Everything you need to know about the famous Cape Tribulation horse riding tour. Includes hints and tips for booking and making the most out of this bucket-list horse riding experience in Far North Queensland.
If you’ve ever wanted to know what it’s like to ride a horse through the rainforest and pristine, reef-lined beaches, then you’re in luck at Cape Tribulation. This incredible Far North Queensland ecotourism destination attracts countless visitors who are all eager to experience the awe of the Daintree, the oldest rainforest in the world, and the point where it meets the reef.
The only Cape Tribulation horse riding experience is run by Cape Tribulation Horse Rides, who cater to beginner and experienced riders. In this blog post, I’ll outline my experience on a beach and rainforest horse ride in Cape Tribulation. I’ll also include photos from my trip and give you tips and information you’ll want to know for yours.
How to Book A Horse Riding Tour At Cape Tribulation
You might be surprised to find out that this Far North Queensland bucket-list experience is super affordable! Horse riding trips run twice a day and only cost $129 per person for a 90-minute guided horse ride through the rainforest and on the beach.
This experience is one of the best-rated in Cape Tribulation and you can either book an 11 am, mid-morning ride, or a 2:30 pm afternoon ride online using the links below.
Book a spot in advance: Morning Ride
Book a spot in advance: Afternoon Ride
About Cape Tribulation Horse Riding
The Cape Tribulation horse riding experience departs from Cape Tribulation Road, right across the road from Myall Beach and just a few hundred metres from the main restaurants and cafes in Cape Tribulation.
The most famous horse riding experience in Cape Tribulation with Cape Trib Horse Rides is a beach ride featuring a short meander through the tropical rainforest towards the golden sands of Myall Beach. Here, visitors have the opportunity to walk their horses through the shallow, turquoise waters.
The Cape Tribulation horse riding experience runs for approximately 90 minutes, and is easily one of the best things to do in the region! This is a guided group tour, with excellent, informative guides who will teach you about the native flora and fauna along the way.
Remember, this Daintree horse riding experience is quite a distance from Cairns and Port Douglas. You'll need to drive the scenic Great Barrier Reef Drive to get here. So, remember to leave plenty of time for the Daintree Ferry!
Tips for a great Cape Tribulation Horse Riding Experience
Below I've included some quick tips and information to help you make the most of your trip.
- Wear appropriate clothing including sealed shoes. The crew recommend long pants but I wore shorts which was fine.
- Helmets are mandatory and supplied at the horse stables.
- Picking the weather is difficult in the tropics! Don't be discouraged if it's raining, see it as a part of the rainforest experience. Cape Tribulation Horse Rides provide a rain jacket in the event of rain, as well as a dry bag and water bottle holders.
- Arrive at least 15 minutes before your horse ride to get ready.
- This experience is beginner friendly, the staff are very professional and will teach you how to mount and ride a horse.
- This is a walking-only horse-riding experience. The team asks riders not to encourage the horses to trot or gallop.
What To Expect at Cape Trib Horse Rides: My Experience
If you'd like to keep the experience a surprise, I suggest booking a trip and skipping this section. However, for those of you who are interested in finding out what to expect on your Cape Tribulation horse riding experience, I've included this section about my trip with photos.
Saddling Up
We chose the 2:30pm afternoon ride. The timing lined up nicely with low tide, meaning we had plenty of beach to walk our horses on, and plenty of shallow water too.
We arrived at the Cape Tribulation Horse Rides Stables approximately 15 minutes early, where we were greeted by Steve, the owner and his many dedicated staff. Most of the animals are ex-racehorses who have had a tough life in the industry. Steve adopts them for their new home, where they have the opportunity to wind down with a much less stressful job on a vast, beautiful rainforest property.
After filling in some quick paperwork, our guides gave us a helmet, optional riding shoes and instructions on how to mount our assigned horses. The stable crew was really helpful in explaining to us how to mount, dismount and control our horses with the reins.
FEATURED IN: 7 Best Cape Tribulation Tours
The Cape Trib Horse Riding Property
After a quick briefing, we set off on the trail ride to Myall Beach. The first leg of the ride covers a stretch of the beautiful property. This is a mix of grassland fields and rainforests, with a small creek crossing.
I was really blown away by just how magnificent the property was. The trail winded elegantly through the field with spectacular mountain backdrops until we entered the forest.
Related: The 10 Best Cairns Tours & Experiences
Riding Through the Daintree Rainforest
Cape Tribulation, it's truly the place where the rainforest meets the reef! After exiting the property, we crossed the road and entered a short stretch of the Daintree adjacent to Myall Beach.
Our horses were well-behaved and our guides were very friendly and informative. They taught us about native plants and their traditional uses in cooking, medicine and crafts.
In my opinion, the short rainforest ride was just as epic as the beach ride! Apparently, there's even a section on this trail where riders can spot a large 3-metre crocodile just across the bank!
Unfortunately, we weren't that lucky on our ride. But, if you spot one on yours, please let me know below. I'd love to share your photos on this blog!
The Ultimate Cape Tribulation Travel Resource
Looking for more Cape Trib travel guides & adventure inspiration? Below are my most comprehensive blog posts that will serve as a great free resource for your trip.
Riding a Horse on Cape Tribulation Beach
The last leg of the Cape Tribulation horse riding tour was a stroll on Myall Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in Cape Tribulation. Here, you can see the famous cape headland and get a good glimpse of the reef on a clear day.
Even though it was low tide, our guides led us and our horses into the shallow waters off the beach. This was a clear highlight for me! It's also a stand-out reason why Cape Tribulation is one of the best places to go horse riding!
In review, I'd say that a 90-minute beach ride is just the perfect amount of time. This time frame allowed us to get the most out of the experience and it certainly didn't feel rushed. Our guides even hopped off on the beach to help us get some photos of us together on our horses!
Looking for a place to cool off after your horse ride? Check out Mason's Swimming Hole and Emmagen Creek Swimming Hole in Cape Tribulation.
More photos from My Horse Riding Experience
Where to Say at Cape Tribulation
Below I've included some tips on the best places to stay on your trip to Cape Tribulation. If you'd like more suggestions with photos, read my comprehensive accommodation guide to Cape Tribulation.
- Incredible rainforest stay: Wildwood Rainforest Cottages - Located in the heart of Cape Tribulation, Wildwood is set on a rare exotic fruit orchard. Guests have exclusive access to the orchard and can freely explore the 800+ trees on the property, picking and sampling any of the fruits in season. All rooms provide access to a landscaped garden and fire pits for guests to cook out under the stars.
- Best Hostel in Cape Trib: Daintree Crocodylus Hostel - Backpackers and those on a budget who would prefer a bit more of a raw Daintree experience, I'd recommend the Crocodylus hostel. Located in Cow Bay, closer to the ferry, but just a short hop from Cape Tribulation and Myall Beach, this hostel offers safari-tent style rooms which are built from wood and canvas, with high ceilings, fans and mosquito net.
- Epic Holiday House For Groups: Cape Tribulation Holiday House - With a group or prefer a big house in the rainforest all to yourself? This accommodation is the highest-rated holiday house in Cape Tribulation. It's set on 5 acres of rainforest and includes a huge balcony, 2 bedrooms, and a fully equipped kitchen!
More Far North Queensland Travel and Adventure Inspiration
That wraps up this quick travel guide to the Cape Tribulation horse riding tour in Far North Queensland. I hope it has inspired you to tick this epic bucket list item off your list!
While you're here, make sure to check out some of my other articles and guides from the region. If you're in Cairns, check out this list of things to do, this list of where to stay, as well as my comprehensive hiking guide, waterfall guide and island guide.