorge, the energy of the place was truly magical and Simon’s storytelling brought actual tears to my eyes. To top the day off, I got so many recommendations for the rest of our trip- so we really got so much out of it. My partner and I loved it, and I would recommend this to anyone who wants an authentic experience in Cairns. A little tip I wish I’d known though, it’s better to book direct than through a third party.

Simon's incredible depth of scientific and cultural knowledge about the areas we visited as well as extensive knowledge about other areas of Australia were the highlight of the trip. His very friendly and accommodating attitude throughout was exceptional. The personal touches (his wife provided home-made banana bread for a snack) were very welcome. Feel like we've made a friend in Australia. Highly recommend on your way back from the tour to ask Simon about his life-experiences around the country - they are almost as amazing as the tour!

Pleasure to be with someone (Simon) so knowledgeable about area & especially Daintree. Simon & Renae went out of their way for us.

What an awesome day! Simon has wealth of knowledge about history of Mossman Gorge, Daintree & Indigenous connection to their country. If you want personalised tour in small group go with Tropic Tours. This has been one of my dreams to walk through Daintree. The walk we did was right in the Daintree experiencing all the wonders of biodiversity. Renae went out of her way to book additional tour as the original one was cancelled. Go for it you won’t regret it…

Hands down best tour operators in cairns. Simons knowledge of indigenous culture, landscape, flora and fauna is exceptional. I’ve learnt more on his tour than any other. The booking was super easy and simple and we saved money when we booked directly! Thanks to Renae for your advice and recommendations of what you would suit our expectations. Best tour our family loved it!

My spouse and I had an incredible experience touring the Daintree River and Mossman Gorge. Our guide, Simon, was not only kind and welcoming but also full of fascinating information about the local area and Aboriginal culture (a highlight for me) —it really added depth to the whole trip. The hike through the beautiful and must see rainforest followed by a swim in the river was such a great time. We also enjoyed meeting fellow travelers from around the world, which made the experience even more special. One of the most memorable moments was when Simon made an extra short stop so a newlywed couple on our tour could see wallabies—such a thoughtful and touching gesture, he didn’t have to but he did and that’s just the kind of tour guide he was. We came during the last week of April and it was the perfect weather! Highly recommend visiting and go with this tour, you won’t regret it!

Had an amazing day with Simon on the Mossman Gorge Daintree Rainforest small group tour. We made a few scenic stops on the way to the rainforest that were just beautiful. Did a riverboat tour to see some crocodiles and got to see a few baby crocodiles sunning themselves on logs as well as their mom in the water. Then lunch at the rainforest which was one of the best lunches I had while in Australia. We choose the longer hike in the rainforest and were so glad we did it was just gorgeous and Simon was very knowledgeable regarding the various plants and how the aborigines viewed the rainforest. Couldn’t have had a better day

Simon was a fantastic and tireless guide who was extremely knowledgable about Daintree’s history, its lands and people. We learnt and saw a lot in this one day trip that was beyond expectations! Ten out of ten would travel with Tropic Tours again 😄

Excellent history of the area by Simon who is knowledgeable in many subjects. A easy short hike followed by a dip in the river. Small group of people(11 maximum) lunch was included.

Always better to do small group tours - particularly if you are a single - great use of the day with the highlight being the river swim - excellent guide made a huge difference

The best trip ever! Our guide, Simon, was so knowledgeable, informative and interactive with us. He truly is passionate about his country and the environment. I highly recommend this excursion for anyone wanting an in-depth experience. Book your trip directly thru their website Tropic Tours, Cairns, Australia

