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Hours
Sun
7:30 am - 4:00 pm
Mon
7:30 am - 4:00 pm
Tue
7:30 am - 4:00 pm
Wed
7:30 am - 4:00 pm
Thu
7:30 am - 4:00 pm
Fri
7:30 am - 4:00 pm
Sat
7:30 am - 4:00 pm
Ratings and reviews
4.5
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Details
Someone from this business manages this listing.
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PRICE RANGE
$5.00 – $15.00
CUISINES
Cafe, Australian
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
meals, features
Does this restaurant offer highchairs for toddlers?
Details
About
Turtle Rock Cafe is located in the remote rainforest region of Cape Tribulation in Tropical North Queensland, 110km north of Cairns. Situated 400m from the beach, the Turtle Rock Cafe is located within the heart of the Daintree National Park and Wet Tropics World Heritage area, home to some of the oldest rainforest on earth and adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef. The Turtle Rock Cafe offers fresh wholesome food, great coffee and outdoor dining, with a casual friendly atmosphere in the heart of Cape Tribulation. With a menu offering healthy sandwiches and wraps, burgers, cakes, muffins and delicious meals made to order, the Turtle Rock Cafe is also known for its great locally grown coffee. The Turtle Rock Cafe showcases the wide variety of delicious produce the Tropical North Queensland region has to offer. Using Malanda milk, farm fresh eggs and cheese from the Southern Tablelands, Mareeba grown coffee, fresh produce from the Atherton Tablelands and locally grown exotic fruits (seasonal) you can experience the best of North Queensland produce in one place. The Turtle Rock Cafe is located Cape Tribulation Road, opposite PK's, and the site is also home to Ocean Safari and Safari Lodge....Why not stay a while longer and enjoy everything the region has to offer? Make sure you check out our daily specials! Open 8am - 5pm, 7 days a week. Phone orders welcome.
PRICE RANGE
$5.00 – $15.00
CUISINES
Cafe, Australian
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch, Drinks
FEATURES
Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Gift Cards Available
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4.5
270 reviews
Excellent
146
Very good
83
Average
25
Poor
5
Terrible
11
Michael
Brisbane3 contributions
Sept 2020 • family
The service we have received here was stellar. Quick food and when we ordered a variation of a meal to be vegetarian the staff told us they increased the size of the meal to account for the meat. From an outsiders perspective the staff culture is great, the staff seemed really positive and happy and this is reflected in the way they deal with the customers. Will continue eating here until we leave Cape trib.
Written 9 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OceanRafting_Safari
Mike we are stoked you enjoyed the teams hospitality! We have a fantastic group of people working with us to deliver experiences and delicious food just like yours!! Thanks so much we hope the rest of your time in Cape Tribulation is just as good and we will see you next time! Team Turtle Rock
Written 11 September 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Carla P
London350 contributions
Oct 2020 • none
Awesome little hybrid cafe / restaurant / bar with great food options. Locals seem to frequent this place - go on a Sunday night for Momo night (Nepalese dumplings) and live music. Excellent fish and chips, and great coffee. ALSO the free wifi works well and is an absolute godsend out here where there is zero Telstra reception!
Written 24 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OceanRafting_Safari
Thanks so much for lovely feedback Carla!! Stoked to hear you had a wonderful dining experience with us here at the Turtle Rock! We are so happy you loved the Nepalese inspired evening, our Safari Sundays are heaps of fun and we change the theme up every week!! Hope to see you again some day. Team Turtle Rock
Written 25 October 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
NauticalDreamer3010
Buddina719 contributions
Aug 2020 • none
Being the only place open when we were in town the cafe was pretty busy but seemed to handle the crowds pretty well. We ordered a salad which was fresh and delicious and a burger which was really good too. Highly recommend.
Written 26 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OceanRafting_Safari
Thanks so much for the great review! We are stoked that you had a wonderful dining experience with us here at the Turtle Rock Cafe. We hope you had a fantastic time exploring Cape Tribulation and the Daintree Rainforest. Hope to see you again soon one day. Team Turtle Rock
Written 31 August 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Fred F
Cairns Region69 contributions
July 2020 • none
We drove the grandkids to Cape Tribulation on the weekend and we were all very hungry when we finally got there.
Both the original ice cream place and the copy cat ice cream place were closed as was the Cow Bay Hotel.
Mason’s Café had an “Open” sign near the road so we looped around and drove in only to see another sign advising that they don’t open on Sundays and the public can’t use their toilets.
We finally pulled up at the Turtle Rock Café and went to the only vacant table which still had the plates and drink containers from the previous persons including 2 half eaten burgers with flies crawling all over them, but an employee cleared and cleaned the table after I asked her.
