A new way to see rainforests and reefs in one day
The new Mossman Gorge and Low Isles tour from Port Douglas joins two of Tropical North Queensland’s best-known experiences into a single day. You start with a Kuku Yalanji guide on the Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk at Mossman Gorge, then sail a catamaran out to the coral cay at Low Isles and come home with the sunset.
The tour, called Rainforest to Reef, is run jointly by Sailaway Port Douglas and the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre. It was launched in July 2026, the year the Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk marks its 40th anniversary. There’s also a shorter half-day version that swaps the island for a sunset sail.
Information checked October 2026. Prices and times can change, so check with the operator before you book.
What is the Rainforest to Reef tour Port Douglas has launched?
Rainforest to Reef is a full-day guided tour from Port Douglas, a resort town in Far North Queensland, north of Cairns. It runs from 9am to 6.30pm and covers three things: Kuku Yalanji culture, the Daintree Rainforest at Mossman Gorge, and the Great Barrier Reef at Low Isles.
Both businesses behind it are now part of the Journey Beyond group. According to Travel Weekly, Sailaway was bought from its founders, Steve and Katrina Edmondson, in 2025, and the two operators now package their experiences together.
Key facts at a glance
- Operators: Sailaway Port Douglas and Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre
- Full day: 9am to 6.30pm, with coach pickup from Port Douglas accommodation
- Price (full day): from $495 adult (13+), $325 child (4-12), $1,455 family (2 adults and 2 children)
- Half day (Rainforest to Sunset Sail): from $240 adult, $175 child, $105 infant (0-3), $740 family
- Included: Dreamtime Walk, coach transfers, sailing, snorkel gear and guided snorkel, glass-bottom boat, food and drinks
- Suitability: listed by Sailaway as suitable for all ages
Prices are as listed on Sailaway’s website for 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2027 and include the reef’s Environmental Management Charge.
The Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk at Mossman Gorge
Mossman Gorge sits in the Mossman Gorge section of Daintree National Park (CYPAL), about 80km north of Cairns. The park is part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, and the gorge is Country of the Kuku Yalanji people, who have lived here for tens of thousands of years.
Ngadiku (pronounced “Nar-di-gul”) means stories and legends from a long time ago in the Kuku Yalanji language. The walk takes about 1.5 hours and is led by Indigenous guides from the local community. On the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre’s own walk page, it includes:
- A traditional smoking ceremony to cleanse and ward off bad spirits
- Stories of Kuku Yalanji culture, history and bush life
- A visit to a sacred ceremony site
- A soap and ochre paint-making demonstration
- Bush tea and damper
Groups on the walk are kept to about 15 people. The track is easy but uneven, can be slippery when wet and has some incline. The Cultural Centre notes it is not wheelchair accessible, so keep that in mind if anyone in your group has limited mobility.
Why the 40th year matters
The Dreamtime Walk has been running for four decades. The Mossman Gorge Centre itself was conceived by Kuku Yalanji Elder Madja Roy Gibson, and the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation reported more than 345,000 people did Dreamtime Walks in its first ten years. If you’re looking for a Port Douglas Indigenous tour led by Kuku Yalanji people themselves, this walk is the heart of it.
Sailaway to Low Isles: the reef half of the day
Low Isles is a pair of small islands in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, 13km from Port Douglas. According to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Low Island is a sandy coral cay and its neighbour, Woody Island, is uninhabited coral and mangrove. The Low Islets Lightstation is Commonwealth Heritage listed, and the islands remain important to Kuku Yalanji and Yirrganydji Traditional Owners.
Sailaway Low Isles trips run on sailing catamarans, using mostly wind power. On Rainforest to Reef you sail on Sailaway IV or V, both Lagoon 500 catamarans. Travel Talk reported about 40 guests per vessel.
Once you’re on the island, you can choose how to spend your time:
- Snorkel straight off the beach, with all equipment and in-water help provided
- Join a guided snorkel with a marine biologist
- Take a tour on a 100% solar electric glass-bottom boat
- Do a guided nature walk around the island
- Watch for seabirds, or simply relax on the sand
The reef starts close to the beach, so Low Isles is a good fit if you or your kids aren’t confident in deep water. It’s a gentler reef day than an outer reef trip.