Had an amazing tour with Simon and JJ today. Our tour began with an 8am pickup at our hotel in Cairns. That's when we learned our tour went from "small group" to "private," as we (my wife and I) would be the only customers today. Simon (and JJ) gave us a tremendous amount of information all day - lots of facts and figures about the area, its flora and fauna, and the indigenous people of the region. Along the way, Simon provided a refreshment break, which included his wife Renae's delicious homemade fruit bread. Our 60-minute crocodile tour at Bruce Belcher's Daintree River Cruises was fantastic. We saw crocs of all ages and sizes, including several recently hatched babies (around 2 weeks old), an adolescent (maybe 3 years old), a mama croc, and one of the top alpha males, named Scarface due to a fight wound on his right upper jaw. Captain Brad insisted we were lucky, as he sometimes spends the entire tour giving a discussion of mangrove trees when no crocs can be found. He also had lots of funny "dad jokes". From there, we proceeded to the National Park, starting with lunch that we pre-selected at pickup. The food was modest, but excellent. We then did the entire loop of the park, heading into the Mossman Gorge. We were shown so many fascinating things about the wildlife, plant life, and topography / geography / geology of the area. While anyone can do a self-guided tour, you will be unaware of the many interesting facts and details that guides of Simon's and JJ's caliber can show you. Several times during our tour, independent trekkers stopped to hear what our guides were saying. My best advice is to hire a private or semi-private guide for a tour of Daintree. In my case, I can recommend Tropic Tours without hesitation.

A great day out with Simon who is knowledgeable, caring, friendly and funny. We know a lot about rainforest through his introduction. Highly recommended!

We had the most amazing time. We were a little concerned because the weather started in a downpour. Our guide Simon was the most fabulous. He shared his amazing knowledge of the area, provided umbrellas for everyone, and ensured we had the most wonderful time. The activities were perfect for experiencing the Daintree area, and he gave us some great insights for our free day following the tour. If you want a personalized tour, with a fabulous guide, and really explore the Daintree area - this is the tour for you!

Wow what a day! We had a family group, 7 adults and 4 kids. Simon was our tour guide and provided an exceptional experience. We were picked up from our accomodation in Clifton beach. The van was spacious and comfortable. Simon was very personable and made an effort to get to know all of us. He is very knowledgeable and was able to give us many insights we would never of learnt if we had organised our own visits across Cairns. We drove through Palm Cove, Port Douglas, then went on a croc boat tour, and we were fortunate to see a few big crocs and loads of babies that had hatched the week before. Simon set up a lovely morning tea, complete with freshly made peach and mint ice tea, and home made cake, and snacks for the kids. We went out to Mossman Gorge, and learnt so much about the Daintree region. We had a delicious lunch at the cafe there, and even tried crocodile. The walk through the rainforest was amazing, we saw turtles, butterflies, birds and amazing plant life. We went for nice swim in a safe area and got rained on, but it was truly a magical experience. I highly recommend a tour like this - it’s the best way to see the sights, learn about the locals, marine life, plant life, what it’s like to be a local. It was nice that we could sit back and enjoy our family time together and have a quality experience. I can’t wait to come back and try one of the other tours. You and your family won’t regret it!

My wife and I, her brother, and sister in law had an amazing tour with Simon. Words are not enough to explain how enjoyable and educational this day was. Simon has a passion for this country and plant that everyone should experience. A must tour. Thanks, Simon.

I can’t stress enough how brilliant our tour was with Simon. He looked after us from the moment he picked us up and provided delicious homemade fruit cake! Simon is incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about the rainforest and the local area. He went out of his way to take us on an amazing tour and is also excellent at taking photos! We had a brilliant day and went home with some fantastic memories and a better understanding of the Daintree. Thanks Simon - we won’t forget our day with you!

Fabulous! Cannot say enough good things about Simon, the owner/our guide! In just a day we learned a ton about the history, flora, and fauna of the region, and experienced the rich, unimaginably complex beauty of the Daintree Rainforest first hand. By the end of the day, we had enjoyed (and shared with a small group of new friends) not only an education, but a deeply moving and powerful immersive (literally!) experience. Simon is a tremendously knowledgeable guide who clearly loves Cairns, the region, and the rainforest, and loves to share his joy with visitors. This tour is a don’t miss!

My spouse and I really enjoyed our Daintree Day Trip with Simon. Very informative with great sites and we really appreciated the relaxed pace - we saw plenty of things but did not feel like we were rushing around from site to site like a lot of tours we’ve done in the past. Highly recommend!