Daintree Rain Forest and Cape Trib

Today we had an all day tour. John was our tour guide, and there were 14 tourists including the 3 of us - so not a huge group. John had obviously dealt with a lot of small bladdered or caffeine dependent people because he programmed in frequent rest stops, and always pointed out the toilets and the coffee shop. We also stopped frequently at walks and look-outs, so although the tour was 12 hours we were never long without stretching our legs.

First we stopped at Palm Cove (a small resort and beach area), then at Port Douglas and 4 mile beach (a nice little vacation community). I sat beside a couple yesterday who were from Melbourne but spent 3 winter months (now) at Port Douglas. Both spots did look like long term winter vacation spots. Both spots had cables for jellyfish nets (which are not out right now - jellyfish season is over) and beachside emergency bottles of vinegar with which to douse jellyfish stings. The beach at Port Douglas was full of people - multitudes were walking the beach, but there were a lot playing in the water as well.

Then back in the bus to Mossman Gorge - the Mossman River rushes over rapids, and the surrounding vegetation is part of Daintree National Park. Apparently Daintree rainforest is the oldest in the world, and has more types of primative vegetation than anywhere else - ie. really old ferns. We did a little walk to a suspension bridge over the gorge, for which the blueprint should be given to the folk of Puerto Vallarta. It was a lovely secure feeling suspension bridge. While we were there we saw a Boyd's forest dragon (cool lizard) on a tree. I decided if this is winter when it is cooler and dryer I would hate to be here in summer when it is hot and humid - I was flushed and dripping wet by the time our walk was over.

Another little jaunt on the bus to the Daintree Wilderness River Cruise, where we started with a short tea break. On our cruise we saw 5 salt water crocodiles - 2 babies (1 on a tree, 1 in the water), 1 adolescent cunningly camoflagued in the banyan roots, and 2 moms sunning on the mud flats - daddy wasn't present. The photo is of Lizzy, a mom. We also saw two green tree snakes hanging around in trees that overhang the river. Altogether quite a successful cruise. Milo will be jealous of all the animals I saw today!

After the cruise we had a quick stop at the Alexandra Range lookout and saw the Daintree River estuary. Then we went to a spot that had an entomological museum (bugs on pins) to entertain us while John barbequed our lunch - either steak or baramundi fish. We then had a nice lunch by a quiet rainforest swimming hole (no one but the perch swam).

Back in the bus and on to Cape Tribulation beach. Captain Cook named it Cape Tribulation because his ship was holed by coral there. It's quite lovely, however, swimming is not allowed due to crocodiles. Another little rainforest walk, with the horrible stinging plant pointed out.

Back in the bus and across the Daintree River by cable drawn ferry.

Then another walk in another forest habitat - this time the mangrove ecosystem.

After all of this we had a stop for rainforest icecream - 4 flavors served to all, being mango, macadamia nut, wattle and black sapote - all quite yummy although I'd never heard of or contemplated eating the last two before.

A quick stop for tea, another lookout (ocean view), and then back to Cairns. The Daintree Rain Forest met all my expectations of what a tropical rain forest should look like.