The operative word being rain

Heading north from Cairns we stopped at Mossman Gorge enroute to the Wonga Beach Blues Festival for a chance to contemplate a career change.

Mossman Gorge

Debut performance, Wonga Beach

Before crossing the Daintree River into Cape Tribulation we met some locals. Cape Trib where 'rainforest meets reef'.

Daintree River Ferry

Thick rainforest (the operative word being rain), beautiful beaches and the Bloomfield Track into Cooktown.

Cassowary and speed bump themed grafitti

Bloomfield Falls

Bloomfield Track

Cook Monument, Cooktown



Black Mountain NP, outside Cooktown



Family Vacation II

We are now in Cairns having covered the 2000km up the east coast in a little over a week. An outer reef trip yesterday. David and Luke uber seasick but recovered well enough to enjoy the snorkelling. Highlights included seeing turtles and a shark whilst in the water.

Unbelievable number of beaches and coves on the way north. Some stops for us were Cape Hillsborough NP and Etty Bay with its resident cassowarys wandering along the beach.

Cape Hillsborough NP

A great vist to Paronella Park where the remains of mad (or at least eccentric) Jose Paronella's castle lies in ruins amongst the rain forest. Jose ballroom, cinema, gardens and ice-creamery powered by his personal hydro station long before any commercial electricity was available. We were able to camp in the park and explore the ruins and gardens at night.

Kauri Boulevard, Paronella Park

Josephine Falls

Another favourite was the Mamu walk on suspension bridges amongst the rainforest canopy and Josephine Falls where time and the flow of water has made a perfect natural waterslide where you can get up a good head of steam before plunging into the icy water.