Day 7: We planned to spend our first day in Trinity Beach just catching up on laundry, groceries, blogging etc. but the sights were too enticing! We took off pretty early and checked out the beach just down the road (Trinity Park Beach). There were several warnings about crocodiles and vinegar is provided for jelly fish stings. We were quite happy to just walk on the sand and stayed out of the water. We continued the beach hopping to Trinity Beach (different beach than Trinity Park beach….) where there was a pedestrian path under the palm trees for a good distance. It certainly had that ‘paradise vibe’ as we enjoyed a coffee watching the waves from under a palm tree. Next onto Palm Cove beach which was also gorgeous – this one had another walking trail in the shade – but was a bit more commercial than Trinity Beach. We checked out the Esplanade in Cairns city and then the botanical gardens (very well done), and out quiet day of chores was suddenly over with only sightseeing done!
Day 8: Today Bron went snorkeling to the outer Great Barrier Reef from Port Douglas with Wavelength snorkeling. It was a great trip – good weather and calm seas. There were so many many many fish – so colourful and entertaining. The giant clams were excellent as well.
Meanwhile Brent checked out some excellent beaches around Port Douglas and Mossman, and tried to visit a sugar cane farm but found they were too busy harvesting so the tourist park was closed. The drive between Cairns and Port Douglas was also part of the fun – stunning section of road right along the ocean with endless vistas.
Day 9: Today we took the Kuranda historic railway to, well, Kuranda. It was quite good, albeit hot on board. There were views of waterfalls, cliffs, old bridges, and of course the ocean. It climbs quite a way to get up to the tablelands and there were nice shots of the train itself as we went around several tight curves. In Kuranda we went on a hot and sweaty rainforest walk and strolled through the markets (with icecream obviously). For the return we took the cable car with a glass floor giving us a canopy view of the rainforest. It was definitely worth it – we enjoyed the tree tops and more ocean vistas on the way down, along with a couple stops to see more waterfalls and some very large trees. And one very large goanna.
Day 10: Cape Tribulation
We rocked up the road past Port Douglas and Mossman to take the short ferry across to the Daintree National Park. We were greeted with a tree canopy covered winding road up to the end of the paved road. We did several short walks, the first to Myall beach. It was spectacular – expansive, empty, with the rainforest meeting reef, literally.
We did several rainforest boardwalk trails, and luckily for Brent there were no snakes to be seen. We did see 2 enormous spiders, but the powers of google tell us they were probably giant orb weavers which aren’t poisonous. There were some very cool trees (Bron’s always loved trees – alllll the trees).
We stopped for tropical icecream at a place that grows all of the fruit they use. A preset 4 flavour tasting cup had black sapote (a chocolatey flavour) and wattle seed (mocha ish flavour), mango, and coconut.
As the day ended, we got to Mossman gorge where you have to take a short shuttle to the trail entrance. In the gorge we saw huge boulders and an ok suspension bridge. We had been told there was no swimming that day, and several signs said the same, but about 50 people were there swimming. Oh well! We just walked and viewed, then headed home.
Day 11: Atherton table lands. A different type of day for us – this was all about a culinary tour! We stopped at coffee world for breakfast, and also picked up some of their chocolate.
Next was Jaques coffee farm for more coffee, and a hilarious video tour. The tour also included coffee liquor tasting, which was so good we couldn’t help but buy a bottle.
Then off to the next delicious stop – Gallo dairy. We had a nice lunch and then sampled a few cheese before picking 3 to buy. And also chocolate…. We could also watch the chocolate and cheese making rooms through glass windows. Full and satisfied, we switched back to our usual nature type activities. We took a look at the curtain fig – it was enormous!
Curtain Fig
Then onto a platypus viewpoint. We did see one for about 10 seconds but it was the wrong time of day really so we weren’t disappointed.
Next stop was a crater lake – Eacham lake. We were going to swim but there was a sign warning a fresh water crocodile was in the lake, and didn’t OFTEN cause trouble. We decided to walk 3km around the crater instead. There were lots of wild turkey (and no snakes). The road down from the table lands was the final event – a super winding road at steep grade for 19km. The day went so fast!
Day 12: Franklin Islands boat trip. Brent needed to get on the reef, and Bron is always keen to snorkel, so we departed on another boat trip. This one started about an hour drive south of where we were staying. We travelled down a river (one croc spotted – menacing!) and then a short distance in the ocean to the Franklin islands.
This trip suited us very well. Brent paddle boarded while Bron snorkelled, and then Brent semi-submersibled while Bron snorkelled some more…. It was bliss. This trip there was an octopus and turtle sighting, along with many many fish. The corals were healthy and complex – perhaps not as fancy and extensive as the outer reef, but as a whole was very enjoyable. After a tasty lunch we checked out the tide pools. Brittle stars! Funny fish! Sea cucumbers! And more! The day flew by and we drove home tired and happy.
Our Airbnb hosts invited us for a drink as it was our last night, and after a bottle of wine *cough* each, they invited us to stay for dinner as well. It was a great time socializing, and we were outside after dark for the first time!! (even if it was just on the back deck of where we were staying…. Ha!.
Brent And Bron Abroad 