From Brisbane to Cape Tribulation

Paddle Boarding with Crocodiles…Not

Last night John booked paddleboarding tour on the Mossman River for the two of us. When we had to sign the online wavier form, it asked if we were aware that there may be salt water crocodiles in the river. Noooooo…not aware!

Yesterday at the Koala Sanctuary I watched a crocodile show where they talked about the dangers and the rules to follow to keep safe, one being to not go into waters where crocodiles may be present no matter what the locals say.

So I spent the night stressing about going paddleboarding. The conversation this morning goes like this:

Kimberly: I don’t feel comfortable with this.

John: I’m sure they wouldn’t do a tour if it’s dangerous.

Kimberly: We are paddleboarding through areas where there may be crocodiles. What can go wrong?

John: Nobody has been attacked.

Kimberly: I don’t want to be the first.

Five minutes later John informs me that the tour operator emailed that the tour is already full  and they have refunded our money. There is a god.

Early Flight to Cairns

We have an early start waking at 3:00am and do some  redistributing of weight amongst our luggage (and utilizing John’s neck pillow), in order to not pay for overweight baggage. ,we get into our Uber to the airport at 3:40am. 

Normally this type of early morning is extremely grueling, but today is no problem cause we’re still partially on Ontario time.

Our Uber driver is originally from Rwanda and is thrilled to find out that we visited Rwanda this past June. He tells us what it was like to be a Tutsi during the genocide in  1994. He said over 90 percent of his family were murdered and told us about the road he took which lead him to live in Australia. He is very so thankful and says “He is living his dream”.

Our flight to Cairns on JetStar Airlines leaves on time and takes about 2 hours. It goes by quickly as I am chatting with the young German guy sitting next to me. 

After landing I change to skorts and sandals, we pick up our rental car and start on the Great Barrier Reef Drive (Route 44) towards Cape Tribulation; a three hour drive. Of course we will break that up with some sightseeing stops.

Chlamydia and the Single Koala

Back on terra firma and still basking in the afterglow of yesterday’s koala cuddling session, I send my guys pictures of the koala and I. Graham quickly informs me that I should be careful because many koalas have chlamydia, a sexually transmitted disease. 

I quickly check it out and it’s true. Koalas get it by eating the nutritious poo of other chlamydia infected koalas. They don’t seem as cute & cuddly knowing this information. Click here for an article about it.

This is very sad because it can lead to blindness and death but I feel fairly confident of my safety because I didn’t share any interactions of that nature with my koala Spoon, and I didn’t digest any koala feces. 

Palm Cove

It’s warm and overcast when we exit the Cairns airport. Every now and again we feel a raindrop. There is a tropical feel about the place. 

In Australia they drive on the opposite side of the road (left side) from us which John seemingly adjusts to except for sometimes flicking on the windshield wipers instead of the turn signal.

I have had something in my eye that I can’t seem  to wash out for the past couple of days. No, I didn’t catch it from the koala. I hope I don’t need to visit a doctor.

Our first stop is Palm Cove. This is a gorgeous, high end beach community. Although it is only 10:30am, we are starving and a small breakfast was not going to do it. We order a meal of fish, chips, calimari and shrimp. Yum. The sun comes out in full force.

Although it is a beautiful, sandy beach, the sign warns or salt water crocodiles and seasonal jelly fish; I still see a few people swimming and paddle boarding. Yikes.

Rex Lookout

The highway gives us a scenic drive, curving itself along the beaches and up and down the rocky inclines. We stop to take in the stunning view at Rex Lookout.

Unplanned Medical Visit

My eye is still bothering me so we stop at a medical clinic in Port Douglas since Cape Tribulation is very small and doesn’t have a clinic. Because I didn’t have an appointment, I have to wait awhile. The doctor doesn’t find anything in my eye and says to try the eye drops for a couple days and if it’s not better to go to the optometrist who has more specific eye equipment.

Daintree Ferry Crossing

Now we are running late. Our check in time at Safari Lodge in Cape Tribulation is 4pm. It is a two hour drive and that doesn’t include the ferry across the Daintree River. As we boot it over, we are hoping there are no lineups at the ferry.

It starts to rain as we approach the ferry crossing. The Daintree Ferry Crossing is the only way to cross the Daintree River (15 minutes to board, cross and disembark).  Fortunately we don’t need to wait long

Travelling Through the Rainforest

Once across the road gets narrow and very windy. A mist hangs down from above. There is no mistaking that we are in a rainforest.

Daintree Rainforest is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s the world’s oldest tropical rainforest (over 180 million years old) and has much flora and fauna found exclusively here in it’s 750 mile area.

We pass many cassowary crossing signs. Cassowarys are large, flightless birds.

We stop at Mt Alexandra Lookout (Walu Wugirriga) but it is misty so there is not a lot to see.

Safari Lodge and Myall Beach

We reach Safari Lodge where we are staying in Cape Tribulation. We have a cute little cabin. After moving in our luggage, we cross the road and walk to the beach. Cape Tribulation is the place where the rain forest meets the reef.

Close by is Myall Beach with  powdery, golden sand .  The beach is uncrowded and feels like we have it all to ourselves.

I decide not to swim because crocodiles are known to swim past in order to get to other river mouths. There are warning signs up about crocodiles. Yep, I will stick to pools. Information sheets say to stay five metres from shore because crocs can use their tails to propel themselves at potential prey, as I learned yesterday at the croc show.

I love all the designs that the crabs have made in the sand. It’s like intricate artwork.

Cape Tribulation

Lieutenant James Cook gave Cape Tribulation it’s name because when he was trying to find a way for his ship to get through, it ran into Endeavour Reef and that’s where his troubles began, so he said.

Dubuji Boardwalk

We leave the beach and walk the Dubuji Boardwalk through mangroves and swampland. In some areas the parrots are so loud but try as I might, I cannot spot them in the trees above.  Click here for a short video.

By this time I’m pooped since I’ve been up since 2:45am this morning.

Gigantic Bats, Bats and More Bats

Supper is at PKs Bar and Restaurant. It is just after sunset as we walk back to our cabin. There is a cacophony of  screeching voices in a very large tree. I look up and spot hundred of humongous bats hanging upside down. Many of them start flying. It turns out that they are flying fox bats. We stand mesmerized watching their antics. Click here for a short video.

As I lie in my bed, I enjoy the insect and animals sounds as well as the rain on the roof.