How To Get To Emmagen Creek, Cape Tribulation

Emmagen Creek is one of the most popular Daintree swimming holes. It is located approximately 15 minutes north of Cape Tribulation.

At the end of Rykers Road after passing Turtle Rock Cafe, the Cape Tribulation Bloomfield Road turns into an unsealed, gravel road. 2WD vehicles are able to navigate the route (we were driving a Toyota Camry) but it is wise to drive slowly as there are several potholes and in the middle of the day, the shadows from the trees can play tricks with the eyes.

Eventually, the road will dip and you will come to the Emmagen Creek crossing. If you’ve driven down to the water’s edge, you’ve gone too far. You will have passed a small dirt clearing on your right which is where vehicles will park before walking to Emmagen Creek swimming hole.

The path to the swimming hole isn’t signposted well. Look for a gap between the scrub and you should spy a well trodden dirt track, at times covered with a thick covering of leaves. Follow this path and soon you’ll come to a bamboo arch. When we visited in February, it was not an obvious fork in the road. The barista at Turtle Rock Cafe advised us to keep an eye out for a Pandanus palm (which we believe we found – we’re not great plant people) before turning left. At this point, you’ll be able to spy the creek through the branches. Follow the creek edge and eventually you’ll reach Emmagen Creek swimming hole.