Pool Resort Port Douglas

... seem just as elusive as the numerous crocodiles we are so frequently warned about but fail to make a showing!<br>Having established ourselves in our final campsite, right by the beach, Jen and I decided to go for a swim. We had talked to the people at the reception desk who regaled us with the usual &#8216;welcome to the jungle&#8217; stories about crocodiles, sharks, cassowaries and stingers but assured us that the sea was safe in the area around the campsite. We sorted out our ...

... beach. We hit the pool just after we arrived Sunday night. It was dark and scary and we thought there might be a croc in there with us so decided to wait for the next day and check it out in the daylight. The pool had a little waterfall over some rocks that made an excellent entry point. However, the adults had determined that jumping off the rocks into the pool was too dangerous, so not allowed...unless no one was looking. What's with adults here ...

... Needless to say we sent James in as a guinea pig! It was incredible to be swimming in the middle of the rainforest and we thought nothing could beat the lakes at Fraser Island but that came pretty close. Our guide Chris was so knowledgeable and we saw some brilliant wildlife. Our hotel pool is also lovely however and has the bonus that when the happy hour bell rings at 4.30 we swim up to the bar and have a cocktail - we've worked our way through most of ...

... Up early to catch the day tour to Cape Tribulation. I'm the first one collected by the guide and am whisked around town to see who my friends for the day will be - same kind of thing as the Japanese tours - am sure I'll meet some decent folk. The bus picks up in order.... Two brash fat australians from down south somewhere - tattooed to within an inch of their lives and louder than an Iron Maiden concert. It gets worse. Then on get what can only be their twin ...

... from the hostel and rode down to the town and the beach. We checked in with a few dive shop operators to find out we would need to call and book directly in Cairns, Mary checked out some absurdly overpriced bathing suits and we sorted out the cost of a rental car, as that would be our means of transport to the rainforest. After making a lap around town, we rode down to the Four Mile Beach to go for a dip and check it out ...

... out to a bar! It is that kind of place. We then drive further north, taking the Daintree ferry and crossing into thick rain forest. Beyond here is the land of the 4x4. We stay another couple of nights at the YHA at Cape Tribulation, our own wooden cabin on the edge of the beach surrounded by jungle. And the odd thousand or so Golden Orb spiders! The whole place has that wet smell, of stagnant water and mildew, but which isn't as bad as it may sound. It ...

... established in 1877 during the gold rush but later fell into decline. Today it relies on tourism. It is much closer to the outer Barrier Reef and has several boats that take people ou there. I intend to chill out for a couple of days and then decide what to do.

... the idea of crossing back by Kayak so I ended up on my own paddling away whilst the others were with the guide in a boat. It was tiring as my muscles still ached from the previous day of paddling. Paddled back to shipwreck beach where we had lunch and hten enjoyed a few sunrays (the first in two days) and eventually the ozzies got back in the Kayak and we all kayaked home. It was easier than teh previous day as teh current and wavers were with us ...

... the takeoff point for all of the excursions. They had snorkeling, but I didn't really have any time to do that. Why? Because I SCUBA dove!<br><br>I don't have any digital pictures I can post because the SCUBA camera I specially bought for this trip flooded. However, I fortunately did two dives (about 40 mins each) and so I was able to bring a disposable analog underwater camera on the second one. When I get home and get the pics developed, I'll ...

... girl who took the booking presumed it was our honeymoon for some reason and told us we could expect a bottle of champagne or something on board. We didn't get our hopes up and never did get any champagne or even a mention of our "honeymoon" until we were about to dock into Port Douglas and the captain made a special announcement over the speakers saying "Congratulations to Karl &amp; Lydia from Ireland, AAARRRGGGHHH, (he actually said that ...