16 June 2017 - The Daintree and Cape Tribulation

What a miserable start to the day.  It was heavily overcast and raining, not heavily but enough to dent expectations.

Undaunted though we set off to the Daintree area and Cape Tribulation.  At the ferry crossing of the Daintree River, it was still raining.  Even the Cassowarys had gone to ground. However as the day went on it stopped raining and we experienced some dappled sunlight through the rain forest, and there was plenty of rainforest.  The Daintree area is described as the place "Where the rainforest meets the sea".  Never were truer words spoken.

After crossing the Daintree River by ferry, we travelled up the 40 km stretch of road to Cape Tribulation.  Just north of Cape Tribulation the bitumen runs out and you are on the Bloomfield Track. We chose not to do the Track.

We spent time at Cape Tribulation and then headed south again, calling in at various beaches and headlands.  One has to say there is much similarity between the beaches, with stretches of grey/white sandy beaches and headlands at each end.  There is no wave activity of any note, given the Great Barrier Reef is not far offshore, offering its ever present protection along the coast.

While rain forest was ubiquitous so were the tourists.  The place was "as busy as Bourke Street" at times. Just like us, they were enjoying the beauty and majesty of this place.  Sun all day would have made it even better.

The final stop was at Alexandra Lookout.  The vision from the lookout capped a great day.  We were particularly pleased about this because we called in there on our way up, but were met with a complete whiteout.

Following is a series of photographs taken during the day which we hope will provide a glimpse into this timeless and beautiful place. 

160617 Disembarking from the ferry after
crossing the Daintree River

160617 Where the bitumen runs out and the Bloomfield 
track begins - taken from the Bloomfield Track

160617 Looking north along South Noah Beach

160617 Looking south along South Noah Beach

160617 Looking out to Cape Tribulation Beach
through the rain forest

160617 From the lookout on Cape Tribulation looking north

160617 Rainforest down to the sea at Cape Tribulation

160617 Rainforest in the sand at Cape Tribulation

160617 The northern side of Cape Tribulation

160617 The bay north of Cape Tribulation

160617 The northern side of Cape Tribulation

160617 The rain forest in the sea at Cape Tribulation

160617 Video of Cape Tribulation Beach

160617 Thornton Beach - rainforest meeting the sea

160617 Looking NE along Thornton Beach

160617 Thornton Beach looking south

160617 Thornton Beach

160617 Lunch in the rainforest near Thornton Beach

160617 Rainforest with rainforest on mountain in the background

160617 Daintree Tea plantation

160617 Cow Bay looking north

160617 Cow Bay looking south

160617 Standard at all beaches, this one at Cow Bay

160617 Alau Wugirriga (means "look about") or Mt Alexandra Lookout



160617 Video taken from Mount Alexandria Lookout

160617 Approaching the Daintree Ferry on our return
from Cape Tribulation

160617 Daintree River from  the ferry looking upstream

160617 Daintree River from  the ferry looking downstream

160617 The sun was out but the clouds were
still on the mountains

160617 More clouds, more mountains, more sugar cane

Tomorrow we head off to Cairns, a mere 60km away. 

PS The rain did not clean the car and, as is our remit, the tide was out.