farnorth

Sat 01.12 - The car rental place in Cairns picked us up at 8.45am. Drove to Cape Trib stopping at Rex Lookout. Great view. Stopped in the town of Port Douglas. Then drove to Mossman Gorge. I went for a swim in the gorge. Bloody freezing. We had a picnic there and then headed to Cape Trib. Had to catch a ferry across the Daintree river ($16). Drove past the actual settlement and on to the unsealed road that runs the whole way to Cooktown (1000kms to the north). We turned back quickly as we werent ensured to drive on unsealed roads. Pitched tent at PK's and went for a wee dander to the beach. Yet another fantastic beach. We have been so spoilt here. Read, played chess and drank tea. Then bed.

Sun 02.12 - Left 9.30am and went to Cape Trib lookout. Beautiful view of the rainforest meeting the sea. Saw mud crabs on the way to the lookout. It was then back down the road on the ferry again and on to Daintree village. Then on to Kuranda. Nice markets there. We went on to Mareeba then and finally to the Atherton Tablelands. (this is just a fancy name for flat fields!) It looks very much like Ireland, give or take the odd palm tree. Decided to camp at Lake Tineroo ( a manmade lake created by the Tineroo Dam). Got fish and chips in Tolga for dinner. Being inland the tent was alot cooler and we actually slept inside our sleeping bags.

Mon 03.12 - Up 8am. Drove back to Atherton and then on to Yungaburra, stopping at the curtain fig tree. Then on to Malanda and Malanda falls (a 3ft waterfall!!!!!!! Not worth the stop). Started to go to Millaa Millaa and Claire gave me directions. We ended up on an unsealed road for about 10kms. We were glad to see tarmac again. Ballylogue was better!! Went then to see some crater left by a natural explosion millions of years ago. The sign says "Not just another hole in the ground", but alas it WAS just another hole in the ground. Then it was on to Dinner Falls. These were more impressive, we arrived in Millaa Millaa and had lunch. Beautiful little village. Then off to Millaa Millaa falls. It was nice but not flowing fully.

We then went to Paronella Park, originally created in the 1930's by Jos� Paronella. To read about this place CLICK HERE. We walked around the small castle, gardens, thru the tunnel of love, around the pool and waterfall. We fed fish and turtles and a massive eel. There were huntsman spiders in the tunnel of love. The female huntsman eats the male after sex. BITCH! We left and drove back to the edge of Cairns, via Inishfail and Gordonvale.

Tues 04.12 - We left car back at 8.45am. Caught bus to back to Twnsville at 11am, arriving at 4.30pm. Claire rang Pleasure Divers Shop on Maggie and they could take her tomorrow so we got ferry to Maggie and stayed at Arkies.

Wed 05.12 - Up 8am. Claire did 2 dives in Alma Bay. We went back to Arkies and had chesse sandwiches for lunch AGAIN! Claire slept for the afternoon and I soaked in the pool. Bought dinner. Claire found a dead ant in her BLT. The waitress said "this is Austrailia, what do you expect". We went then to watch the Toad races. Strange, strange concept. Then bed.

Thurs 06.12 - Up at 8am. Claire went out for her final two dives and I sat on the bay watching. She had no problems and qualified. Cool!! We got ferry back to Townsville and got bus to Airlie Beach arriving at 9.30pm. Walked to Magnums Hostel. Dodgy dorm with 10 beds. Loads of mozzies. We killed as many as we could. Bed at midnight. Claire woke me at am to tell me I was snoring. Then we both listened to another fella snoring for an hour.