Rainforest and rivers

Thursday October 28^th

We retraced our steps today – at least as far as Port Douglas, but this time in a 4WD vehicle. Imagine a rickety plane on a Greek runway just before take off, and this lasting for 3 hours and you begin to get the picture. We were heading eventually for Cape Tribulation beach and, having checked the weather forecast, had packed towels and beach gear hoping for a lovely swim in the Coral Sea.

We passed through some stunning scenery - fields of sugar cane, tea plantations, rainforest and palm trees.

 We drove as far as the Daintree River and got the ferry across to the Daintree National Park, a vast area of rainforest at the foot of the Great Dividing Range.

  

 This area is home to an estimated 1900 cassowaries, which are protected birds – hence road signs ( some improvised ) warning motorists to be aware and keep speed down.

Eventually we reached Cape Tribulation beach. This is where Captain Cook ran aground on a coral reef – hence the name. It’s obvious he had a really good time here from the names he gave the mountains – Mt. Sorrow, Mt. Misery and Mt. Despair!

We know how he felt because just as we got there the heavens opened and we found another use for the beach towels! We got wet, but at least the beach was deserted – very atmospheric – and it even stopped raining for a little while.

  

 Lunch was in another amazing setting – deep in the rainforest at a place called Noah’s Creek. We were lucky not to have been there last week, because it rained so heavily the benches and tables were washed away downstream.

 

After a great lunch and a couple of glasses of wine we got on a boat to go crocodile spotting on the Daintree River.

This is Nelson who is only of average size – a mere 4.3 metres long!

This little fellow on his very own log is only about 7 months old.

We saw so much wild life – including white lipped tree frogs and this wonderful Brahminy Kite, also known as the Red-backed Sea Eagle.

On the return journey we stopped off at Mossman Gorge – where at some points the river creates rapids and waterfalls, and at others forms pools of crystal clear water.

Marg found a bouncy bridge – memories of Ogmore!

Returning to the 4WD we were stopped in our tracks by this little creature – actually as big as a man’s hand! Apparently it won’t kill you – just make you quite ill for a couple of days!

This was a long day out, but we came back with great memories.