CAPE TRIBULATION

Yes, we HAD to go as far as the bitumen would take us so set out crossing the Daintree River on the ferry and  slowly took in all the sights heading north.  Stopped at the Alexandra Range Lookout Point before stopping off at the Discovery Centre, but as we had recently walked the treetops at MaMu felt it would be very much the same.

The next stop just left me amazed.  The Daintree Icecream Company.  OMG how yummy was this flavoursome icecream.

These were the flavours today.  The soursop has a lemonade taste.  TOTALLY DELICIOUS

I strolled the grounds taking plenty of photos of the flowers from the ginger bushes.  So many varieties and then Wayne joined me to stroll the orchards to view all the different fruit trees with a list explaining all of the species.

Driving slowly up the road as dozens of signage warns one to look out for cassowary's.  I thought I spotted one amongst the thick forest beside the road.  We arrived at Cape Tribulation Village but Wayne thought he saw a sign pointing further on.......no we hit the metal so found a place to turn around and turn off for the lookout.  History here as Captain Cook named Cape Tribulation were the ship ran aground on the reef just off here before sailing on further north to Cooktown to repair the ship.

One can see the reef jutting out from the closer mainland.

Driving up here reminded me of Jurasic Park with huge forest, large ferns (ten times the normal size) and the rainforest seems so dense everywhere.  We ran into a couple from our caravan park also up here for the day and they mentioned to stop at the Marrdja Boardwalk after the Noah Range heading south.  So after some lunch and a stroll out to the Mangrove Boardwalk we turned south still looking for a cassowary.  Here we are at Marrdja Boardwalk about to start in and a tour driver mentioned a cassowary had been sighted just down the walk.  Ya, we have now spotted our first cassowary in the wild.

How close is this view of this extinct ground bird.  Only 1400 known to still be in the wild.

Well, after this exciting vision we throughly enjoyed the boardwalk and all the interesting display signs explaining the flora and fauna in this area.  BIG palms etc. just spectacular.  JURASSIC PARK!

Well, we certainly loved this day visit to Cape Tribulation and will visit here again.  Must drive carefully as some drivers leave a lot to be desired!!  Speed limit mostly 60 and down to 40 or 20klm per hour as roads are winding and had a scary incident when a small car drove the corner on the wrong side of the road towards us.

BOOKED "SALSA" FOR LUNCH

Port Douglas is where a nephew has a well known restaurant so booked for lunch and caught up with Rhys Bawden.  So long since we have seen each other. Jamie's wedding in fact down in the Hunter Valley.  Great service and The Best Food ever.

 Saint Mary by the Sea church.
 Had a good drive around town and was drawn to this church had been relocated several times.  Wonderful setting as the window through from the entrance looks straight out to sea.

Rhys has been here about twenty five years and now a well know business-man.  Well done Rhys.

View from Flagstaff Hill.

THE AMAZING DAINTREE

Here we are at Wonga Beachfront Caravan Park for a week  right on the beach after travelling the beautiful Captain Cook Highway north beside the ocean.  Wow.  Stopped at Rex Lookout and it was well worth it.

We took a drive just up the road a little further to Daintree village where we had visited after going on a Crocodile in the Wild Cruise back some eight years or so.  Remembered we stopped for scones with jam and cream so wondered around to pick up the ambiance of the village.

CATCH UP WITH ROOMY

Cairns for three days to meet Debbie my roomy from PIM over to New Zealand to launch PIM there.  Yes, I became an international speaker!!!  Ha ha. That was many years ago back in LJ Hooker days.  We have been to Cairns when on a cruise so not sure we had too much to see except some of the local beaches north so stayed on the Western bypass motorway at Coolwaters Holiday Park.  A great place with pool, creek flowing with turtles to feed and cafe with gift shop.

The highest mountain in Queensland - Bartle Frere south of Cairns

Not a good shot after a couple of drinks!!

Spot the turtles at the waters edge in the creek at Cool Waters Caravan Park.

Trinity Beach with plenty of holiday makers.  (school holidays)

Strolling the Cairns foreshore

Captain Cook in Cairns.

