Our week in Port Douglas was very much about relaxing and taking it easy, So rather than hiring a car, we selected a couple of tours. One of those was a small group tour to the Daintree Rainforest. Initially I’d planned to hire a car and do a self dive tour, I’m glad we abandoned that idea as this way I got to see everything and our tour guide was in charge of deciding where we should go – I’d have had no real idea!

The downside was that it was an early start, with a 7.20am pick up. As we have found with this type of tour, the other tour guests are usually pleasant, and across the day there is a chance to strike up conversations, usually about where people are from and what experiences they have had while they’ve been travelling. We picked up a couple,of restaurant recommendations and a some tour hints that we can store away for subsequent visits.

Our first stop was Mossman Gorge. Our tour guide was knowledgeable about the flora and fauna although across the day we didn’t see much of the latter.

From there it was into the Daintree. A short stop as we waited for the ferry  to take us across the Daintree River. The Daintree is croc infested, so we were warned not to go to close to the river bank while we waited for the ferry. The ferry service is a continuous service from 5am to midnight, so the wait was short.

The ferry is the only link to basic services unless you want to drive across the Bloomfield track and then take the Mulligan Highway. Mobile reception is poor, meaning in an emergency you have limited services such as helicopter rescue. That said, I’m not sure where a helicopter would land given the dense mess of the rainforest. However, for those looking for a digital detox and a life genuinely unhindered by the commercial hustle and bustle this would be the place.

One of the highlights was taking a boat ride from the mouth of Cooper Creek. It’s an opportunity to see crocodiles. Even at a safe distance they are scary!
We passed by Mangrove after Mangrove. They are fascinating the way they knit together to hold the river bank together.

 

 

From there it was onto lunch, not hers but ours!

While the Daintree is a national park there are pockets of private land, so there is limited private dwelling and accommodation. Our lunch was in a restaurant called on “On the Turps” aptly names as it is on Turpentine Road! The restaurant overlooks the upper reaches of the Cooper River and is nestled in the rainforest.

From there it was onto Cape Tribulation. It’s a stunning beach with the only noise being the sea and waves crashing onto the beach. It’s not a swimming beach as there are crocodiles all year round and stingers. Crocodile attacks are limited but stingers, a poisonous jelly fish aren’t. They say that their sting is as painful as it gets – definitely something to avoid. While there is a defined stinger season, some apparently can’t read calendars!

There was time for a bit of history about Captain Cook’s journey to Australia and the Endevour’s stop at the cape. Such an incredible journey and one all to few hear about these days. He was an incredible adventurer.

We had a stop at Daintree Ice Cream for those who wanted an exotic fruit ice cream. Tropical fruit is a feature of the region and further up the road there is a place that offers exotic tropical fruit tastings.

From there it was a homeward journey with a further walk into the rainforest and a short stop at the Mount Alexandra lookout.

Although it was a little misty we had a great view across Cow Bay, imaginatively named after its role as a cattle port and across towards Port Douglas. I subsequently heard another explanation for its name that it was names after Dugongs that are often referred to as Sea Cows.

We had a wonderful day that  is better told in pictures.

Note: for those dedicated readers of the blog, you will note that in an earlier post I referred to this visit which took place in September 2023. Somehow I forgot to hit Publish on this post at the time.