37 Black Swans: FNQ trip

What a delightful trip Tom and I had to Queensland..
First stop Cairns via Melbourne... with Lego Movie en route...one happy boy.

We have a look around Cairns...buying shorts for Tom as he has grown so much he had none that fit!!
Tom liked the look of the town 'lagoon' where everyone seems to hang out... (very different feel compared to the waterfront of Hobart)

I guess the Lagoon was made as the other option is mudflat.

We enjoy a refreshing milkshake ...check out the local flying fox colony in centre of town ,before wandering back to our car and heading 15 minutes north to Clifton Beach where we are staying.

Tom gives it the thumbs up.

Lovely spot just opposite the beach.

We take a walk to watch the Super Moon come up...unfortunately there is cloud on the horizon..but it is still impressive.

Tom even balances it on his head...

Sunday morning we are up

and on our way to Skyrail...up to Kuranda.
A very enjoyable trip.

Kuranda Butterfly Sanctuary was our favourite place.

My favourite Ulysses Butterfly...hard to photograph as it flys very erratically.

The Village markets are pretty trashy...not unexpected...but disappointing none the less.

We head to the Venom Zoo...which is also a big let-down... oh well.

Tom got to hold an ugly Roach ..much to his displeasure as it was just handed to him!!

I ,on the other hand, chose to hold the baby snake..

After Tom has a play in the playground we decide to do a circuit walk via the river back to the station where we will catch the train back down... we have to stride it out as it is quite a walk..

We are somewhat irritated to find that the walk is referred to as a 'Jungle' walk.. (It is a Rainforest guys!!) We come across this tourist term used to describe various forest areas up to Cape Trib...

Back just in time to get our train...we are rebels and find an empty carriage to sit in, instead of our allocated seat... once the train is moving ,more people are moved into our carriage..

It is a terrific trip...I really enjoy it...

We explore Palm Cove on our way back to Clifton Beach...It is a real touristy place for 'the beautiful people'...Lots of jazzy boutiques and eateries..

We are glad to return to quiet Clifton Beach. I even have a swim with Tom in the pool..

I teach Tom how to play the card game 'Switch' and he is hooked...we play about 20 hands before bed..

Monday we set of north to Cape Tribulation in the Daintree.

A beautiful drive along the coast.

Tom take lots of photos...and some of them are OK..
We love the amazing forest on the mountains, enjoy the sight of banana trees and sugar cane...very different country to Tasmania.

We stop to wait for the ferry to cross the Daintree river.
A woman tourist wanders almost to the water's edge and a local tour operator suggest she might like to move back as a 2 metre croc was see nearby recently...Needless to say, she moved...

We were in awe of the stunning forest we drove through as soon as we crossed.

First stop..Daintree Discovery Centre...where we had a great overview of the forest flora and fauna.

Even sighted a gorgeous vibrant blue Ulysses Butterfly in flight..special..hard to spot as they flit about so quickly...and blue only shows when wings open..
We hope to see a Cassowary in the wild while we are here in the Daintree.

We continue our journey stopping off at Cow's Bay. Tom has a great time on a rope swing he finds..

I think about it....

All the beaches have these signs..

Our zippy little car..

We stop for a Daintree Icecream...and I don't even remember to take a photo before consuming!!
Four flavours in a cup...Coconut, Banana, Wattleseed and Mango....yummy..but Thomas is not so impressed as I think he was hoping for a chocolate icecream....so I end up eating alot of his too...well you can't throw it out can you!!
We continue on to our accommodation at Cape Tribulation...but are too early to check in.
So we drive a little further and take a look at Cape Trib beach...

... have lunch at the Turtle Rock cafe...then a short walk through the rain forest and bump into an immature Cassowary...that checks us out!! Very exciting . Unfortunately I only have my phone so the photos aren't very sharp..

Spot the Cassowary...

We check in and settle into our lovely room...and Tom tries out the pool...while I enjoy a cuppa on the balcony.

The rain comes and goes...but that doesn't worry us at all.
We have a late afternoon/evening walk along the rain forest boardwalk to try and see the Ma and Pa Cassowary...no luck but gorgeous forest.

Dinner back at Ferntree where we are staying..then a few more hands of 'switch' before bed...Tom is well in the lead on out tally.(much to his delight!!)

We breakfast then do the rain forest walk again...hoping to see the Cassowary family.. the rain comes down quite heavily at times... I am captivated by the colours and textures ...magnificant.

We attempt to walk along the beach to Cape Trib...but the creek crossing is too deep. So we retrace our steps to go via the road.

On the way past...we stop in to see if there is a cancellation for the Jungle Surfing adventure (I'll explain later)...and the planets align for us....amazingly there has been...and we book to do the 12.30pm 'surf'.Tom is very excited.. (as we had been told at our accommodation that there was no chance of booking in the time we were there...and he had shed a few quiet tears)
We walk to Cape Trib lookout..

then over to the beach in the hope the tide has gone out and we can get back across the creek...but it is still too deep..and Tom is not keen to strip down to undies to cross...so we retrace our steps again and have a very steamy walk back along the road..

We tuck into an early..well earned lunch..

Then get ready to go Rain Forest (not jungle!!) surfing..

Six flying fox lines between high platforms over the forest

It's alot of fun

Didn't have my camera...but yes I did the whole upside-down thing on the last run...ask Tom..it's true!

Back at Ferntree Tom has another dip...but can't entice me in...too chilly.

We walk down the road to dinner at a different place...very very dark...glad Tom brought his torch.
While enjoying dinner..it pelts down..

Cards and bed to finish the day.

Up and off after we check out...such a lovely place to stay.

Some of the other types of accommodation there..

We head back to the ferry ..stopping to get a chocolate icecream for Tom at a different spot...then drive around to look at Daintree village....touristville!! Ugh

To Mossman Gorge..for a walk and a swim for Tom in the river.. Very special place for local indigenous community. Beautiful spot if you can ignore the 'tourists' ( I realise I have been fortunate to visit so many amazing places that were not 'managed' and hyped up for the 'tourist' dollar...in the good old days)