Our place in Port Douglas
This is the look in the bathroom appliance area. The same outlets and switches on each was also used in New Zealand.
They like to market mixed drinks in stores, maybe because the cost of a bottle of Jameson is equivalent to a days wages.
4 Mile Beach. Lovely eh?
However, its a bit of a turn-off knowing that stuff in the water can kill you.
So they have roped off an area where the jellies and crocs are not allowed to enter. They post the same sign as previous, but they put a line through each. NO crocs allowed!!
Just before leaving port for our day on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Cost is about $250 AUS to drive out 1.5 hrs, make stops at 3 different reefs, snorkel for an hour at each, and drive back. They served plenty of food and tea to make us all happy.
Stinger suits to prevent death by Box Jellyfish
And we were rewarded with a great show at each of the three reefs that we visited.
A very brief encounter with a sea turtle.
Giant clams.
Analy, the marine biologist, showed us a few things in the water. This item is a piece of coral which emits mucus when removed from the water.
She also showed us how clams close when they detect a light change from something close by. Check out the video.
On our way to Mossman Gorge for the day.
The gorge in the distance
Getting off the shuttle bus.
Barely on the trail, an 18 yr. old girl and her father were about 10 feet away coming towards us. She glances to her left and quietly exclaims in a fearful voice, "Oh My God!" and keeps walking looking straight past us. I glance to my right and see this monster just off the trail. Her dad stopped with us to snap a few pictures. I tried to get June to hold her finger up to show perspective, but no dice! It was about the size of her palm.
Blurry picture of a nice footbridge.
These giant Mangroves have giant buttress roots, which help to hold them upright when flooding occurs.
Not sure what the hell happened to this one.
Blurry pic of these cool butterflies.
Brush turkeys hanging out near the swimming hole waiting for handouts.
Big fish hanging out in the swimming hole, waiting for handouts.
Giant deadly geezer in the swimming hole, waiting for handouts.
Beautiful colorful trees abound in the lovely November springtime.
That evening, we went back to the harbor for sunset, and for the multitudes of Fruit Bats in the trees. We were told that they fly to Daintree for dinner at dusk.
Sunset at Port Douglas
Another cool bird nearby.
Some Parrots in the trees were pretty and noisey...
But not nearly as numerous as the giant Fruit Bats...
And not nearly as creepy. Check out the video.
The next day we drove to Cape Tribulation. A ferry takes everyone across the Daintree River, and north of that, everyone is 'off the grid' because there is NO grid (power, internet, phone service, nothing.) This view at Mount Alexandra.
Check out the name of this lookout and pronouciation. The Aussies don't bother with 'R's'
Lots of rental cars expolore the area, some more colorful than others.
Close to our place in Cape Trib, this place had a swimming hole. Pass!
But we would have loved to see a wild Cassowary, from the car window of course.
Jack fruit at the place we were going to stay. See the Cairns page to read about our stay.
Inside the Jack fruit.
Lots of bizarre fruit inside the refrig. Everyone has their own generators.
He shows us some wild berries. Just as I am about to pop one down, he stops me. 'They will make everything you eat for the next hour taste sweet.' Sounds good, but that must mean they taste really nasty. I pass on this one.
If you get stung by Box Jellies, douse yourself in vinegar, then go to the hospital
What a waste of beautiful beach! Taken over by crocs and jellies.
Back in Cairns that evening. The Promenade.
Our last day in Cairns, the beautiful man-made lagoon downtown.
Just a little early for Christmas tree lighting.
Boat and restaurant cuts out the middleman.
The rest of the day in the FREE Botanical Gardens in the spring!
Neither of us could stop taking pictures.
Or quit posting pictures.
Flowering corn husks?
Lots of red flowers.
And pink.
June getting some shade.
An art exhibit in the jpark called 'The Tanks'. They are three abandoned fuel tanks for WW2.
Nice artwork lines the outside walls.
And inside a tank.
A small Japanese grove.
Leaving for Home - Maybe I can sneak this into June's carryon bag?
Great Barrier Reef (GBR) from the air.
Sydney from the air. G'day mates!
