I’d considered getting ‘public’ transport to Cape Tribulation as I’d been recommended a particular hostel up there, but the price of a return ticket was equal to the tour and all its additions so it was a no brainer to get on the bus with Active Tropics.
Our tour guide Leah took us up to the Daintree River for a boat ride, where the entrance to the jetty is marked by a giant open-jawed croc. The point of this boat trip is the croc spotting, but we didn’t see any.
Our tour guide Leah took us up to the Daintree River for a boat ride, where the entrance to the jetty is marked by a giant open-jawed croc. The point of this boat trip is the croc spotting, but we didn’t see any.
The next stop was a rainforest walk, which I found absolutely mesmerising. About halfway through it I felt like I’d regressed to being my 8-year-old self, who was obsessed with going to the Amazon. Somehow through the course of my life I had forgotten about that wish, but the humidity and the smell and the sounds of the rainforest were exactly how I’d imagined, and I loved it! Unfortunately the walk was over within 20 minutes and then we were packed off to our hostel – Cape Trib Beach House.
The first thing I did was go for a walk along the beach with a girl called Lucy who was from Hampshire. Cape Tribulation is where the rainforest meets the reef, and the beach there was a very good example of that. We were feeling fairly relaxed when I suddenly had the thought that this was the habitat of crocs and cassowaries (massive birds that can run 100kms an hour!). I spent the rest of the afternoon in the safety of the swimming pool.
The first thing I did was go for a walk along the beach with a girl called Lucy who was from Hampshire. Cape Tribulation is where the rainforest meets the reef, and the beach there was a very good example of that. We were feeling fairly relaxed when I suddenly had the thought that this was the habitat of crocs and cassowaries (massive birds that can run 100kms an hour!). I spent the rest of the afternoon in the safety of the swimming pool.
There was a bar, but the exchange rate prevents one consuming any more than a mere schooner (somewhere between a half and a pint) so it was a quiet night but plenty of people about to talk to. I spent my time with Lucy, Volker (from Germany), Liv (from the Faroe Islands) and Paula who was also from Germany. While I wrote my travel diary I noticed a visitor in our dorm. A mouse was warming up Liv’s bed for her, and it later transpired that she had some nuts in her bag. Food is a total nightmare in northern Queensland. You have to lock it all away. Even if nothing big comes for it, there are tiny ants everywhere.
We slept well but the morning brought dreadful rain. It was such a shame – I wanted to hire a bike and go to Myall Creek, but instead I sat there talking to backpackers outside reception for two hours while we waited for our bus. Boo!
Today’s tour guide was Jim. The highlight of the day was Volker spotting a Cassowary in the bush next to the road. They’re so rare, and having not seen a croc the previous day this was a real treat. It was only a baby one, but exciting nevertheless.
We travelled up to Mossman Gorge for an ‘Aboriginal Experince’ where the man taught us fascinating stuff that can be done with plants. For example sarasparilla leaves, when crushed with water, turn into soap!
Today’s tour guide was Jim. The highlight of the day was Volker spotting a Cassowary in the bush next to the road. They’re so rare, and having not seen a croc the previous day this was a real treat. It was only a baby one, but exciting nevertheless.
We travelled up to Mossman Gorge for an ‘Aboriginal Experince’ where the man taught us fascinating stuff that can be done with plants. For example sarasparilla leaves, when crushed with water, turn into soap!
Some people had a dip in the river, I went off to see the swing bridge, and we fitted in a quick jaunt round Port Douglas before being dropped off in Cairns. These tours are nice, but they’re so time restricted you never get to feel the soul of a place. At least I did the overnight though – to fit all that into one day would be quite exhausting!
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