Day 178 - Saturday 24 June - Swinging through the jungle

Day 178

Saturday

24 June 2017

Port Douglas – Daintree – Cape Tribulation

Another day and another early alarm and it was a little harder getting up still beat from yesterday’s full day, but with a drive ahead of us we had to crawl on out and get started. We were ready a lot quicker than we expected, so I was able to take a couple of photos of the golden light playing off the mountains of the Mowbray National Park. At 7.30am, we decided to make a move.

We stopped for fuel, as we came to it, on the main road and then continued on through Mossman where a local farmers’ Market was in full swing. From here it was a straight run on the Captain Cook Hwy to the Daintree River car ferry. We paid for the $26 return and waited in line for the ferry to return to our side of the river. We then drove on and waited patiently in the car as the ferry was pulled by cables to the other side, once off we were free to continue on the Tribulation Road. 

The road was narrow, windy and full of ups and downs. It was almost like the forest was trying to reclaim the strip carved through it, long tentacles of vines meeting at height across the breadth of the road. At times the road was so close to the coast you could see the waters of the Coral Sea lapping at the forest lined banks. 

I was on the lookout for cassowarys, signs everywhere stating cassowarys for the next 2km or 4km or recent Cassowary sighting take care. I fear this will be as close as I will actually get to seeing the elusive beast especially as there is apparently only 1400 left in the wild.

A lookout at Alexandra Range provided a great vantage point to view the Coral Sea and the lush forest. It was a shame it was a little overcast and cool, as I am sure you could see for miles some days. 

We continued to follow the road, eventually passing out intended meeting point for our jungle surfing tour and continued on to Cape Tribulation Beach, where we parked and walked to the sandy beach front where we could say we have seen the forest meeting the sea. 

We walked along the beach, watching a boat bob about and the storm clouds bringing rain to the horizon. It was so peaceful and once again we had it to ourselves. 

We returned to the Kulki boardwalk and lookout walk that meandered through the mangrove swamp before popping out on the hillside where you could admire the beach from above. It was just as impressive from here too. 

We made our way back to the car and then to the Jungle Surfing Adventure Camp, signed away our lives and waivered our rights and then jumped in the courtesy bus that took us to the jungle surfing site.  

With the safety briefing done, our harnesses on and our alter egos designated, Paul, Austin Powers and me, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, we joined our 10 tour mates and our guides, Mel, James and Bryce, walking up into the upper levels of the forest where we were met by a giant human hamster wheel. Here we had to walk in pairs inside the wheel to help lift two others up on to the first platform. We were the third pair of hamsters and then it was our turn to be pulled to the top and wait a top the platform. From here we had two more platforms to fly to via zip lines. We always went in pairs, with me in front and Paul behind. 

At the tallest platform, 23m, we had great views out to the Coral Sea and you could just make out a small sand cay. 

For the final three platforms we went single file, the first was quite a quick run to a lower platform and then the final two were a little more interesting. The second last one was an upside down challenge. Once off the platform you held the guide rope low down and swung your legs up above you, letting go with your arms as you sailed down the rope. I wasn’t sure if I could do it as I was afraid the camera would smack me in the face, but with some guidance from the guides I was all good and enjoying the blood rush to the head. I doubted Paul would be able to get his legs up, but he had no worries. 

The final leg was a race with your partner to the bottom, reaching speeds of 40km. Paul and I were neck and neck but I was pretty confident that I came in over the line first. That was a lot of fun.

With the race complete, we returned to the centre, removed all the gear and jumped aboard the bus once more to make our way back to the car. We then drove to Myall Beach where we ate our lunch at the picnic area. It was just starting to spit on us as we returned to the car to drop off our lunch things. Thankfully it didn’t hang around and we were able to follow the Dubuji Boardwalk trail through more green forest, all the time my eyes were darting from one tree to the next and scanning from floor to ceiling in case something was present, it was quite tiring on the senses having to be so aware. I didn’t spot anything however. 

We popped out on Myall Beach where the Great Barrier Reef meets the land. Due to a lower tide the reef was quite exposed and we could walk amongst it and the small wave pools left behind by the retreating surf. I admired the coral and shells stuck to its surface as we walked the beach in relative peace, though not alone.  We watched a couple of blokes fishing off part of the reef, one pulled in a large fish as we stood there. 

We then walked back, shaking our head at a bloke collecting coconuts, with Paul singing in the background “I have a lovely bunch of coconuts” I spied one coconut on the beach that had sprouted so I was quick to take photos of it before we wandered the path back. Another butterfly floated past so I stopped to take more photos and then we continued on our way. 

Our next stop was Marrdja Boardwalk, a 1.2km round trip through the rain forest. It was a lovely walk amongst the parasol like palms before opening into mangrove swamp and ending with a lookout over a large creek. We walked the boardwalk slow and deliberate so as not to miss anything, unfortunately we didn’t see any wildlife. 

Once back at the car we made our way towards home, driving through the Alexandra lookout once more. There were so many more people here at this time so we didn’t stop, I was bummed though when an Ulysses butterfly floated down amongst the crowd, some completely unaware. Damn!

With the day catching up to us, we decided it was best to make our way home and return to the lower part of the Daintree National Park on another day. We followed the highway over now familiar ground and were back at the campground by 3.45pm, completely spent but glad for the great day.

I spent the afternoon putting the photos through their paces and when done we changed and went in to Port Douglas. We parked at the marina and walked along the front, checking out the jetty once more that was decked out with fairy lights for a wedding reception. We then walked the main street before opting on a Thai restaurant for dinner. 

I was so ravenous and enjoyed every last thing that we ordered, in fact I could have eaten it again. When we finished we walked the streets again as we meandered our way back to the car and then returned home. I finished up the photos and the blog stuff before finally getting to bed, exhausted.