We were gob-smacked at the food prices on the menu board. $17.50 for Mackerel & chips, a hamburger & chips, and a chicken burger & chip. At the best fish shop in Cairns, we pay $11.00 for Mackerel & chips and $13.50 for Coral Trout & chips.
There were some pies and sausage rolls in the pie warmer. The pies looked way over heated and the sausage rolls had turned a very dark brown, and looked like they had been there for a week.
We were tempted to drive back to Mossman or Port Douglas to get something to eat but we were already too hungry so my wife asked if they just had serves of chips and an employee showed her a small cardboard box which she said would be full, so we ordered 3 serves.
After waiting around 20 minutes, my wife inquired what had happened to our order and an employee said it would be ready in around 5 minutes.
An older lady said to my wife that she was still waiting for her takeaway order, and when she enquired how much longer it would be, she was told that there were 2 before her following which she observed some 10 persons get their orders before she enquired again.
The burgers we observed looked like the buns were burnt and they did not appear to be the least bit appetising, which probably explains why there 2 half eaten burgers at the table we went to despite the exorbitant prices.
Our chips were finally ready after some 30 minutes and the cardboard boxes were only half full so we had paid some $18.00 for what we would get as a $4.00 serve of chips at our local fish shop.
It appears that the “tourism” operators at Cape Tribulation do not want or need visitors as they are either closed or the offerings are unacceptable.
My advice is to visit somewhere else, or if you want to persist in going to Cape Tribulation, take your food with you.
Written 5 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OceanRafting_Safari
Thank you for providing feedback regarding your weekend visit to Cape Tribulation. It is certainly a shame that the COVID pandemic has had such an impact on small businesses, with restrictions in place limiting or closing many operations. We have luckily been able to open, albeit with COVID safe practices, but it still has affected our staffing and operations to some degree. As you would appreciate, Cape Tribulation is a remote region and freight is expensive, although we do very much support our local community and outlay costs to source fresh, local produce, both of which do have an impact on pricing. We always aim to provide service and meals which are of a quality standard, so we are very sorry to hear that this didn’t reflect in your experience. As one of the few dining options open and operating with the dedicated staff we have, it is more important that ever that we offer a memorable dining experience in the heart of Cape Tribulation. We will certainly take your feedback on board and pass it to the kitchen, but we do hope that you are able to come and visit once again in the future with your grandchildren when our fellow Cape Trib industry partners are up and running again! Team Turtle Rock
Written 11 July 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
woopiservicecentre
Woolgoolga212 contributions
Called in here to have some lunch, it was 2pm and the English lady said the grill is closed, even though the cook was there and still could have easily made 2 hamburgers or something! Being a business owner, both these staff members just wanted to knock off and go where every the staff go..... If it was my business I certainly would have made something for us. My wife ordered a cold wrap out of the fridge and it was disgusting. Not sure what month it was made, but half went in the bin, I wasnt game to eat anything after i saw the wrap. Lazy lazy staff, they certainly would have been sacked if they worked for me. We did stop at Thornton Beach where they have food all day and they were very friendly. My advice is eat here not at Cape Trib.
Written 15 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OceanRafting_Safari
We are extremely disappointed to hear that your experience at the Turtle Rock Café did not meet your service or dining expectations. Given our remote location and current state of events, with the COVID-19 pandemic, we have struggled to find well trained service staff after losing a large part of our team earlier in the year. This however is no excuse for the service you received on the day you joined us and we appreciate the feedback. Our operational team have had a disciplinary meeting with those on duty that day and we wish to assure you this will not happen again. Team Turtle Rock
Written 22 December 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
MikeTrish v
Echuca17 contributions
July 2021 • couples
Firstly ! .... the coffee can be best described as better than a Sinkerchino ... only good for the sink ! It was great that the young staff could not stuff up defrosting the Sarah Lee frozen carrot cake which was good.
The atmosphere created by the weird music ( I am a product of the 60/70's and lived the alternative life of that age) could be quite simply described as headbanging.
This place caters and attracts the local dreadlocked, alternative, society misfits and as such everyone else that "pays the bills" who are the majority of visitors sit there with mouths open, gawking and talking about what is happening around them.
And .... after visiting regularly over the past 3 years, next time I visit I will ensure I have had a decent joint first so that I will not be so critical or dissapointed.
Mike V.
