Ocean Safari: Where rainforest touches reef

Words by Jamie Jansen

For more information about Ocean Safari Cape Tribulation, or to book, click here.

The best trips are the ones where adventure and relaxation come together effortlessly, especially when you’re heading to one of the only places on Earth where two World Heritage sites meet - the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. You want to be fully immersed, to take it all in, without worrying about every little detail. 

Picture this: you wake to the sounds of the world’s oldest rainforest in a comfortable  rainforest-side cabin, take a few steps to the cafe for a wholesome breakfast made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients. By mid-morning, you’re strolling down to the nearby beach and slipping into the turquoise waters of the Great Barrier Reef, snorkelling among vibrant coral and tropical fish. Sounds like a dream, right? But it’s real, and it’s exactly the kind of experience that awaits at Ocean Safari in Cape Tribulation.

Tucked in the heart of the Daintree, and just a 1.5-hour drive from Port Douglas, Ocean Safari is a complete destination. It sits perfectly at the intersection of these two wonders, giving visitors the rare chance to experience both ecosystems in a single, unforgettable adventure. 

What truly sets Ocean Safari apart is the integration of tours, accommodation, and dining. Guests don’t need to navigate multiple bookings or leave the area to experience the Daintree fully. 

With Safari Lodge, Turtle Rock Cafe, and tours to the Great Barrier Reef all on-site, everything you need for an unforgettable rainforest-to-reef experience is right at your fingertips.

Snorkelling where two wonders meet

Ocean Safari is best known for its multi award-winning reef tours and holds the unique distinction of offering the only direct tours to the Great Barrier Reef from within the Daintree.

Their half-day eco-tours are designed for connection and immersion, taking you to two incredible snorkelling spots at Mackay Reef, a pristine sand cay surrounded by vibrant coral and abundant marine life. 

With a maximum of 25 guests, each trip feels personal and unhurried. A high-speed vessel carries you across turquoise waters in just 25 minutes, setting the stage for the wonders beneath the surface.

At the coral cay, snorkellers glide through colourful coral gardens alongside turtles, and schools of tropical fish. And often, even as you swim, the Daintree rainforest rises in the distance, a stunning reminder that this is the only place on Earth where two World Heritage wonders meet.

Small, personal, and connected to nature

Being a small, family-operated business, Ocean Safari has a different rhythm to the larger operators further south, you can feel it in every detail. Here, there’s space to breathe, freedom to explore, and a quiet that invites you to truly connect with nature.

That sense of intimacy is exactly what owners Jan and Peter Claxton fell in love with when they first visited Cape Tribulation in 2008. Captivated by the rainforest’s ancient magic and the reef’s vibrant life, they saw an opportunity to do something unique: create a family-run, eco-friendly adventure hub that celebrated the region while keeping tourism authentic and sustainable.

From the very beginning, the Claxton children were part of the journey, helping paint, dig, and shape the spaces that would become Safari Lodge and Ocean Safari HQ. Today, three generations of the family are involved, with Cole Claxton, one of the sons, and his partner managing daily operations. They work side by side with an incredible team, many of them locals, all united by the same ethos: care for the environment, warm hospitality, and a genuine love for the natural surroundings.

Education and conservation built-in

Visiting the Great Barrier Reef is about more than just the experience, it’s about visiting responsibly. Ocean Safari’s mission is to educate guests, so they leave inspired, aware of their impact, and more connected to marine conservation.

The company maintains a dedicated Tourism Reef Protection Initiative (TRPI) stewardship site at Mackay Reef, a government-backed program where the crew conducts regular reef surveys and manages threats like crown-of-thorns starfish. Guests visit the site as part of their tour and learn about reef monitoring, coral species, and the factors affecting reef health.

Awards, recognition, and local pride

This commitment to conservation and authentic experiences hasn’t gone unnoticed. They hold multiple Queensland Tourism Gold Awards, consistent 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor, and the #1 spot for Cape Tribulation tours, as well as a “Best of Queensland Experience” title in 2024. 

Yet what drives the Claxton family isn’t accolades, it’s the joy of sharing the Daintree with others, and the satisfaction of seeing guests leave with unforgettable memories.

For anyone seeking to explore where the rainforest meets the reef, Ocean Safari is the gateway, the destination, and the guide. Wander through the rainforest, dive among vibrant coral, and let the passionate, local team guide you through one of the most extraordinary places on Earth.

For more information about Ocean Safari Cape Tribulation, or to book, click here.