Diary Update - Last Days in Australia
Trip Start
Oct 18, 2006
1
17
27
Trip End
Apr 04, 2007
Gold Coast,
Australia
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Thursday 25th January
We were picked up from Hostel 89 at 8am by the "On The Wallaby" tour bus and we drove into the mountains behind Cairns. As we climbed the vegetation changed from the eucalyptus-dominated forest at sea level to the tropical rainforest which is unique to the area. We climbed further until we reached the Atherton Tablelands, a fertile plateau which stretches for many miles on the other side of this stretch of the Great Dividing Range. We were taken to visit a very ancient tree called the Cathedral Fig Tree, so called because of its massive, hollow structure. From there we went to the Crater Lakes National Park where we had a guided walk through the rainforest with our guide, Scott, who provided us with lots of interesting information on the local flora and fauna. We saw lots of forest dragons, small lizards that use their body temperature to help them camouflage themselves against predetors that have thermal vision. Then we went to a lake that was formed by a volcanic crater and has no tributaries but is filled instead with rainwater. After a picnic lunch there we swam in the lake and saw archer fish as well as darters, birds that swim briefly beneath the surface to hunt fish, and turtles. Next we visited two waterfalls, Milla Milla falls where the water is free-falling, and Dinner Falls which is a cascade waterfall, and we swam in both. In the forest above the falls we were lucky enough to spot a tree kangaroo, and a cassowary which is a large flightless bird with a horn-like structure on top of its head. Next we went to an ancient crater which was formed by a gas explosion, creating a deep vertical crater now filled with water. Finally we were taken to a nearby eco-lodge for a hot drink and biscuits before making our way back to Cairns. It was a fascinating day and we both loved it.
Friday 26th January
26th January is Australia Day and it seemed appropriate that we dived that day on the Great Barrier Reef - a truly Australian experience! Please see the report in the previous entry for full details of the day. That evening we ate at The Wool Shed, where, in fact, we ate every night that we were in Cairns. Having booked all our tours through our hostel, we were provided with tokens that we could use to buy meals at great rates from this venue which doubles as a restaurant and bar/club later in the evening. We were expecting it to be crowded for Australia Day, but in fact Cairns seemed pretty quiet that night.
Saturday 27th January
We were picked up by the tour bus at 7.30am and taken north of Cairns to the Alexandra Range where we stopped at a viewpoint with a great view of the coast. Next to the Daintree Sanctuary where the very knowledgeable owner, Trisha, showed us around and gave us lots of information on the resident birds and animals, including the native quoll which she has successfully bred where others have failed. After breakfast at the sanctuary we went to a very ancient pocket of rainforest where plants have recently been discovered which were thought to be extinct. Then we went for lunch at The Beach House which is another eco-lodge right on the beach at Cape Tribulation. After lunch we headed back south to the Daintree River, stopping off at a home-made ice-cream parlour on the way where the owner makes fantastic ice-creams out of home-grown fruits, including wattle, which is the national tree of australia. Once at the river we took a guided river cruise and we were lucky enough to see a four metre crocodile swimming upstream almost as soon as the cruise started! We were also shown an amethyst python curled around the branch of a mangrove tree and a nesting shining flycatcher. On the way to Port Douglas we stopped at Mossman Gorge. Once again the heavens opened, but AD was not put off swimming in the river. At Port Douglas we did a quick drive-by tour and stopped off at Four Mile Beach before being driven back to Cairns. Another long but very enjoyable day.
Sunday 28th January
We were flying back to Brisbane airport at 2.50pm which gave us time to do some exploring in the morning. We had heard about Rusty's Market which was only a few streets away from the hostel so we went along there. The majority of the stalls sell locally grown fruit and vegetables along with a few other bits and pieces like hand-made jewellery and clothes, and we spent a good hour wandering round before grabbing a big breakfast. Then we walked down to the Esplanade which we hadn't had a chance to explore before and had a look at the harbour and the mudflats exposed by the low tide, inhabited by lots of crabs and wading birds. Then it was time to make our way to the airport for the two-hour flight back to Brisbane airport where we were picked up by our Gold Coast hosts, Jane and Brian. That evening we went ten-pin bowling, which was a great giggle. As always, I came last in both games (although I did manage to get two strikes)!
Monday 29th January
Our last day in Australia :( After posting the report on the diving day, we went for a tour around the area. We stopped at Moreton Bay and then at Surfer's Paradise and then went for lunch at a fabulous sea food restaurant called Ashmore Seafood and Steak where we tried barramundi and Moreton Bay bugs (similar to lobster) for the first time. They were both delicious as was the calamari which is the most tender I have ever tried. This afternoon we had been planning to go to a bird sanctuary but after lunch all we really wanted to do was chill out so we came home and I typed this diary! We have just visited Jane and Brian's joinery factory where they have made their award-winning kitchens for the last three years.
That brings me up to date!
Tomorrow we fly to Auckland and we should arrive mid-afternoon. With help from a friend we found an excellent offer on a hire car over there and so we have booked a car which we will pick up from the airport and drop off when we leave New Zealand. We are delighted with this as it means we will be able to explore the country at our own pace, which we so loved doing in South Africa. We have a few people to hook up with while we're there, and although we are sad to leave Aus, we are very much looking forward to visiting the land of the long white cloud!
I have been trying to upload more pics today but there has been some kind of problem with that. I will, as usual, do my best to upload some asap.
Hope you're continuing to enjoy the updates, more from NZ when I get the chance!
xesther & AD
