Mossman Gorge and then our Last Day in the Land of Oz

We decided that we would go to Mossman Gorge, which is north of Port Douglas, and walk through the Jungle. There is a visitors centre, and from there a bus runs into the gorge itself and deposits walkers at the start of the walks. There are board walks along the river side that lead to a 2km trek through the jungle which is a fairly moderate walk.

It is lovely along the river, and there are numerous photo opportunities, but , of course, the battery in my camera decided to die, so here are just some of the very few I managed to get!

We had a beautiful walk, nontheless, and would be happy to repeat the experience. We saw many colourful fungi and the river walk was just glorious. I was very tempted to a swim, but being an utter coward, and very conscious of the proximity of crocodiles (not really, they were miles away) I decided to wait until our return to the Cove and the safety of the pool.

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Well, what would you do on your last day in the land of Oz?

As the sun had put in an appearance we decided to spend our last day on the lawns and beaches at the cove. The weather had been very so-so for the whole of our stay in Far North Queensland, with both high cloud and strong winds making time on the beach problematic. Today though the wind was strong but there was a clear blue sky above us.

We started to get our packing organised and tidy our belongings ready for the morrow's journey and then repaired to our deck for an hour in the Sun with our books. The hour passed happily until our stomachs informed us that it was lunchtime! We had already agreed that a second visit to Mockas would be in order, so we drove up to Port Douglas to seek out the shop with the best pies in all of Oz. If you ever visit this part of the world and you have the chance their Chilli Beef and Cheese is just wonderful.

Then back to the Cove for a last few hours in the Sun.

A relaxing and restful day to wind you what has been a fantastic holiday..

To Cape Tribulation

We set off after breakfast and headed north again, this time our objective was to cross the Daintree River on the ferry and then to drive up to Cape Tribulation having a look at the Rainforest Experience on the way. The drive to the ferry was uneventful but after we had crossed the forest really closes in and you begin to feel like you are somewhere very wild.

We stopped at the Rainforest Experience (to use their loos) but decided we would give it a miss when we discovered that it would cost us $32 each for the privilege. When you add in that we had already paid $23 to get over the river we thought it was a bit steep (see I can be careful with money!)

So we carried on along the road through the jungle. When you realise that the road you are on is the only one for miles and the only way to it is across the ferry it brings home just how isolated the place is. And the jungle is very, very thick. Occasionally you get glimpses of water or green spaces through the foliage but more often it feels like plants are closing in all around you. What it must have felt like to the early explorers when they cut their way through beggars belief.

And the road zig zags in and out and up and down in an alarming way. It takes a lot of concentration to drive along this road I can tell you. One slip and the car would be round the trunk of a massive tree and the passengers would be covered in creepy crawlies!like Not my idea of a good time....

We followed the road for what seemed like forever until we got to Cape Tribulation itself. After such a long drive it felt like a let down as there is very little to see, but the beach is fab and the view from the headland just sublime. Our intention had been to find a cafe and have a bite, but the options were very limited so we decided to head back and stop at one of the Ice Cream parks we had seen along the way.

So we set off for the long drive back to the Ice Cream Factory. Along the way we were treated to what is now an extremely rare site. We came upon a number of cars scattered alongside the road, almost as though they had been abandoned, with the people from them standing and pointing into the jungle. And therem right before our eyes, was a wild Cassawary! They are evil looking birds (see picture) with a reputation for bad temper, so we decided to observe from the safety of our car, rather than risk life and limb, but what a privileged to see one in the wild.

From there we made our way to the Ice Cream Factory (see, I do get obsessed) where we could choose from something like 62 different flavours (in theory, they have the place up for sale and are running down the stock).

From there is was back across the ferry (over the crocodile infested river) and back to the Cove for a well earned drink.....

Daintree Village and Bel Cibo

Following our wonderful day on the Skyrail we decided that we would just have a drive up to Daintree Village, which is as far north as you can go without catching the ferry across okthe Daintree River. It is yet another odd village with yet more Hippy Trippy folk living there. Ladies with studios in their gardens trying to populate the world with small pottery gnomes, woodworkers churning out millions of bread boards and rolling pins alongside a General Store packed to the rafters with genuine Australian artefacts Made in China. Sadly nothing that I wanted to take home with me though.

So we turned tail and headed back towards the Cove.

