Our campsite, Lake Tinaroo
Below: Kooka made a home on our bonnet
A glass of red in hand saw us sitting around our campfire of an evening, watching the stars twinkle above us. All sound a little poetic? Maybe, but it truly was the most relaxing place we have ever camped. We had an enormous vista spread out in front of us- to the right a thick pine forest, making us feel we were in Canada and to the left quaint farmland, reminiscent of England. Only the balmy days made us feel we were in Australia.
With friends soon to join us in Port Douglas, we headed north. Having stayed at the Mt Molloy free camp previously we made a beeline for the evening. We stopped next to an inconspicuous van. Later a craggy looking man emerged. Our new friend was an alcoholic, albeit harmless. As we assisted him in opening tins of food for dinner, the conversation grew. It was an eye opening experience to learn how from an innocent baby born in Essex, England, grew a man addicted to the demon drink. He yearns for a ‘princess’ to keep him on the straight and narrow, but for now from sun up to sun down it is a cheap home brew that keeps him going. I never want to become an alcoholic.
Lookout on the way to Port Douglas
Thoughts of sadness were soon washed away with the arrival of Sammi and Michael, who greeted us with big smiles at Cairns airport. Winding along the coast north of Cairns, with the Coral Sea as the backdrop, we soon arrived at Port Douglas. ‘Port’ has a holiday feel, and we were all soon relaxed and in the mood for adventure.
After a brief visit to the markets, were we snapped up a bargain or two, we headed for the mist topped mountains beyond Port Douglas, this scenic drive north leading us to the Daintree.
Crossing the suspension bridge, Mossman Gorge
Taking the ferry across the Daintree River, we were soon twisting and turning through thick rainforest and coastal mangroves to Cape Tribulation.
Sammi and Leisa, Cape Tribulation
This part of the Daintree is so different from the rainforest of Mossman Gorge, with its huge granite boulders and clear swimming holes. We searched for a Cassowary, but alas the bird is still elusive to us. However, we did manage to spot a few crocodiles while on a Daintree River Cruise.
Baby crocodile, soooo cute
But, my favourite was the micro bat that hung upside down in a tree overlooking the water. He was so cute and furry with his little ears sticking out.
Cute little bat, hiding in the tree
We were enjoying warm days, although the weather forecast indicated 30 knot winds out to sea. However, we all decided to brave the boat to snorkel over the Great Barrier Reef. We found the ride to the outer reef rough, but not as bad as expected. I have been on the Manly Ferry in much worse waters. We snorkelled at three sites on the outer reef, each full of life. Immersed in this underwater world an hour went by quickly. Gliding amongst the carnival of corals, we were entertained by brightly coloured fish and some massive specimens of the ‘ugly’ kind. At the last site as we swam over deep coral beds, we also encountered reef sharks and a turtle. Pruned from a day in the water we headed home while talking to the onboard Marine Biologist about the future of the Great Barrier Reef.
End of a hard days snorkeling.....
Alas, the time with our friends was coming to a close. We spent our last day viewing the sights around Cairns, before bidding Sammi and Michael farewell at the airport.
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