Written 27 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OceanRafting_Safari
Thanks for the feedback on your recent visit Mike. We are disappointed to hear that your coffee wasn’t to standard, as a good brew is something we pride ourselves on. We would have been more than happy to replace it for you had you alerted our team during your time with us. In regards to our cakes, such as the one you had, these are sourced locally or made in house by our talented crew, we do hope you enjoyed it. Being located in the middle of town, the cafe is a central hub for most residents and visitors to the area and is frequented by a diverse range of people which, as you have described can be eye opening at times but that is the nature of life. Looking forward to seeing you next time and please be sure to let us know if there is a ever an issue with your meal or coffee at the time so we can rectify it for you. Team Turtle Rock
Written 31 July 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lynette B
Newcastle190 contributions
Mar 2021 • none
This place appears to be run by a bunch of back packers who have no idea. When we arrived we ordered drinks and it took forever. The girl had a blank stare and couldn’t understand the basics of what I was asking for. A lemonade for 2 kids, a sav Blanc a great northern beer and a bottle of Chardonnay. That whole process took 15 minutes. We had rang ahead to ensure they had gluten free bread which they assured us they did . But no. Only gluten free buns. For any one with a coeliac child you will understand their fussiness with food. We ordered 7 meals. 2 beef burgers one gluten free bun and one normal. Both came out with gluten free buns. One fish taco and 2 grilled fish and only 1 came out. They didn’t even record that I had asked for 2. The fish was dry and overcooked. The food was very ordinary. The kids toasties were awful. Smartass response when questioned why our other fish lunch didn’t arrive. Ordered some more drinks and only got three of the four ordered. Was asked is there anything else and had to say yeah the beer that I ordered. Seriously don’t bother.
Written 28 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OceanRafting_Safari
We are extremely disappointed to hear that your experience at the Turtle Rock Café did not meet your service or dining needs. We appreciate the feedback and our operational team have had a meeting with those on duty to discuss the issues encountered by your group. We hope you otherwise enjoyed your time in the beautiful Daintree Region. Team Turtle Rock
Written 31 March 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
thelandy
Australia15 contributions
Apr 2021 • none
If it is a leisurely meal or coffee you are looking for this is the place to go, the slow service guarantees it.
I’ve visited the Turtle Rock Café on three occasions in the past few days and each visit has been the same.
To be fair, Cape Tribulation is a holiday destination with a relaxed and laid back atmosphere, and that is one of the appealing things about it. So I can overlook the ‘leisurely’ service given the wonderful setting the café is situated in.
However, on my last visit I was served a meal on a dirty plate, and I mean no mistaking it was dirty, leaving you wonder how it ever left the kitchen without someone noticing it before serving it to a paying customer.
I took it back and was offered an apology.
I’ll say the food I’ve been served at the Turtle Café has been of a reasonable standard so I’ll chalk that up as a positive.
However, food served on a dirty plate trumps all positives.
A dirty plate is such a visual thing and so easily detected, it makes you concerned about the overall cleanliness and hygiene being practiced at this establishment.
I note that in a response to a poor review from a recent reviewer, management indicated they have spoken to staff about the need to improve – well perhaps it is a lack of oversight and quality control by management that also needs to be reviewed.
And I appreciate that Far North Queensland and many other tourist destinations in Queensland and Australia have been doing it tough these past 12 months, that’s why I’m out supporting you.
But, that has its limits…
Food served on a dirty plate – there’s no excuse and I won’t be back!
Written 1 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OceanRafting_Safari
Thanks for the feedback about your experiences here, it is disappointing to hear you didn’t enjoy your overall experience, even with some positives noted. You’re right there is no excuse for a dirty plate and we are deeply sorry that this occurred. Despite what happened, please rest assured we have strict health and safety practices in place and meet all health and safety regulations and requirements for the safety of our both our patrons and staff. The overall cleanliness and hygiene of the kitchen is well managed and the dirty plate is not a reflection of our practices but rather a reflection on the staff member who served the food. Management is constantly reviewing procedures to ensure the best possible practices are in place and has conducted a through review based on this incident. We were also disappointed to hear that you encountered slower than expected service during your visits. Despite the laid back lifestyle of such an idyllic setting we do strive to provide fast and efficient service for our patrons, as other guests have noted in previous reviews. Management and owners are currently working 7 days a week as we are short staffed and cannot fill all the vacant positions in the café, in fact we have had job adverts running for over 3 months for café staff. We really appreciate your efforts in supporting local businesses and we will continue to strive for best practise, service and quality. We hope you otherwise enjoyed your time exploring the beautiful Daintree Region. Team Turtle Rock
Written 7 April 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Angelique A
Brisbane2 contributions
June 2020 • couples
$24 bought 2 burnt cappuccinos, and no, we're not coffee snobs...1 choc gluten free brownie, that was soft and crumbly and nothing like a brownie at all..and 1 serving of raisen toast, which was only 1 piece of bread that was barely toasted and very soggy. Disappointed that a brownie is the ONLY gluten free food available. Embarrassed that this standard is presented to locals and tourists alike
Written 30 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OceanRafting_Safari
We are very sorry to hear that your dining experience at Turtle Rock Café didn’t meet your expectations. We do appreciate feedback and will follow up with the kitchen regarding your comments. It is unfortunate you weren’t able to express your thoughts while you were dining with us, so that we could rectify any issues at the time to make your meal more enjoyable. We generally receive fabulous comments about our locally grown and sourced coffee, as well as our other produce, including our special dietary offerings. As we operate in a remote location, and freight has been more restricted given the current circumstances, there have been some limitations on the variety of menu items, which unfortunately is beyond our control. We hope you enjoyed the rest of your time in the beautiful Daintree. Team Turtle Rock
Written 11 July 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
George
Newcastle27 contributions
Jan 2022 • family
Our family ate here on all 3 days of our little cape tribulation expedition and has great food every time. All the food was freshly prepared by the chef in a timely and efficient manner despite often large groups presenting at the same time. The fish tacos, sausage rolls and chicken burger were outstanding, and the coffee was excellent as well. A cold beer was also great in the summer heat. Wish it had been open for dinner as well. Staff were friendly and accommodating.
