Cape Tribulation is a destination for most travellers driving north of Cairns. The cape was named by Captain Cook in June 1770, following the Endeavour’s grounding on a coral reef off the cape. As Cook wrote, he called the “North point Cape Tribulation, because here began all our Troubles”. The cape itself is part of the Cape Tribulation National Park, with freehold land to either side. The main road parallels the back of the beach, with a car park right behind the beach. There are beaches either side of the cape; the northern called Cape Tribulation Beach, the longer southern called Coconut Beach. Cape Tribulation Beach is tucked in lee of the cape, faces north-east and is 700 m long. It is a low, flat beach, narrow at high tide and up to 300 m wide at low tide. Waves are usually low, with a few mangroves growing out along the side of the cape. Dense tropical vegetation surrounds the beach and provides excellent shade. The northern end of the beach stops amongst the rocks, reef and mangroves at the mouth of Pilgrim Sands Creek, while the southern end abuts the cape. read more

Beach Length: 0.6km