What a fantastic day! David, our driver from Daintree Wonder Tours picked us up at 7:20. To our surprise, the tour consisted of us and one other couple (Paul and Carrie) so we got personalized service.
On the way up to the Daintree, we saw miles and miles of sugar cane which will be ready to harvest next month.
Our first stop was an hour long cruise on the Daintree River. David handed us over to Lex, the boat operator and, after we were startled by a 5-spot archer fish spitting at us, we headed off to look for crocs. Lex was very talkative, telling us all about the crocs that live in that area but we weren’t having much luck in seeing any. Suddenly, Paul spotted the head of one but we were already past him so we continued further up the river until it was time to turn around. On the way back, the croc was still there so Lex stopped the boat and we got a lot of photo ops. Not as exciting as some you see in travel brochures but still pretty cool.
Saltwater croc – Daintree River
After the cruise, John asked where the Big Barramundi was so David took a detour and took us there before we headed to the ferry crossing – a cable ferry that goes back and forth as needed. It cost $24 for a round trip. David said we were time travelling by way of the ferry – apparently the town council doesn’t like it being called a primitive area so the tour guides have to be creative with their terms. By this time it had started raining so the stop at Alexandra Lookout wasn’t as impressive as some photos but you could still see for a long ways.
Big Barramundi
View from Alexandra Lookout
Then we headed to Cape Tribulation – with the passengers keeping watch for cassowaries. It’s a long shot to see them as there are only about 100 in the wild in the Daintree. Cape Tribulation was beautiful – and there weren’t many people on the beach. David took us for a walk along the boardwalks and pointed out many odd varieties of plants – especially the climbing vines – we saw a Wait A While vine, a Hairy Mary vine and a Scary Mary vine to name a few.
Chris and John at Cape Tribulation
Next stop was a walk that took you through the rainforest to a mangrove swamp and then back to the rainforest. Right near the parking lot, there was a Boyd’s Water Dragon hiding on a tree. David must have known that he always hangs out in the area, because he was looking for him as soon as we got out of the van. We heard lots of birds but couldn’t see them through the canopy. We also heard popping shrimp in the mangrove flats – and when David snapped his fingers, they answered back with louder popping sounds. We carried our umbrellas and it seemed to work the way it does at home – the rain stayed away 🙂
Boyd’s Water Dragon
Then it was time for lunch – at a little restaurant called On the Turps (because it is on Turpentine Road). The restaurant caters to tour groups and each group had their own buffet area – we had a choice of grilled barramundi, grilled steak or a vegetarian dish. Most of us chose the barramundi and it was really good. After lunch, we walked down to the creek below for a swimming opportunity. John and Carrie swam; Paul, David and I waded (or as David called it, paddled). It was a croc-free area (and we were told not to swim in warm water only in brisk water while in Tropical North Queensland – the crocs don’t like brisk water).
John swimming at Cooper Creek
Once back on the bus, we headed to the Daintree Ice Cream Company for dessert. I didn’t think I would be able to eat it but it was egg-free! You don’t get a choice of flavours – it comes as 4 small scoops in a cup and sharing was encouraged. One of the flavours is on the bottom of the cup (pineapple this time) and the other three were raspberry (tasted like the stuff I make at home), mango (a little sweet) and wattle seed (our favourite).
Ice Cream!
We were still watching for cassowaries, but luck wasn’t on our side. Back at the ferry again, we time travelled again back to modern times and a stop at Mossman Gorge. It is a pretty spot but not a lot different than our rivers on the Island (except for the vegetation of course). John took the opportunity for another short swim and then we were on to another nature walk with David.
The only cassowary we saw
At one point, Carrie and I joked that David’s last name should be Attenborough. He was a walking encyclopedia and definitely loves his job.
We were back to the condo at 5 p.m., tired but very happy to have seen the Daintree Rainforest.
Basket fern
David’s favourite tree
John inside David’s favourite tree
An inside view of the tree
Mossman Gorge
