Mareeba to Wonga Beach

Friday 29th August

Today we are leaving Mareeba and heading to Wonga Beach, which is about 25km north of Mossman. Magnificent drive. Started off through farmland with lots of sugar cane and bananas and coffee. Then turned right at Mount Molloy straight into the Alexandra ranges. It was very steep and winding coming down onto the coast. But the view we could see through the trees was incredible. But we couldn't stop at any of the lookouts as there was no room for us. Down into Mossman and north along the coast to the Pinnacle Village Caravan Park at Wonga. Absolutely beautiful. Right on the beach and very tropical. Two swimming pools, a water slide, lots of grassy sites. Just delightful to spend 9 days.

This is a view along the beach the first afternoon here. As you can see it was quite windy with white caps everywhere. The water was all churned up and looked quite murky.

This was a shack that had been built on the beach. it reminded up of the shack Tom Hanks built in that movie. There were also lots of coconuts on the beach as the whole beach is edged with coconut palms.











The next day, Saturday after doing the domestic chores we went for a drive to Port Douglas.

This is the view from the lookout along the beach. It was a bit overcast. Check out the house just below the lookout. This was the driveway and the garage entrance. It has some view.

We went to the marina to buy some fresh prawns off a trawler. $15 a kilo  for medium cooked. And they were lovely.
This is the Quiksilver Reef Cruiser.

We then drove to Wonga Beach boat ramp and took a couple of shots. This is looking up the Mosman river from the boat ramp.

This is looking at the entrance to Mossman river from the boat ramp. That hill in the middle is actually Port Douglas in the distance.













The next day we went for a long walk up the beach. It wasn't quite so windy so the outlook was much better.

Some weird crab markings on the beach

A natural driftwood sculpture on the beach.

Looking back at the coconut palms fringing the beach. They protect the caravan park from the worst of the wind.














The next day we were heading up to Cape Tribulation. First we had to cross the Daintree River on the ferry.

It is the only way across if you want to go to Cape Tribulation, no bridges.

The outlook from the ferry as we went across.

As we climbed the ranges on the other side of the river we came to a sign for a lookout. When we drove in and got out of the car this is what we saw. It was the Daintree River running into the ocean. The view was spectacular.

This is another aspect with a touch of greenery in the foreground.

And still another view looking out to Snapper Island, which is a very popular mackerel fishing spot at the moment.

Our next stop was the Daintree Discovery Centre. It was opened in 1989 and is a self funding private enterprise. It has an aerial walkway, a canopy tower, an interpretive display centre and elevated boardwalks over the rainforest floor. At first I thought it was a bit pricey but if you are a visitor and staying in the area you can come back anytime within the next 7 days. It was magnificent.
This is the view from the top of the tower over the rainforest canopy. It takes you up 23 metres over 5 different viewing platforms.

This is one of the great rainforest trees which plays host to a creeper. The creepers use the tree to climb towards the sunlight. The higher the creeper goes the lighter green its leaves become.

This is a Wompoo Pigeon or Fruit Dove. It is very well camouflaged as the yellow patches look like sunlight through the trees. It came quite close to us when we were on the aerial walkway.












After leaving the Discovery Centre we headed further north and our next stop was Myall Beach.

This is Myall Beach. At first I thought we had reached Cape Tribulation and I was a little disappointed but then I realised we still had 4km. I am the navigator and usually don't make mistakes but this was just a little one.

This is Ray standing on the beach at Cape Tribulation. The beach was full of overseas young people sunning themselves and Aussie Grey Nomads. I think other aussies need to make the trek up here as it is really beautiful

This is me standing under the mangroves at the end of Cape Trib beach.

This is actually the bottom of Cape Tribulation

This is the view looking along Cape Tribulation beach from Kulki Lookout. Very pristine and no pollution.

After leaving Cape Tribulation we went and had lunch and then went to Thornton Beach. It was covered in crab holes. Little soldier crabs I think.

Next stop was the Floravilla Ice Cream shop for a beautiful home made ice cream. Ray had a passionfruit one and I had sweet potato and ginger. They were both beautiful and definitely worth another visit when we come back again to the Discovery Centre.

Then we went to Koala Beach. This is it looking out to Snapper Island.

Koala Beach is at Cape Kimberley and is on the northern side of the Daintree river right below the lookout we went to earlier.
We then caught the ferry back to the other side then back to camp as it was past happy hour.








This  is enough Blog for the moment. I will publish this one and start another one later.