Glamping in the World’s Oldest Rainforest at Daintree Crocodylus

Ready to immerse yourself in the world’s most ancient rainforest? A jungle tent stay at Daintree Crocodylus claims to take you back to nature – here’s our honest review!

Visiting the Daintree Rainforest was high on our agenda when we planned our Sydney to Cairns road trip. Around two and a half hours drive from Cairns, you can visit the Daintree on a day tour. But we liked the sound of the location so much, we booked a three night stay there!

We chose Daintree Crocodylus for our stay as we love being outdoors and surrounded by nature. It looked like a really unique experience, and the chance to unwind after a hectic few weeks making our way up the East Coast. Plus, I’ve always liked the idea of glamping, and where better to get an appetite than in the oldest rainforest in the world?

If you’re planning your stay in the Daintree, read on to find out if Crocodylus is right for you!

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Checking in…

Arriving mid-afternoon, we picked up our map with our room marked on it, taking just our small backpacks to the jungle tent. There’s no formal check in process, but guests are invited to a daily ‘meet and greet’ at 5pm, which was a friendly welcome from the staff, who gave us a box of crockery for the self-catering kitchen, as well as some information about Daintree and local activities.

The initial vibe felt very laid back – while the website and listing sites market it as a great place for a ‘digital detox’, plenty of people were using their phones and even a laptop in the common area. We’d text our families to explain we might be off-grid for a few days, to find that we actually had decent phone signal while we were there! If not, there’s WiFi available.

The Rooms

First things first, I’ll get this one straight out there: if you’re looking for a luxury hotel with all the bells and whistles, Daintree Crocodylus isn’t for you. Their philosophy is about reconnecting with nature, and their back-to-basics jungle glamping offers the chance to exchange the usual hotel room mod-cons for an atmospheric stay amongst the trees. And besides, you’re not here to spend all your time in your room!

We stayed in a Jungle Double, which is ideal for a couple. The room was simple but had plenty of space for our belongings, with a small table being the only furniture besides the bed. Our room was in a block of four, with wooden interior walls. We had no neighbours, but the sound in the rainforest carries so you might hear other people moving around when it’s busy.

The exterior walls are made of canvas and mesh, designed to immerse you in the rainforest as much as possible. And yes, this limits privacy – but the payoff for waking up amongst the lush green trees definitely makes up for it. Even better, the rooms all have a balcony with table and chairs, perfect for sipping your morning coffee and listening to the sounds of wildlife waking up.

The bed itself was actually super comfortable, and I slept really well. All beds have a mosquito net to keep out any errant bugs, and linen is provided – although there’s no daily cleaning or turn-down service. There’s also a ceiling fan which was welcome in the heat, and a light. (Bear in mind that the hotel turns off their electricity during the hours of 12-5pm though!)

The only thing I wasn’t the biggest fan of is the doors not locking. We were fine with valuables, as we left them in our van in the secure car park, but it would have been nice to have a latch on the inside at least.

Our three-night stay in a Jungle Double cost us A$387 – around £187. Dorm room prices start at A$45 per night.

The Facilities

While basic, Daintree Crocodylus has all the essential facilities you’ll need for your stay.

The shared bathrooms are kept clean and in good condition, with hot showers that do the job perfectly. There’s also a communal kitchen, which I’ve covered in the food and drink section below.

The common area is a large area under cover, with tables and chairs surrounding the restaurant and kitchen. As the rooms are quite basic, the hotel encourages guests to spend time in the common area and get to know other guests. If that’s not your vibe, there are plenty of quiet corners to tuck yourself away in too. There are plenty of board games on offer, or you can show off your pool skills at the table.

Speaking of pool… Crocodylus has one! While it’s not the largest swimming pool I’ve seen, it was amazing to splash around under the rainforest canopy. Despite the initial dip into water being, to put it mildly, pretty bracing…

Food and Drink

On our first night, we took advantage of the on-site restaurant for dinner. There were six dishes on offer, as well as some salads, with meat and vegetarian/vegan options available. I had the Vegetable Thai Curry and it was the HUGEST portion; I actually had to put half in a container for the next day! Perhaps not the most traditional Thai curry, but I enjoyed it and the vegetables were excellently cooked. Ashley also spoke highly of his beef dish!