We stopped in Port Douglas so we could go to Mocka`s for one of their famous pies. I had read about this place on Trip Advisor and the reports were spot on. I had a Chilli Beef and Cheese, and John a Steak and Kydney and both were fabulous. For desert John had an Apple Pie and I a Caramel Tart and we both raved over them. A wonderful lunch.

We also spotted a sign for a Sunset Market that evening so decided that we would go back to look at them and have a meal out for the first time since we had arrived. again I had consulted Trip Advisor and had seen Bel Cibo on the main street. The market was a bit of a letdown, full of yet more Hippy Trippy stuff (who comes and buys it all???) but the restaurant was stunning. And the waitress was so good that she earned the only tip I have given so far this holiday (I should explain that tipping is not done in Australia, and is frowned upon). Both the food and the service was wonderful and well worth the $120 that the meal cost.

Then back to the Cove in the dark! Driving at night in Oz is a strain due to the wild life that lurks along the roadside. When we picked up the cars in Perth and Alice we had been warned against driving at night in case either a kangaroo or camel barged into us. But the car hire man here said that neither of these animals was a problem here, hence our trip out. The road however is a hazard all by itself. For large sections between PD and the okCove it is very narrow and winding, hugging the cliff high above the waves. It is an eye opener during the day and scary at night.

Needless to say John got us back safely and after a couple swift ones at the bar we retired for the evening.

Skyrail and the Karunda Railway (Gold Class of course)

Wow, what a day we had! We went to the village of Kuranda, high up on the Atherton Tablelands. But it wasn't the destination that was important, it was how we got there and back....

We went up on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway www.skyrail.com.au

Stunning. Look at the website and you will see what I mean. You fly high over the forest in your gondola and look down at he plants, butterflies and birds below you. It is the most fantastic experience and much less traumatic than the helicopter was (although that was wonderful too, just felt much less secure).

We shared our adventure with a couple of the guys we had met at Turtle Cove, Brian (in the hat) and Steve. We all got on great, and had a fabulous day together.

Both the stations were great and afforded us fantastic views across the gorge down to the river. And when we got to the end there was the obligatory photo call and we all hammed it up, of course. I will try and scan a copy in when we get home and add it with the other pictures I have taken.

We had a wander through the village marvelling that so many shops stocked the same hippy trippy paraphernalia and seemed to be making a living out of it. It was a bit like the village of Glastonbury but minus the rain!

John and I had paid to visit the Butterfly House (fab), the Aviary (mediocre, and I found out that John really doesn't like free flying birds) and the Koala Compound (which would have been ok but they also had snakes there, so I exited rapidly). We then found a nice cafe (called The Frog!) where we tested the locally made cakes with some good old tea.

For the return we had booked the Gold Class Kurunda Express, (www.ksr.com.au) an old railway built during the Gold Rush days of the 19th century and now run as a tourist attraction in conjunction with the cable car. The upgrade to gold put us in 1st Class and gave us drinks galore, nuts, a cheese platter and a refreshing Mango Sorbet. These and the lack of children made for a very civilised two hour journey back down the mountain.

The station at Karunda was fantastic, with foliage everywhere. Wouldn't like to be the gardener though!!!

Cattle Class

Gold Class (where we were)

Then back to Turtle Cove for another convivial evening with the other guests. Another excellent day.

We like Turtle Cove a lot!!!

Good news, we really like Turtle Cove! It is a small resort with it's own private beach (well, two beaches) set just off the main highway.between Cairns and Port Douglas. We have a massive room that opens onto an open deck looking across the lawn to the beach and the Coral Sea! We are being lulled to sleep by the sound of the surf each night and waking to the Sun rising over the ocean.

It is a small resort with just 30 rooms but there is a pool, Jacuzzi, restaurant and bar. Everyone is very friendly and they all go out of their way to make us very welcome. It doesn't feel like we are in a hotel at all, more like we are guests at a private house party. If we ever get to this area again I would definitely want to stay here.

For the first two days we just lay about on the beach chairs tryinq to gather our strength after all the traveling we have done. It has been great seeing the desert and doing the walks but we we're both utterly exhausted, so the rest was needed. We had arranged to collect a car from Port Douglas on Saturday, got a lift there from the hotel but when we got to the office we realised that we had left our Driving Licences behind. Fortunately there is plenty to do in the town, so we explored before catching a bus back to a welcome swim in the ocean.

We went back on the Sunday (another lift from the ever resourceful and friendly staff at the Cove), and this time we went on a short boat trip up the creek and we saw some crocodiles on the banks sunbathing. One was enormous and would have been able to make a hundred handbags!

