Our day at the Daintree National Park and Cape Tribulation was spent with
Tropical Horizon Tours. We opted to join a tour group instead of a self-drive. I heard from other travellers and colleagues before leaving Sydney that we may not be able to reach Cape Tribulation in a regular car. We didn't have a 4WD.
View map here - Cairns to Cape Tribulation.
So, at 7.45am we waited at the lobby. We chatted to a man also joining a tour - the Food Safari tour. We overheard that there were only three people on the tour which would make it nice and personal. I had hoped ours would be too.
Mick, our driver, was slightly delayed due to no-shows in Cairns.We were picked up at 8am and after a quick introductions, we boarded the bus where we met our fellow travellers. There was one family from the US (Washington DC), couples from London (near Surrey), Germany, and another couple from Sydney (Graystanes).
Mick was a story-teller as well as a horticulturist and tour guide.
Port Douglas
Our first stop was Port Douglas. Port Douglas is located just over an hours drive from Cairns. Here we learnt a little bit more about Port Douglas.
As we entered Port Douglas and drove down towards the Four Mile Beach, Mick tells that that Port Douglas was founded in the late 1800's following the discovery of
gold in the area. However as nearby towns started to develop, the Port
Douglas population dwindled. It wasn't until the 1980's when a man names
Christopher Skace financed the construction of the
Sheraton Mirage that Port Douglas started to develop as the tourist attraction it is today. Mick tells that that the palm trees that line-up the main street of Port Douglas was imported by Skace to give the feel of tropical paradise.
We drove into the main street of Port Douglas, towards St Mary's Church, and down by the Marina where we were the previous day.
Mossman Gorge
Our next stop was Mossman Gorge. Here we learn about the Indigenous inhabitants who roamed freely, the start of the settlements and the impact on the original inhabitants and the missionaries that intervened. The Australian history was unfolding in this journey. At the Gorge, we were given the opportunity to swim. Due to the rains, the water was a little muddy.
We then travelled through the sugar cane farm lands. We learn that sugar cane is one of the main exports of Queensland (perhaps even Australia). Expensive crops sprawled out as far as the eyes could see. We travelled past a number of small country towns.
Daintree National Park
As we entered further into the Daintree National Park, we are warned that at some stage we will loose reception. This may have been a dig at my sister whose phone was continually beeping.
We headed towards the Daintree River where we had our morning tea ready and waiting for us. Lamingtons and tea. After a quick toilet break we boarded the Daintree River Cruise. We travelled down the river where were were introduced to the local flora and fauna, to the crocodile territories, and the wild boars that are stuck in the banks as the river moves.
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| The Daintree Rainforest |
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| Daintree River Crossing |
I am a fan of the show River Monsters hosted by Jeremy Wade. I watched an episode where Jeremy followed the movement of salt water crocodiles into fresh waters. I was looking forward to seeing the crocodiles. Images ran in my head of crocodiles sunbathing on the banks of the river. Unfortunately, it is mating season and crocodile sighting is rare. We did see a one year old crocodile.
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| One and only crocodile sighting... |
There was an abandoned train in the middle of the river. Here, we are told that the owner of the train had his son snatched by a crocodile near the river banks. The train has been abandoned since.
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| Abandoned Daintree River Train... |
After the cruise was lunch. Mick had ordered ahead so our lunch would be waiting for us when we arrived. I had the fish of the day - lovely Burumundi. Lunch was an opportunity to get to know our fellow travellers, to share some stories and gather information.
After lunch, we had the opportunity to swim in the rock pool at the bottom of the restaurant. I swam in one of the oldest rain forest in the world!
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| Rock pool deep in Daintree territory. |
The Daintree Rain Forest is the oldest Rain Forest in the world. Thirteen out of the ninteen ancient plants are located in the rain forest.
Cape Tribulation
Cape Tribulation was so named by Lieutenant James Cook as a result of the Endeavour hitting a reef and almost sinking. Cape Tribulation is the point where two world heritage listed areas meet - The Daintree National Park and the Great Barrier Reef.
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| Cape Tribulation - where two heritage area meet |
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| Lianas |
It is wet season in the far North Queensland. We've been warned that if the stingers don't get us, the crocs sure will.
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| Emergency First Aid - in case of stringers |
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| Crocodiles about ... Achtung! No swimming. |
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| Cape Tribulation - where the Daintree meets the Barrier Reef |
We are told an interesting story about the origin of Kangaroo. When Lieutenant James Cook first met with the local Indigenous tribe, they saw an interesting animal they had not seen before. When asked what the name of the animal was, the word Kangaroo kept being mentioned. This word was recorded as being the name of that animal. However the local translation of Kangaroo is "I don't know."
We then headed off to the Daintree Rain Forest Learning Centre.
Finally....
Cairns Trip Wrap Up.
