Arrived in Port Douglas to miserable weather. Cloudy and drizzly. We looked around the town collected a few groceries and went to the Flagstaff Hill Lookout. It overlooked the 4 Mile Beach (which is only 3.98miles really). We found Imagine but with no luck Elisa (friend from high school) was not working there that day so hopefully I will catch up with her another day.
Our next morning we caught up with Julie Baker from the kids school. She had been holidaying with her family and was catching her flight back to Geelong later that day. It was nice to catch up with her and have a chat about local Geelong. Jordan and Austin also enjoyed seeing Mrs Baker. From our catch up we drove to Mossman Gorge where we did the boardwalk and circuit walk. It was very pretty in the lower Daintree National Park. Knowing it is the old rainforest in the world makes it even more special. The water at the gorge was that rainforest green. Clear and inviting. No bathers this time but a paddle in the shallows was still lovely. The trees and vines were amazing and the buttress roots were just beautiful. 
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| Butress Roots. |
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| Quiet reflection |
Our afternoon took us on a journey down the Daintree River with Bruce Belcher. He has been running the tours on the river for over 20 years. We saw many amazing creatures including a green tree python, amethystine python, azure kingfisher, 2 frogmouth owls,a Brahman kyte and several crocodiles. One in particular was called Scoota a 3 metre croc. It was a very interesting afternoon and the kids really enjoyed seeing crocs in their natural environment.
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| All aboard the crocodile hunting boat |
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| Green tree snake |
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| Our first croc in the wild |
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| Azura Kingfisher |
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| Scooter the 4metre croc |
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| Croc spotter! |
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| Croc captain - Bruce Belcher |
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| Ginger flower |
Our following day took us to Cape Tribulation. We caught the ferry across the Daintree River then stopped at Mt Alexander Lookout. The clouds were still low so the visibility was not all that fantastic. We completed several walks include the Jindalba Boardwalk. We almost got to see a cassowary and her chicks but the boys were being too loud and scared them further in the scrub. The man in front was not impressed with the boys and neither was I. I really wanted to see them also...oh well maybe next time. We stopped for lunch at a seaside eatery on Thorton Beach then continued our drive up to Cape Tribulation. When we arrived we were a little let down. All it was were 2 information centres and nothing much else. The beach was pretty but nothing spectacular and the boardwalk around Myall Beach was very knocked around, by far the lower Daintree was in better condition than this part of the coast. We sat on Myall Beach and walked along Kulki Beach and visited the lookout. When we arrived back at Glenngary Caravan Park we found the family from Taralgon there also. We first met them at Cairns. We chatted for ages and told them all about our trip to Mossman Gorge and how lovely it had been and that we were a little disappointed with Cape Trib. They had a similar experience at Cape Trib also. Sean, Donna and the kids were very nice and we made plans to catch up for drinks before we left Port Douglas.
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| Mt Alexander Lookout |
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| Vines growing on ancient trees |
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| Jindalba Boardwalk |
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| Thorton Beach |
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| Kulki Beach from Lookout |
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| Ferry crossing on the Daintree River |
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| The vessel we will be going out on (taken the day before) |
Our final day in Port was a trip out to the Reef. The kids were looking forward to it and I was also. The weather again was miserable. We were picked up in a coach and taken to the marina were we boarded Quicksilver VI. On boarding we were given the option to get off and rebook because they were expecting lots of rough seas with 35km winds...they were even dishing out sea sickness tables for free. I think it was evident that this trip could be interesting....particularly with Jordan as we know that windy roads make her sick. We got almost 40minutes into the trip when the one of the cabin crew rushed over with a cold neck cloth and ice in a cup and a sick bag for Jordan. She had noticed here turn a shade of green and knew what was next. Luckily the cold cloth and ice worked as she was able to keep her breakfast down.