Time for lunch, so we went to the Hogs Breath Cafe (no really) and had Hotpot (yes, in the Tropics!)

After that we went on a steam train to the sugar cane fields that had been restored by volunteers. We we're told that the trip would last for an hour and we expected to travel quite a distance but actually it just went very slowly! All good fun though and we had a great time.

More later...

Plane from Ayers Rock to Cairns

oh no, another flight! We are on our way from Ayers Rock to Cairns where we are staying at Turtle Cove, an up market resort on the way to Port Douglas. Well, that is the blurb so we will have to let you know when we get there.

Woke this morning absolutely knackered after yesterday's excertions. It was too much really, but it was do it then or never, so off we went. The mornings walk in the Olgas should have been enough. It was one of the most beautiful places I have ever been and I just hope that my pictures will do them justice, when I finally manage to upload some. But not only was it a long walk (7 K) there was a lot of climbing up and down involved and that is what made it so strenuous.

So when we got back to Uluru and saw that the base walk was all on the flat we thought "why not" and off we set. We did really well and it wasn't until the last quarter that we both started to flag. Also we were both getting quite dehydrated by that time which didn't help (we ought to have taken some more water with us), but we have lived to tell the tale.

Getting up this morning was no laughing matter. There were quite a number of groans and expletives as we got our tired bodies ready for the day! People at breakfast were highly amused by us staggering backwards and forwards to the buffet to refill our plates. To say nothing of me being more than a little afraid of being too far from a loo!!! (something to do with the previous days dehydration I suspect).

We packed our bags and vacated our room, then went to the Town Square for a coffee and to wait the time of our departure with our books. I have just finished Dan Brown's "The Lost Symbol" and thoroughly enjoyed it. Not sure what John is reading but he is too engrossed to tell me!

We had a sandwich and headed for the airport and eventually boarded this plane. More soon, I promise.....

Rockin` in the Red Center (Wow!!!) Is this the best bit of the whole holiday???

What a difference. This is more like it! Receptionist was lovely and directed us to our room. Two massive beds (no, I don't know why, there just are) and a two man jaccuzi in with a picture window looking out over a private desert garden. I could get used to this. Everything is expensive here and there is only the one shop within a 30 radius, so there is no choice. No internet either, hence this being posted when we get back to civilisation.

Restaurant not bad either, although breakfast is a bit of a letdown.

But the main reason for being here is the canyon, and it is stunning. We walked around the rim in about four hours. Hard going in places but well worth all the effort. I got struck by vertigo about half way through and froze in a very precarious position,, but was helped by another couple of walkers, and John, so got through it safely. Sadly though we only saw part of the Garden of Eden as I was too shaken to walk the path, but what we did see was amazing.

After we got down, had a rest and a sandwich, we walked up the creek to the viewing platform we had seen from above. It was a wonderful peaceful place to be, and the trees and foliage were just beautiful. Even more amazing when you get back out into the desert!

Off to Uluru tomorrow!!!

This has been the best so far. We left Kings Canyon early yesterday, and got here just after 12. As ever we were both hungry, so after we had checked in we headed over to the "Town Square" (check the Ayers Rock Resort website). When we had quelled our hunger we had a look at the shops and there was one selling helicopter flights. Now we had been discussing this during our drive but I was unsure, especially after my wobble at the top of the canyon the day before.

But I decided that it had to be now or never, so we took the plunge and booked ourselves a 36 minute flight over Uluru and Kata Tjuta (that is Ayers Rock and The Olgas to you and me). I sat up front with the pilot and it was awesome!!! And don't be feeling sorry for John because he has done it before and insisted that he took the back seat (I think he referred to me putting him on the front seat of a Greek taxi once, but that is another story). We flew close to both the rock and The Olgas and I had a ball. I took loads of pics, and will be uploading them as soon as I can. I got worried just a couple of times when a gust of wind caught the helicopter, but otherwise all was excellent.

And today has been amazing too. We walked through the Valley of the Wind after breakfast. 7K and it took us just short of three hours. A more beautiful and breathtaking walk would be hard to imagine and we are both pleased that we have done it.

We then had a break for lunch before driving back to the rock where we have completed the base walk, another 10K. Neither of us can walk without limping but we are both over the moon to have done both the walks that we wanted to do. Thank God we will have a relatively easy day tomorrow!!

Love to you all and I will post more when I can. We head off to Cairns tomorrow and I don't think that the place we are staying at has a reliable Internet connection, but I will do my best.