On our travels to Port Douglas we stopped at Millstream Falls in the morning but where delayed reaching our destination due to flooding near the small town of Mount Molloy high in the hinterlands. The previous day had seen some huge rainfalls and the main highway was cut off. We spent the afternoon watching the flood waters decrease and playing pool at the National Hotel . Mya and Ella even managed a make up session! It was Pub grub for dinner and then back to the roadside van for the night.
We eventually made it down the mountain to Port Douglas and settled into the Tropical Breeze Van Park. It’s a small park close to the main street. What makes the park so special is the semi permanent retired residents from mostly down south who come here for 3-4 moths to escape Victorian winter. We are the only family and one of few short term stays. Ted next door is one of the leaders of the pack and there was huge excitement in the park when he arrived few days ago. Each afternoon drinks are held at someone’s van. Some of the team have been coming for 15-20 years up here and it’s a great community atmosphere.
Insert photo of crew having drinks or supporting Ironman
We took a snorkeling trip out to the Low Isles with Sailaway on a 50ft caterman. It was a great trip and luckily none of the kids was sick on the hour trip out to the coral cay. A few does of travelcalm settled everyone down along with some ginger J. Mya and I were lucky enough to see Green Turtles like the one below, I had a swim with one for a few minutes and it was magic, definitely a nature highlight of the trip so far. At lunch a number of reef sharks, suckers and a huge Bat fish surrounded the yacht. Tas was keen to say hi to the Bat fish.
We took a snorkeling trip out to the Low Isles with Sailaway on a 50ft caterman. It was a great trip and luckily none of the kids was sick on the hour trip out to the coral cay. A few does of travelcalm settled everyone down along with some ginger J. Mya and I were lucky enough to see Green Turtles like the one below, I had a swim with one for a few minutes and it was magic, definitely a nature highlight of the trip so far. At lunch a number of reef sharks, suckers and a huge Bat fish surrounded the yacht. Tas was keen to say hi to the Bat fish.
Our first stop on our adventure north was the beautiful Mossman Gorge. It hadn't changed a bit over the last 12 years. The walk through the rainforest to the crystal clear waters of the creek is spectacular.
Next stop was the village of Daintree for the Croc Express cruise in between rain showers with local guide Lex. Lex had quite a country twang to his voice and Janene and I got much amusement form taking off Lex all arvo. We saw a few croc’s on the riverbank and Lex was amazing at spotting tree snakes, kingfishers and flora along the journey. We took the car ferry across the Daintree River and headed up the scenic track to the Cape Trib YHA Beach House. It was pretty cool having a few rooms to ourselves and a treat to have a shower / toilet ensuite. It was also great to introduce the kids to Hostel travel and how they could travel the world in 10-15 years!
We enjoyed staying a few nights in the heart of the rainforest but it would not be our place of choice to live in this environment, the dampness would drive you mad. We had on and off rain as you do in the world’ s oldest rainforest (110 million years old) and it was an incredible experience walking through the forest trails. I was loving the fan palms pointing them out to the kids annoyance, it became a family joke during the Daintree walks. Tas particularly loved going for walks along the beach looking for crabs and rock lobster shells, Ella was very cute following her big brothers every step. Check out the size of the head and antenna’s he found.
Here is a summary of the last few days from Tas’s school journal – “we are travelling a caravan and in north Queensland, it’s really fun. Next we went to Mount Molloy and the road was flooded. Finally we went to the rainforest and I found Lobster heads.” Pure gold from the Tasman J
We had a lovely swim at Emmagen creek north of Cape Trib and did a few creek crossings in the Pathfinder which the kids loved. We lived it up having dinner at the local restaurant 'Whet' where the food was sensational and the owner really looking after the kids which gave us a bit of QT and the kids really enjoyed the freshly made carmel sauce with their ice cream. The next morning Janene and I went for runs, Janene going beach side whilst I tackled part of the ascent of Mount Sorrow. It was full on and slippery with the rattan cane snagging my clothes a few times. Janene added to her photo collection of signs and we headed south making a stop at the Ice Cream factory which makes amazing flavours from the on site orchard. Our last stop was ‘Hook a Barra’ fish farm outside PD and that’s what we all did. It was in our odds with loads of fish in each dam but it still took skill!
We had a lovely swim at Emmagen creek north of Cape Trib and did a few creek crossings in the Pathfinder which the kids loved. We lived it up having dinner at the local restaurant 'Whet' where the food was sensational and the owner really looking after the kids which gave us a bit of QT and the kids really enjoyed the freshly made carmel sauce with their ice cream. The next morning Janene and I went for runs, Janene going beach side whilst I tackled part of the ascent of Mount Sorrow. It was full on and slippery with the rattan cane snagging my clothes a few times. Janene added to her photo collection of signs and we headed south making a stop at the Ice Cream factory which makes amazing flavours from the on site orchard. Our last stop was ‘Hook a Barra’ fish farm outside PD and that’s what we all did. It was in our odds with loads of fish in each dam but it still took skill!
We were all happy campers to be back in our little home on Saturday night and I was looking forward to seeing the cycle leg of the Cairns Ironman which turns around in the main street. It was great to see Sinclair Black from last years Tour de Cure in fine form on the bike and join him on his second loop for a few hundred metres of the 180km leg!
My great mate Nathan Ashley and Paul Horton did the 70.3 or Half Ironman posting good times in the heat but the main highway was closed all day so Mya and I travelled down post race day to catch up. The drive is right up there as one of Australia’s great ocean road drives.
Tas was begging to go fishing on a boat so off we went down to the Marina. It turned into an amazing wildlife adventure up the river past 3 croc’s and a bit of fishing. I got my rod snagged and ended up snapping it but Tas landed a non eatable puffy fish, they all count! On the return voyage one of the croc’s put on a display, firstly snapping its powerful jaws at us and then rushing into the water, Tas and I stayed in the middle of our pontoon boat all the way home.
The weather has been great and we decided not to drive up to Lakefield National Park at the base of Cape York but just relax in PD for a few more days and try and get some school work done and just enjoy the beach. It's been amazing and we need to savour this way of life whilst it lasts.
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