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Daintree Ecolodge, on the south side of the Daintree River, near Daintree Village, is a destination resort hotel deep in the jungle. It gets incredibly good reviews, and we can vouch for their excellent customer service and good food. It’s a pretty spot, complete with its own waterfall hike to a sacred Aboriginal sight. We visited for lunch recently at their Julaymba restaurant, and to check out the hotel and the waterfall.
Check Prices and Availability at Daintree Eco Lodge here.
Daintree Eco Lodge
The hotel consists of multiple cabins or villas, in a very beautiful rainforest garden. The resort stretches up the side of a valley from the stream at the bottom. This stream stems from the sacred waterfall. The restaurant straddles the stream and a pretty nature-filled lagoon. From here, steep paths head up to the villas, the car park and pool. You will need your own vehicle to get here. This is the car hire tool that we recommend.
If you stay here, you will need to bring your climbing legs and sensible shoes.
It really would be an experience to stay here and encounter the sights, sounds and wildlife of a rainforest, with more comfort than you’re likely to find in the Daintree Rainforest north of the river.
If you’re looking for a similar place, but closer to Port Douglas, Silky Oaks Lodge is another remote place in an incredibly beautiful setting.
Villas at Daintree EcoLodge
Choose from a Lagoon Villa, low in the valley, a Rainforest Villa or a Canopy Villa, higher up on the property. They have a treehouse feel. The villas each have a king-sized bed for 2 people. Breakfast is included. Expect to pay $800-$1000 per night for a villa depending on the season. Take a look at the room features, current prices and availability here.
Parking at Daintree Eco Lodge
There is a fairly large car park at the hotel, but access is via a very steep, very narrow driveway. The car park is high up, and you will need to walk down to the rooms and restaurant.
Daintree Eco Lodge Dining & Menu
Daintree Ecolodge has a very good food reputation locally, most guests leave great reviews for dining. We were excited to try lunch here, but I think you’ll have more options for dinner. I’d love to try their breakfast for hotel guests.
The lunch menu was very short when we visited with just meat, fish, and vegetarian options, We ordered the beef and the fish, both were good. The only negative for me (and most people wouldn’t know the difference) was that the barramundi was farmed and not from the award-winning salt water barramundi farm (Hook a Barra), which is just up the road. I know that the fish from there is more expensive, but it was farmed locally, near Port Douglas. Of course, we’d all prefer wild. But still, it was good.
It’s nice to see them using wine from our local tropical winery at Shannonvale and an Australian flavour, lemon myrtle. Julaymba means Daintree in the local Eastern Kuku Yalangi language.
The Waterfall Hike at Daintree Eco Lodge
We visited in the wet season, with the waterfall in full flow, it was pretty spectacular. The walk is short, it took just a few minutes, but the terrain is steep, fairly muddy, and uneven. The walk starts near the restaurant.
Should You Stay at Daintree Eco Lodge?
If you can, yes. I would suggest that you combine a night or two here with a few days in Port Douglas for your reef cruise. We recommend this one, Wavelength Reef Cruises, as the best for most purposes. We have a short Port Douglas itinerary here. Daintree Village is nearby, it’s a nice spot, but there’s not much to see or do there. You can also access a Daintree River Cruise from the Ecoldge, book that here. Of course, you can self-drive into the Daintree Rainforest, crossing the river using the Daintree River Ferry. Cassowary Falls is near Daintree Village, but it’s only accessible on tours. For more waterfalls in our area, see this post.
