Beautiful Cow Bay is located just north of the Daintree River. This small settlement offers various types of accommodation including backpacker, private holiday houses, B&Bs and camping.

Nearby is home to the Daintree Discovery Centre, a self-funding eco tourism facility that specialises in providing interpretive information about the Daintree Rainforest and its environs. Here you can meander along elevated rainforest boardwalks including the Cassowary Circuit and the Bush Tucker Trail. You can also take a self-guided tour using an audio guide, or a pre-booked group tour with an experienced naturalist.

Also nearby you will find home-made tropical ice-creams at Floravilla icecreamery & art gallery, Cow Bay Pub, rainforest tours, tea growing, an air strip, horse riding, overnight sea-kayaking to Snapper Island, guided walks and the RACQ depot. Guided sea kayaking can be booked locally at Crocodylus Village.

History
Cow Bay had a colorful past of farming, logging and grazing. Early settlers to Cow Bay grew crops in the 1880's – the Chinese crew dry rice, and maize and sugar-cane were grown. Daintree Tea Plantation was established in 1978 by the Nicholas family, who still own and operate the business.The name Cow Bay is thought to have come from the farming of cattle in the area in the early days, or, the other idea is that Cow Bay is named after the dugongs (sea cows) which come to feed on the seagrass beds in the bay. 

Cow Bay Beach offers a true 'deserted beach' experience. At low tide you can walk north round the headland to even more isolated beaches. 

Nearby Walks include:

Jindalba boardwalk—650m return (45mins) Grade: easy
The Jindalba (meaning ‘foot of the mountain’) boardwalk is a 700m boardwalk loop built into the hillside. This boardwalk explores tropical lowland rainforest starting just past the Daintree Discovery Centre, in Cow Bay. There is a large picnic area with toilets and tables. Wheelchair access to the creek is from the exit end only, near the disability access parking bays.

Jindalba circuit track—3km return (1.5hrs) Grade: moderate
Near the entrance of the Jindalba boardwalk is the start of the Jindalba circuit track. This forest walk is well marked but is stony in places and crosses rainforest creeks. A reasonable level of fitness is required.

Daintree Airstrip to the Cow Bay Beach
Walk the six kilometres on the footpath from the Daintree Airstrip to the Cow Bay Beach and observe the changes in rainforest habitat.

Orange Rope Walk
The Orange Rope Walk starts at Crocodylus Villafge and is a 3 kilometre walk marked with orange rope and 38 numbered sign posts, following a section of Macleans Creek. A booklet is provided at reception.