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| Quiet before the storm! |
When we arrived at the reef we decided to eat lunch first which was lovely. Lots to choose from. After lunch we boarded the pontoon on Agincourt Ribbon Reef were we kitted ourselves up with snorkels, flippers, face masks and life jackets for the kids. Austin and Jordan were excited about getting in but Kaleb was very unsure. He did get in but was not very sure of the water at all. He hated the face mask and snorkel so ditched them early. He same a small way out and got to swim with the fish. Jordan, Austin and I ventured further out but the seas were pretty rough so we stayed close to the pontoon. We saw amazing coral but wish that we could see the vibrant reds, oranges and pinks. If only the water did not filter out the red UV light! The fish were amazing and we got to watch the fish feeding up close. That was spectacular. We took a journey in the semi submersible which was a little rough at times and so a larger area of the reef. Nigel went in for a second paddle this time having to wear a stinger suit because they had found 3 jellyfish in the water earlier. Oh didn’t he look a treat. Our journey home was a good one up until about 15 minutes out when Jordan again turned green. Still not sick just queasy. We all had a lovely day out on the reef. It would have been amazing if only the weather had been better. Oh well that’s the luck of it.
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| Arriving at the pontoon |
While getting the kids ready for bed we got a knock on the door. Shaun had call by to ask about our day on the reef and to tell us about their day at Mossman Gorge. The poor bloke had his wife Donna taken to Cairns hospital with a dislocated ankle and with 2 breaks. He had to hold her leg still for over 2 hours while waiting for the ambulance. His whole family were a little shell shocked by the incident. I think having us there to talk to was a big help. We felt bad because we had recommend that they go there for a look. The last time we tell someone that. As if! We loved Mossman Gorge...this time it goes with a warning.... wear suitable footwear and take it easy on the tracks they are very slippery.
We’re off to Cairns again tomorrow. This time we will be catching the Endeavour. We keep missing it at every port but not this time.
Arrived in Port Douglas to miserable weather. Cloudy and drizzly. We looked around the town collected a few groceries and went to the Flagstaff Hill Lookout. It overlooked the 4 Mile Beach (which is only 3.98miles really). We found Imagine but with no luck Elisa (friend from high school) was not working there that day so hopefully I will catch up with her another day. 
Our next morning we caught up with Julie Baker from the kids school. She had been holidaying with her family and was catching her flight back to Geelong later that day. It was nice to catch up with her and have a chat about local Geelong. Jordan and Austin also enjoyed seeing Mrs Baker. From our catch up we drove to Mossman Gorge where we did the boardwalk and circuit walk. It was very pretty in the lower Daintree National Park. Knowing it is the old rainforest in the world makes it even more special. The water at the gorge was that rainforest green. Clear and inviting. No bathers this time but a paddle in the shallows was still lovely. The trees and vines were amazing and the buttress roots were just beautiful. 
Our following day took us to Cape Tribulation. We caught the ferry across the Daintree River then stopped at Mt Alexander Lookout. The clouds were still low so the visibility was not all that fantastic. We completed several walks include the Jindalba Boardwalk. We almost got to see a cassowary and her chicks but the boys were being too loud and scared them further in the scrub. The man in front was not impressed with the boys and neither was I. I really wanted to see them also...oh well maybe next time. We stopped for lunch at a seaside eatery on Thorton Beach then continued our drive up to Cape Tribulation. When we arrived we were a little let down. All it was were 2 information centres and nothing much else. The beach was pretty but nothing spectacular and the boardwalk around Myall Beach was very knocked around, by far the lower Daintree was in better condition than this part of the coast. We sat on Myall Beach and walked along Kulki Beach and visited the lookout. When we arrived back at Glenngary Caravan Park we found the family from Taralgon there also. We first met them at Cairns. We chatted for ages and told them all about our trip to Mossman Gorge and how lovely it had been and that we were a little disappointed with Cape Trib. They had a similar experience at Cape Trib also. Sean, Donna and the kids were very nice and we made plans to catch up for drinks before we left Port Douglas.
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