From Reefs to Rainforests

The Great Barrier Reef & Daintree Rainforest

Day 1 - Cairns

The alarm sounded at 3:50am, an early journey to Auckland International Airport to jump the ditch to Far North Queensland. Everything went smoothly during the 4:45hr flight, landing in the small Cairns airport. We were greeted by the strict Aussie customs, followed by a surprising tropical humidity. I realized that I wouldn't need my puffer jacket or jeans after all.

We picked up our rental car and drove to Palm Cove, a small seaside town about 20 minutes from Cairns. Small cafes and restaurants lined the promenade, in front of the beach. Palm trees and yellow sand stretching several kilometers into the distance, with a sign that read “Crocodiles may be present in these waters”. We did not swim.

After arriving at Port Douglas, our main destination, we had a rest in the Meridian Hotel and a nice meal at a Mexican restaurant in town followed by Gelato ice cream. A good way to judge the town, and so far it passed the test.

Day 2 - The Great Barrier Reef

The first day in Australia started with the all anticipated Great Barrier Reef, a place I had wanted to see for a long time. Nature at its finest, yet also a well known display of the harsh realities of climate change.

We made it to the marina at 8.15am, and found a leafy café called Choo Choo for a light breakfast. It had an old train as part of the seating arrangement, as well as tropical plants, which we loved. Before boarding the boat, we purchased some waterproof cases for our phones, which turned out to be one of the best purchases of the trip.

It wasn't all beautiful scenery and crystal blue seas though. Not long into the boat ride, we were caught in the middle of 25-30 knot winds. Waves rolling in from the open ocean and not even seasickness pills could prevent almost half the boat being sick. I managed to avoid throwing up, but many weren't so lucky, including Mylinh. 

Calmer waters soon arrived as we approached the reef and corals beckoned. The first stop of the day was Opal reef, 55km off the coast of Port Douglas in 27 degree water. It was fantastic! A real life aquarium, full of parrot fish, black and yellow angelfish, corals of all types and colours. We spent an hour in the water, observing the underwater oasis, and getting used to snorkeling again after a few years. 

The second reef was my favorite. It was only 10 minutes away, but it was abundant with sea life. We even saw some orange and white clown fish swimming around their anemone and a green sea turtle majestically cruising below me. I got a video which I was quite proud of, showing Mylinh back on the boat.

The third and final reef adventure was deeper and had some larger corals and fish, including a big Humphead Wrasse circling ominously in the water a few meters away. By this time we had the hang of snorkeling, diving down to see interesting things like giant clams up close. 

By the time we finished at the last spot, we were exhausted. The winds had died down and the seas were calmer. A hot tea and some rest made the trip back more enjoyable, and we arrived at Port Douglas Marina around 6pm. A memorable day seeing one of the most captivating nature attractions in the world.

Day 3 - The Daintree

The day started with an 8:10am pick up from the Hotel. Our tour guide, Rob, arrived enthusiastic in his stereotypical gray khaki outfit. We second guessed our jandals and sandals choice, but nonetheless we took the Aussie attitude of ‘she’ll be right’. 

After picking up the other six people we set off to the first stop, Mossmon Gorge. During the drive we passed lots of sugarcane fields which used to be the big industry in these areas.

The Gorge itself was the perfect introduction to the rainforest. As we made our way along a raised boardwalk we spotted a forest dragon holding on to a branch, and many tropical tree species. At the end of the walk was a large flowing river with a small sandy bay where we took a few photos.

After some special Daintree coffee we boarded a river cruise, unknowingly at first sitting next to a small forest frog. After some reports over the radio, we spotted three crocodiles. One called Scarface was the largest and most notorious in the area. He was slowly making his way along the edge of the river, minding his own business. 

We continued downstream, eventually stopping on the side to disembark and head on the next part of the adventure - a bushwalk. It was amazing seeing the dense rainforest up close, everything fighting for the sunlight and resources. Hidden amongst the trees was another forest dragon, some spiders, a caterpillar and butterflies, but no snakes unfortunately. 

Some of the other highlights were a swim in a nearby creek, tasting local fruit ice cream, and the stories of the local Cassowary, a big prehistoric looking bird. By the close of the day we were all tired and drifted in and out of sleep during the 1 hour ride back. 

Day 4 - Karunda Adventures

Today was the “chill” day. No fixed plans, the freedom to do as we pleased. We started at Choo Choo café, which had become our favorite for the marina views and good food and coffee. 

We had heard of a town in the rainforest called Karunda the day before, and decided to make the trip to see it. This time, not by foot, but by the famous Skyrail. The Karunda Rainforest is 100 km South of the Daintree and just a 30 minute drive north west of Cairns. It is known for its arts and crafts markets, biodiversity and wildlife, and the Barron Falls.

The Skyrail was like nothing I had been on before. It took us high up into the rainforest canopy and the misty clouds, as we traveled higher. We looked down over the trees below, seeing all kinds of tropical plants and vines intertwining each other. It was a bit scary, but also quiet and peaceful. We stopped two times to go on short boardwalks and change gondolas, arriving in Karunda about 45 minutes later.

It is a small town, with one main road lined with gift stores and restaurants, kept alive by the flocks of tourists arriving by Skyrail and the Scenic Railway. We browsed the local markets and had a basic lunch, and bought matching Crocodile t-shirts. My favorite part of the township was the old train station. A retro building, still in operation, which was the perfect spot for photos.

After that we jumped back aboard the Skyrail for the 45 minute journey back. Once again, admiring the diverse forest surrounding us and the powerful Barron Falls in the distance. I will admit, it was nice to touch flat ground again, and after a 1 hour drive we were back at the Meridian Hotel for some rest. We had a basic dinner at the Courthouse Hotel, and then called it a night.

Day 5 - Hartley's & Cairns

Hartley's Crocodile Adventures seemed to pop up everywhere on billboards and pamphlets so we decided it was time to see what the fuss was about. It was a 30 minute drive from Port Douglas and by now I knew the main roads back to front.

Upon arrival at the ticket booth I realized how big the place was, not just crocodiles but all kinds of Australian animals and reptiles. We saw a snake show, went on a boat ride through a man made croc habitat watching them swim and compete for food, wandered around seeing kangaroos, other marsupials, and finally the Southern Cassowary. 

Overall it was quite educational and fun, but it was still a bit unusual seeing all these animals in captivity and not in the wild like we had seen in the days before.

Our next stop was Cairns to explore the city. We browsed the main shopping mall and bought a few things, before walking towards the coastal esplanade. Along the way we passed half empty streets, loads of backpacker accommodations, and a few stray locals. We both thought how good it was that we chose to stay in Port Douglas, a far more relaxing environment filled with happy holiday goers.

It wasn't all bad in Cairns though. There was a huge fruit market and the esplanade was vibrant, with lots of people enjoying the sun and communal pool. After a quick stroll, we drove back to Port Douglas where we had a nice dinner as a celebration for our last night on holiday. 

Day 6 - Final Day

The last day had arrived, and we timed it well with the local Sunday markets. It seemed like the weekly town spectacle, with dozens of stalls selling mostly art, jewelry, and food. We ended up finding some modern prints, purchasing a few of them to frame when we got home.

We dropped off our rental car back in Cairns and the shuttle took us to the airport. Flights from Cairns to Brisbane to Auckland awaited, and like all good trips, it was sad to be leaving. Port Douglas lived up to our expectations, with the Great Barrier Reef and The Daintree Rainforest leaving impressions that will last a long time.