ENCHANTING PARONELLA PARK

Everyone has a Dream........ but not everyone's dreams are fulfilled.  Jose Paronella's dream was to build a castle.  He chose a special part of Australia and created Paronella Park.  On 13 acres beside Mena Creek Falls he built his castle, picnic areas at the lakeside, tennis couts, tunnels and bridges, and wrapped it up in an amazing range of 7000 tropical plants and trees. (As written in The Story of A Spaniard's Dream).

Wayne and I just loved this magical place.  His foresight to build a place for everyone to come and enjoy way back in the 1930's was unimaginable.  The history just goes on and on and while the buildings are detoriating by paying to visit, one can help to restore and keep this story going.  The whole place was buzzing with people visiting and the Mena Creek community are helping to allow all to stay in caravan park is progress.

Taking the day tour was so informative so we certainly did the evening tour as well.  The tour commences with the guide taking us to the cottage museum, the grand ballroom remains of the castle with its stage with tiles covered in moss then on down the Grand Staircase before viewing the Mena Creek falls from the moss covered picnic tables.  After feeding the fish and turtles down there we progressed up stairs around to the Lower Refreshment Rooms with change rooms either-side of this building.  The forethought put into this build is amazing.  A skating rink around the fountain beside the tennis courts now all gone.  The Old Toilet Block and then walked Kauri Avenue.  Wow, after cyclone Larry it still stands. Around many pathways and one comes to Teresa Falls purpose built by Jose for his daughter before glimpsing through The Tunnel and back Lovers Lane.  OMG - so much to see so one can wander at your own leisure.  We then went back to bewitched by the sight of powerful Mena Falls, floodlit and spectacular after sunset.

Mena Falls and the hydro power station to the right light up.

Teresa Falls by night.

We stayed a second night as Paronella Park is privately owned and maintained and receives no outside funding.  The entrance fees allow the owners to preserve this unique property and they also have the Mamu Skywalk so off we went to visit and take a walk in the clouds in Wooroonooran National Park to experience the rainforest canopy, along with providing spectacular panoramic views of World Heritage rainforest landscapes.  The Skywalk features elevated walkways, a cantilever and, at 37m, the tallest rainforest observation tower in Far North Queensland.

Plenty of Heritage stories and learn about the traditional uses of many of the trees, plants and animals

Elevated walkway 15 m high meandering from ground to canopy level

Looking down from the 37m high tower

Ma:Mu Aboriginal people painted welcoming stones at entrance.

Later in the afternoon on the second day we walked back from the paddock park where we had to move to this morning over to the swing bridge above the Mena Falls.  Wow - the views from this side are just as spectacular as from the Park itself.

One can see from this way the winding steps beside the falls Jose built to take visitors to his engine room and the dynamo he has had installed to generate power for all the needs of his castle and grounds.  The building of the room and the stairs at the face of a sheer cliff is itself an engineering achievement, and to this day it still generates the power for all and puts back to the grid.

I would hate to think of how many planter boxes Jose made from concrete.

We found a track that wound down to view the Falls from opposite the castle.

CARDWELL, TULLY AND MISSION BEACH

Travelling so far, we have not had too much rain but last night at Ingham, the rain started and did not let-up all the following day so did not venture too far up the highway after stopping into Cardwell's information centre.  Well worth the visit.

Yes, this is Cardwell's Iconic Crab.

Yeah, the rain has stopped after 36 hours - darn, we forgot to get up and sweep off the water before closing the slide outs so have a couple of wet carpet areas!!!!

We stopped at Tully to view yet another Iconic Golden Gumboot - climbed up inside it and viewed the frog from above as well as the surrounding exhibits of the local sugar cane industry and mill.

Looking for cassowary in the wild even when we got out to South Mission Beach where it is boasted of them wandering through the caravan park.  Not today but we did enjoy a stroll down the beach looking out to Dunk Island and back south to Hinchinbrook Island without the cloud cover.

Yes, another Large Icon to view at Wongaling Beach shopping centre

Stopped for the night at an unusual setting - at a passionfruit farm.  Bit wet under feet and Very Big Horse Flys so did not enjoy a stroll through the vines and surrounding bushland.  Had to hide inside Duz Us so not pleasant.

Greeting from this large lizard.

Back to sunny days.

Now into banana growing area as well as tea, chocolate beans and sugar cane.