Worth noting: If you’re staying during the wet season from November to March, their Hostelworld listing states that the restaurant and bar will be closed. Unsure how up-to-date that info is, but it’s worth checking ahead and making other plans if so. The self-catering kitchen is open year-round.

On our second and third night, we used the self-catering kitchen to cook our own dinners. The kitchen is pretty spacious, however we did have to wait a while as a large group were cooking.

At the beginning of your stay, you’re given a box of crockery and cutlery, which is kept in the kitchen. No food is allowed in the jungle tents (it attracts wildlife), but there’s ample storage in the fridges and on shelves. Like a hostel kitchen, you’re asked to label your food with your name and departure date. You’re also responsible for washing up your own plates and cutlery.

Having both spent a lot of time in hostels, this was absolutely fine with us, and the kitchen facilities were great.

Extra food note: Make sure you visit the two ice cream factories in Daintree, both just a short drive from Crocodylus! Get the Passionfruit flavour from Daintree Ice Cream Company and thank me later…

Activities

While Daintree Crocodylus doesn’t directly organise most local activities for guests, they have contacts for tours and are happy to point you in the right direction. We booked one of our Daintree River crocodile tours through them, in a section of river less-travelled than the well-advertised cruises by the ferry. (we also did one of those, the Solar Whisper Wildlife Cruise, which was also great!)

One activity the hotel does organise is a nightly jungle walk, an opportunity to experience the rainforest by night. Meeting up with our young but incredibly knowledgable guide, we strapped on our head torches and went in search of night time activity. We didn’t see huge amounts of wildlife on the tour, but it was a wonderful chance to learn more about the rainforest’s ancient history and delicate ecosystem.

We were also lucky enough to watch the guides release a python that had been found in a nearby property back into the wild, which was pretty freaking cool. Can’t guarantee that every night though.

During the day, we found plenty to do in the area. Behind the Daintree property, there’s a 3km jungle walk which we embarked on on a ‘chill out’ day. The path itself is more rugged than I expected, but it’s a great way to explore the forest. Unfortunately we didn’t spot one of the cassowary that roam the surrounding area, but I did get spooked by some ENORMOUS wild pigs charging around the undergrowth!

We also took a walk down to Cow Bay beach – or, at least we tried to. After an encounter with a pretty aggressive looking dog, we decided to turn back and drive the rest of the way. It was absolutely worth the hassle, to spread our toes in the sand on such a secluded beach that evoked tropical desert island scenes. It takes around 45mins to walk there along the main road, or it’s a 5 minute drive.

Overview: Is Daintree Crocodylus worth staying at?

Really, it depends what you’re looking for. If, like us, you’re a couple (or friends) or a family and want to immerse yourself in the rainforest in a unique and back-to-basics setting, absolutely. The staff are lovely and friendly, and the common area and pool are great spaces to relax and unwind in nature.

Although the rooms are sparse and a little well-worn on the outside, Crocodylus has everything you need for an enjoyable experience. The location is perfect for exploring the Daintree and Cape Tribulation, with plenty to see and do in the surrounding area.

While it wasn’t 100% perfect (mostly the lack of interior lock on the door, and the world’s loudest pig convincing me it was a shotgun wielding maniac), our stay at Daintree provided near enough exactly what we were hoping for.

Alternative Hotels in Daintree

If you’ve read this review and think that maybe Crocodylus ain’t for you, check out some alternative options that may be more up your street:

• Daintree Peaks ECO Stays ($$$): Ideal for those wanting the rainforest ambience, but in a more ‘brick and mortar’ setting.
• Safari Lodges ($$$): Sturdy lodges with shared bathroom or en-suite options in the Cape Tribulation area.
• Daintree Eco Lodge and Spa ($$$$$): Seriously budget-busting, super luxurious rainforest villas.