Mossman Gorge Swimming Hole & Walks: Your Complete Guide!

Tucked away in the lush rainforest of the Daintree, the Mossman Gorge Swimming Hole is one of those magical spots that feels both refreshing and otherworldly. With its crystal-clear waters, and surrounding ancient forest, it’s no wonder this place has become a must-visit for anyone exploring Far North Queensland.

But for first-time visitors, planning a trip can feel a little overwhelming. Should you visit independently or take a guided tour? How much does it cost to enter, and what are the transport options? And once you’re there, what walking trails are available and where exactly can you swim safely?

Matt and I loved visiting Mossman Gorge, so I want to walk you through everything you need to know, from the shuttle bus system, to tour options, costs, and the best walking tracks to take. In the end, this guide will help you plan the perfect visit.

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Where is the Mossman Gorge Swimming Hole & Map?

Mossman Gorge is located 6 minutes’ drive from the small town of Mossman, 25 minutes from Port Douglas, and 1.5 hours north of Cairns. Is it easy enough to visit with your own vehicle and plenty of parking? However, it’s sometimes better on a group tour and exploring more in the area.

➡  Find Tours to Mossman HERE with GYG, Or HERE with Viator.

Note: To help find your way around, please click here for the Area Map. This will show you where the Visitor Information centre is, compared to the Swimming hole, River Lookout, and the walking trails.

How to get there & Cost?

Prices range from $15 for the basic Shuttle Bus and go up to $300 for extra experiences or the full day tours.

The Mossman Visitor & Cultural Centre is where the car parking is and the booking office for the Dreamtime walking tours. You’ll also find all the information and what to do, where to go, and where to catch the bus.

Additionally, you have the souvenir shop, art gallery, and food or drinks at the café. As well as toilets and picnic tables for you to use.

What’s interesting is the Visitor centre is located about 2 kilometres away from the heart of the Gorge and walking trails (See Map with Directions here).

Unfortunately, this road is blocked by boom gates from 730am to 6pm every day, and you cannot drive yourself.

Therefore you have two choices for getting there:

• Firstly, you can park at the Cultural Centre and walk 2km (one way) to the starting point for free.
• Or secondly – pay for the Shuttle bus, which runs every 15 minutes and takes you into the heart of the Gorge.

➡  Find Tours to Mossman HERE with GYG, Or HERE with Viator.

I’ll go into more details with these two options below!

Walking in yourself for free?

If you’re taking the walking option, keep in mind there is extra walking involved into the swimming hole and the walking trails. This might not be ideal for those with small children.

Also, the road has no footpath or pedestrian access and it’s a very skinny path. Therefore it’s recommended to always take the Shuttle Bus.

Once you make your way down to the Shuttle stop point, it’s only a short walk to the swimming Hole. This is located along the River Circuit walking Trail and is only 400 metres long.

Take the Shuttle Bus?

The Public Shuttle bus runs from 8am to 5.30pm and will take you from the Mossman Visitor centre to the heart of the gorge or bus stop Area. Prices for the Mossman Gorge Shuttle bus Service are as below:

• Adults – $15
• Child – $7.50 (5 to 15 inclusive)
• Infant – Free
• Family Pass – $37.50 (2 adults, 2 children) 

Buses are not booked, instead, you pay for shuttle service in the visitor centre, then wait in line for the next available bus.

Do you need help planning your trip to Queensland? Book a one-on-one consultation call with me, to get your questions answered & personalised help!

Are there Organised Day Tours?

Organised tours are worth it , as this can potentially save you time and hassle (Shuttle bus fee could be included), and you also see more around the area.

However, depending on which tour you pick, they are more likely to include the Daintree National Park and maybe a crocodile cruise. Therefore, choose something suitable for your situation and based on your time and budget.

➡  Find Tours to Mossman HERE with GYG, Or HERE with Viator.

If you want to enhance your experience, get a local indigenous guide from the Kaku Yalanji people! Visit areas of cultural significance, unique places, smoking ceremonies, past shelters, and rainforest streams.

All this while hearing incredible stories, learning about their plant use and food sources, and insights into aboriginal life.

These tour sessions range from about 4 times a day in the morning and afternoon. They can be booked at the Visitor information centre or online before you arrive to avoid disappointment.   

4 Walking Trails at Mossman Gorge

1. Lower River Track

• Distance: 300 Metres
• Grade: Moderate to Easy

The Lower River Track winds in and out along the River and past the main swimming hole area.

2. Baral Marrjanga

• Distance: 270 Metres
• Grade: Easy

The Baral Marrjanga starts from the Shuttle Bus stop point area and goes to the Mossman River Lookout Point.

3. Rex Creek Bridge

• Distance: 460 Metres
• Grade: Moderate to Easy

The Rex Creek Bridge track starts by walking through the Baral Marrjanga Track and, via the left, onto another track.  