Written 15 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OceanRafting_Safari
Thank you so much for this truly amazing feedback and for choosing to eat with us each and every day of your trip. We are stoked to hear every meal was delicious and coffee and cold beers went down a treat!! Team Turtle Rock
Written 15 January 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
jsmY5381JH
Adelaide Hills22 contributions
May 2023 • family
When you find yourself near Earth’s end, the dining options are often overpriced and “out of a can” - not this place! We had the Sunrise Bowl and the special (Crab Benny) which we both so flavoursome and beautifully presented, and clearly made from scratch with love. Prices were relative bargains, coffee was delicious, staff were friendly, and the chef came out to chat, greet regulars etc which was so charming. Very smiley chap from Nepal. We really enjoyed our meal, don’t pass up Turtle Rock while you’re in Cape Tribulation!
Written 20 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jan Claxton
Fresh is best even when you find yourself at the ends of the earth! Thanks so much for this amazing feedback on your visit and we are thrilled that you throughly enjoyed your meals and the beautiful vibes of Cape Tribulation! Team Turtle Rock
Written 20 May 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
PhilMalone
Footscray1472 contributions
Jan 2022 • none
This place gets packed with all the tour groups. But it does offer great food and prepared efficiently and fresh. There is plenty of seating and despite the crowds, I don't think booking is necessary for lunch during the week.
It is a great place for fresh food in such an isolated location as Cape Trib.
Written 12 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OceanRafting_Safari
Thanks so much Phil, we are thrilled you had a great experience enjoying the fresh and delicious food on offer here! No need for a booking ever, but peak times can be very busy both on and off season. Hope to see you again some day! Team Turtle Rock
Written 14 February 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Craig
Margaret River3 contributions
July 2022 • family
Just one vegetarian dish on the menu which was an oily falafel thing with way to much lemon juice. Truly was disgusting.
Seeing other customers with steak burgers I asked if they could do a falafel burger instead and was told no. Just no.
You guys need to do better.
Written 16 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OceanRafting_Safari
It is so disappointing to hear you did not enjoy your experience with us. The falafels are house made and the falafel salad you had with us, is usually a vegetarian favourite! We do also have a range of vegetarian options, from panini's to smoothies, including the salad you had, we are sorry you only found one option to be suitable. The customer feedback, which you can read below is also a great reflection of how much our vegetarian and vegan friends appreciate the different options we have available for them. Team Turtle Rock
Written 19 July 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Nino
Croydon4 contributions
July 2022 • none
We were based at Port Douglas and travelled to Cape Tribulation via the Daintree Discovery Centre as a group of 8 (6 adults and 2 teens).
We rocked up 30 mins before the kitchen closed while the place was still pumping (busy). You could see the staff were getting smashed but they were very accommodating, friendly and the food was very tasty. AMAZING!!
It's been my first time in FNQ and the people have overwhelmingly made my stay the best component of my visit… Go FNQ!!
Written 9 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OceanRafting_Safari
The people of FNQ certainly make the experience don’t they!! Things are no different here and we are lucky to have an amazing team delivering fantastic service and food to our guests!! Thanks so much for the wonderful feedback and for stopping by! Team Turtle Rock
Written 10 July 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sebas López Ll
Melbourne7 contributions
Dec 2020 • none
We had the best food in Cape Trib. My wife and I are vegans so sometimes we struggle with finding plant-based options when we travel to these exotic destinations but in Turtle Café they had amazing vegan options. Especially the burger and a nutritional falafel bowl. The staff were super friendly. Big shout out to the Italian Couple the Fede's! Great morning coffee and cocktails as well!
Written 22 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OceanRafting_Safari
Thanks so much for the wonderful feedback!! The Fed’s are great aren’t they!! We are all thrilled to hear you had such a fantastic dining experience with us here at the Turtle Rock. We do our utmost to offer food of all types so we are glad you found something to suit your dietary needs. Cheers for the great review and we’ll see you soon for a bite! Team Turtle Rock
Written 26 December 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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