Rainforest to Reef itinerary, hour by hour
This is the full-day schedule as published on Sailaway’s tour page:
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 9.00am | Coach pickup from Port Douglas accommodation |
| 10.00am | Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk at Mossman Gorge |
| 12.00pm | Coach to Port Douglas Marina |
| 12.30pm | Check in at the Sailaway Boathouse |
| 12.45pm | Light lunch and safety briefing |
| 1.00pm | Sail to Low Isles |
| 2.45pm | Beach time: snorkelling, glass-bottom boat, nature walk |
| 5.00pm | Back on board for afternoon tea, scones and fruit |
| 5.15pm | Sail home with canapés and sundowners |
| 6.30pm | Arrive back in Port Douglas |
The sail home faces the coastline and the Daintree ranges, so you get the sunset over the mountains you walked under that morning.
Rainforest to Sunset Sail: the shorter option
If a full day feels like too much, the Rainforest to Sunset Sail pairs the same Dreamtime Walk with a 1.5-hour sunset cruise from Port Douglas. Sailaway’s page lists a 1pm coach from Port Douglas, the walk at 2pm, and a 5pm sail on Sailaway IV or VI, returning at 6.30pm.
It includes a welcome drink, afternoon tea, canapés, and bush tea and damper on the walk. You don’t visit Low Isles or snorkel, which makes it a good choice for older travellers, non-swimmers or anyone who has already done the reef.
Which tour suits you?
- Choose the full day if you want to snorkel the reef and only have time for one big outing.
- Choose the half day if you’d rather stay dry, have young kids who tire easily, or want a lower-cost introduction to Kuku Yalanji culture.
Mossman Gorge and Low Isles tour: practical tips
What to bring
- Swimwear, a beach towel and a sun shirt
- Sunscreen and sunglasses (choose a reef-friendly sunscreen and rely on covering up where you can)
- A light jumper, as it can be breezy while sailing
- Seasickness tablets if you need them
- Comfortable closed shoes for the rainforest walk
- A credit card for onboard purchases
Stinger season and reef safety
Marine stinger season in Far North Queensland generally runs from November to May. Douglas Shire Council advises wearing a full-body lycra suit or wetsuit in the water during this time. Ask Sailaway when you book whether stinger suits are supplied on your trip.
On the reef, follow the Marine Park Authority’s responsible reef practices: avoid touching coral, keep your distance from turtles and fish, and take only photos. Mossman Gorge is also a crocodile and cassowary area, so follow signs and your guide’s directions.
Best time to go
Sailaway doesn’t list set departure days for the combined tours, so check availability for your dates. Outside stinger season you avoid the need for a full-body suit, while the wet summer months bring more heat and rain. Check the weather and sea forecast the day before, as reef trips depend on conditions.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Rainforest to Reef tour in Port Douglas?
Sailaway lists the full-day Rainforest to Reef tour from $495 per adult, $325 per child aged 4-12 and $1,455 for a family of two adults and two children. The half-day Rainforest to Sunset Sail starts from $240 per adult. Both prices include the Environmental Management Charge.
How long is the Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk?
The walk takes about 1.5 hours. It includes a smoking ceremony, Kuku Yalanji stories, a sacred site visit, a soap and ochre demonstration, and bush tea and damper.
How far is Low Isles from Port Douglas?
Low Isles is 13km from Port Douglas. On the Rainforest to Reef tour, the sail out takes around an hour and a half, leaving the marina at 1pm and arriving at about 2.30pm.
Is the tour suitable for kids and non-swimmers?
Sailaway lists both tours as suitable for all ages. At Low Isles the reef is close to the beach and you can use the glass-bottom boat or walk the island instead of snorkelling. The Dreamtime Walk track is uneven and not wheelchair accessible.
Does the tour include hotel pickup?
Yes. Courtesy coach transfers run from Port Douglas accommodation to Mossman Gorge and then to the marina. Check your exact pickup point when you book.
Can you swim at Mossman Gorge on this tour?
The tour schedule moves from the Dreamtime Walk straight to the marina, so there’s no set swim time at the gorge. If swimming in the Mossman River is a priority, plan a separate visit.
Book your rainforest and reef day
You can book Rainforest to Reef and Rainforest to Sunset Sail directly through Sailaway Port Douglas or through a travel adviser. To build the rest of your trip, read our Port Douglas guide, plan a swim at Four Mile Beach, explore more islands of the Great Barrier Reef, and compare other Queensland tours. For more trip ideas, browse the Queensland Traveller blog.
