Cape Tribulation and The Daintree

Our first destination that has taken our breath away! A lodge in the rainforest amongst hundreds of beasties and frogs, just metres from the beach. it was awesome! There are lots of pictures to upload but i'll leave Jem to tell the story of the trip.

Well its been a few days now since we got back from Cape Trib as we've just spent 3 days pn a boat on the Grrrreat Barrier Reef, but it was a memorable place with lots to tell.

The bus journey up was pretty fun, with a guy called Whales a real mixed breed of Oz/Kiwi/Brit etc. Told some good jokes. Took us to a wildlife sanctuary place which was truthfully pretty lame, but we saw a cassowary ( a very important and ancient bird with a very important job in the rainforest system), a croc and some cute sugar gliders.

Moved on to the real  hilly roads as we made our way thru the rainforest. Stopped at a very beautiful viewpoint called the Alexandra Range Lookout. (Look 4 the photos on the website - jungley foreground, sea in back).

Got to our accomadation, which is located right on the beach and in the rainforest, what a combination. Our room was a little wooden beach house, with air-con, fly screens, en-suite, fridge etc and probably one of the best places we'll ever stay in 8 months! Anyway it was great.

Got as fast as we could to the beach and my breath was just taken away. Lush green hills, tumbling into a white sandy beach and turquoise sea, no noise but birds calling, insects chirrping and the waves slowly breaking. As many of u can imagine, before I could do anything I had tears in my eyes and our bad days at work (which there were quite a few), saving all our pennies and the trials of getting here faded very very quickly.

The accom had great food and a nice atmosphere, very peaceful generally, the bugs and birds and frogs and toads were the noisiest things. Very soothing noises to sleep too. However this was often interuppted by huge downpours and I mean huge, big rain, often lasting for hours on end, but hey we were in the rainforest!

Went for a very hot and hilly bike ride, bikes were shite though so quite a lot of walking was involved too, yet again gorgeous views and things to look at, yet again check the photo website.  Had a very relaxing time in general, walks on beacj and poked around in rock pools, was very wary of some other beach resisdents though...crocs! Definitely added a sense of adventure to a beach stroll but the surroundings just kept your mind so busy.

Anyway both got a bit tired and dehydrated so fell asleep really early, managed to basically go to bed with no dinner, what naughty boys and girls! Morning came and time to go was upon us, a very sad time. Trip back to Cairns was brill though, Whales came and got us and we headed back down the hills, sadly with an irritating lordy English couple, less said! Stopped on the Daintree River for a cruise on a boat which was pretty good, saw 2 crocdiles, quite a big mummy in the water and also some tree frogs and a jabbaroo (like a big heron), our boat driver was a character though and called MIck, not Dundee though sadly!

On the way backed also stopped in Mossman, or Mossvegas as Whales called it. Went up to the gorge which was a good stop for a refreshing afternoon dip. Certainly was very refreshing wiht the water coming straight from the hills, even Si braved the water in only his boardies! Good photo opportunities yet again.

Got back to the same old hostel slightly down-hearted, as the surroundings and scenery weren't so plush and then as usual headed out for our free-dinner.

If you come to Australia go to Cape Trib, it truly is a little bit of paradise. Only one big downside was that we couldnt go in the water as its still "Stinger" country and oh yeah you will definitely need a raincoat!