Cape Tribulation, Queensland, AustraliaUp early; walked up the street for breakfast at Café Fresq.
DAINTREE RAINFOREST
"The world's most ancient rainforest" (more than a 100 million years older than the Amazon.) Bought Self-Drive Audio Guide CD, which Antonia had available at Martinique Apartment's tour desk; so convenient!
Ferry at Dayman Rocky Point
A line up of cars. Waited about 30 minutes, not bad for being Easter Sunday. The Ferry is pulled by a cable and is a "unique gateway to this special place."
A line up of cars. Waited about 30 minutes, not bad for being Easter Sunday. The Ferry is pulled by a cable and is a "unique gateway to this special place."
Decided to drive straight to Cape Tribulation, which is where the sealed road ends; then stop at everything on the way back since the parking turnoffs are on the east side of road. The sealed road through the national park is very narrow and extremely curvy. Lois got a bit car sick (should have worn a motion sickness patch). This area really reminds us of Hawaii.
Whet Cafe for lunch (recommended by Antonia). Delightful location in rainforest on second floor porch. Good thing we were here early because it filled up in no time. Burger (different spices; cumin), salad, the best fries.
Continued the drive to Cape Tribulation -- The Eastern Kuku Yalanji Aboriginal people are the traditional owners of this area. Quite a few people on all the walks today.
Continued the drive to Cape Tribulation -- The Eastern Kuku Yalanji Aboriginal people are the traditional owners of this area. Quite a few people on all the walks today.
Kulki (Kulki "gool-gee") Boardwalk through interesting mangroves, leads to the beach, then to Lookout Point, with stunning views of the beach and coastal ranges where the rainforest meets the reef--two World Heritage Areas. The interpretive signs describe the World Heritage significance and history of the area and how it is important in different ways to a wide range of people. Talked with a family from Cairns, who we are very lucky to have sunshine since it rains more than it shines.
Dubuji ("place of spirits") Boardwalk trail loops from the main highway to the stunning beach through three different habitats--very dense rainforest, freshwater swamplands, mangroves--crosses a number of creeks. The tree trunks the path is built around is characteristic of this walk.
Noah Range very rocky beach.
Marrja (rainforest or jungle) Botanical Walk-with plants over 400 million years old along this rainforest meets mangrove boardwalk. Especially interesting is the Ryparosa tree fruit that is eaten by the cassowary bird and by passing through it has a 92% chance of germinating. Lots of detailed explanations about how mangroves are formed--starting from the "snorkel stage."
Marrja (rainforest or jungle) Botanical Walk-with plants over 400 million years old along this rainforest meets mangrove boardwalk. Especially interesting is the Ryparosa tree fruit that is eaten by the cassowary bird and by passing through it has a 92% chance of germinating. Lots of detailed explanations about how mangroves are formed--starting from the "snorkel stage."
Daintree Ice Cream Company makes ice cream out of locally grown exotic fruits. Today's cone of 4 scoops were jackfruit, passtion fruit, wattleseed, lemon-lime-myrtleberry. Great place to stop and enjoy this tasty treat as well as the beautiful surroundings.
Waluwurrigga (Alexandra Range) Lookout -- Awesome view over Snapper Island, the mouth of the Daintree river and all the way back to Port Douglas.
Quite a spectacular place even though we did not see any Cassowaries (sure glad we saw one in the zoo)
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Dinner back in Port Douglas. Walked to Chilly's, but had to have a table reservation. Went to main street at Rattle n Hum Bar & Grill--pizza thin crust (good; pepperoni a bit spicy). Talked with four young people from Canada near Vancouver that sat next to us. Haven't seen many people from North America since traveling on our own so it was fun.
2025-05-22