4. Rainforest Circuit Track

• Distance: 2.4 kilometres return ( about 1 hour)
• Grade: Moderate to Easy

The Rainforest Circuit Track begins where the Rex Creek Bridge ends and continues on a loop track around the rainforest. Along with views of Manjal Dimbi (Mount Demi).

Best Time to Visit?

The Mossman swimming and walking trails will be available to visit all year, but refreshing to swim in the summer from December to March. However, summertime and heavy rainfall could cause the water level to rising and potential rapids. Obviously, this won’t be the ideal time, especially for younger children.

Therefore, I suggest the best time to visit would be bordering on the summer season while it’s still warm but with less rainfall. This is around September, October, November, April, and May.

On the other hand, if you’re only visiting to view the Gorge and walking trails and not swimming, this can be done any time of year. Alternatively, the busy periods would be weekends, school holidays, and the mornings. Therefore, early or late afternoons are always your best bet for fewer crowds?

FAQ’s – Common Questions?

Is it safe to swim?

Ultimately, YES, it is safe to swim at Mossman Gorge Swimming Hole (most of the time). However, you need to consider the weather, rainfall, and conditions to help decide on the day.

The River Circuit contains the swimming hole that’s relatively calm and suitable for everyone. These pristine waters are absolutely amazing but be prepared for them to be on the chilly side.

Keep in mind that this area can receive enormous rainfall during the summer season and cause fast-moving water over boulders and river rapids. Consequently, you should always stop at the Information centre first to see the daily conditions.

On the other hand, The Mossman River is NOT suitable for swimming, and you can access this section further along the walking track at a lookout point. From here, you can enjoy the views, water rushing over the boulders, and the meditating sounds of the rainforest.

➡  Find Tours to Mossman HERE with GYG, Or HERE with Viator.

How long do you need there?

How long you spend at Mossman Gorge depends on your situation and what you intend to do for the day. My particular experience was only a short visit of 1.5 hours long.

Still, it was the middle of winter, with freezing waters, and I wasn’t planning on swimming.

If you plan on swimming, then 2 hours to half a day would be a good average, as you may not be in the crisp waters for too long. However, you need to allow extra time to complete the hiking trails, have Lunch, and travel in and out by bus.

Although, there is even more time required if you’re walking in and out of the Gorge.  

What shoes should you wear?

We found it easier enough to wear thongs or flip-flops walking, especially if you’re going swimming. However, if you intend to complete some of the longer hikes, you might want to consider some comfortable closed-in shoes.

Safety in the Area

• Swimming in the Mossman River can be dangerous with strong currents, flash flooding, cold deep water and slippery boulders. Take care at all times!
• Supervise children at all times.
• Don’t via off the allocated walking paths.
• Take care on the uneven walking surfaces.
• Wear clothing to protect against stinging trees and scratches.
• Wear insect repellent to protect against mosquitoes and other insects.

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Want to explore more in the area – Click here to check out my experience with the River Drift Snorkelling tour from Port Douglas. This was a half day tour with Hotel pickup, with brilliant guides and everything supplied to enjoy rafting down the river.

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Dos and Don’ts in the area

• No rubbish bins are supplied, please take all rubbish with you.
• Take only photos and leave only footprints.
• No domestic Animals are allowed.
• Don’t feed the wildlife.
• All the plants and animals are protected and please don’t interfere.
• Firearms, Axes and machetes are prohibited.
• Take care during your visit and leave a limited footprint for sustainability and future generations to enjoy.

Where to Stay?

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay close by, you can choose between staying in the small town of Mossman or Port Douglas. The options in Mossman are limited; therefore, you might find it more convenient to stay in Port Douglas.

➡  Compare prices for Port Douglas Hotels, on Booking.com HERE

With more options in Port Douglas, there are certainly more things to do in the area and more facilities nearby.

Alternatively, you could be basing yourself or staying in Cairns and it’s certainly possible to day trip from Cairns to Mossman Gorge. As well as having organise tours options available here too.

Wrap up & Read More!

Thanks for reading this blog post today on the Mossman Gorge Swimming hole, and I hope you found the information you were looking for. While my visit was brief this time, I will be adding it to my Itinerary on my next visit to North Queensland.

If you’re still researching your vacation, please explore more Port Douglas Articles HERE for inspiration.

• The Best Cairns Itinerary | Planning 7 days or more
• Cairns Vs Port Douglas – Which is better to visit?
• Is Australia Boring? Reasons why it’s Not with Photo’s
• Best Snorkelling Sites in Queensland + Map
• The Best Queensland Waterfalls for you to visit
• The Best Cairns to Cooktown Road Trip Stops (Via Bloomfield)