Port Douglas 2016

20 September

The day starting with Sue shouting for help! Malcolm had a fall and she could not get him up unaided. After a few attempts, we managed to get him in a position where Sue could use the hoist to get him back up.

After breakfast, Malcolm went off for a scheduled blood test and shortly afterwards Sue took us to the airport. The flights were pretty much on time even though the pilot had to circle Alice Springs three times because of cross winds. We only had to wait at the next gate for the second flight so that was easy. At first we could not see the driver for our connection to Port Douglas but we did eventually find him. The bus was not air-conditioned so the day ended with a one and a quarter hour drive in a hot bus. We arrived overtired and needless to say we had a bad nights sleep.

Our room at the Port Douglas Peninsula Boutique Hotel was in fact a suite with a bathroom, bedroom, lounge/kitchen and balcony. It was not until the next day that we could see there was just a road between our balcony and the beach and Pacific.

21 September

70 today!

We had a wander around town (shops very tourist orientated) then walked along the beach before going to the hotel pool.

We had a nice lunch in the hotel restaurant which although open proved to be pleasantly cool.

An easy afternoon followed catching up on emails and suchlike. Our balcony got a nice breeze. Also Philip, Sophie, Zara and Oliver phoned to wish me a happy birthday.

In the evening we were told the two best restaurants were Watergate and Nautilus. A waitress at a coffee shop told us Watergate would be a bit cooler so that is where we went and it proved a good choice. We started with Crocodile and then had Kangaroo loin. It was a nice celebration of my birthday.

22 September

The coach picked us up on time and took us to the harbour where we joined our boat to take us to the platform. Much larger than we had expected.

It was a dull day but the weather did improve as we got to the reef, which apparently is often the case. At the platform, we went straight to one of the submersibles as there was virtually no queue. The reef was not as colourful as I had expected and more recently I have learned that this is because of "bleaching". It is a problem in parts of the reef and unfortunately in the areas where tourism is permitted. I understand that whilst the corals may recover, this could take up to ten years. However, it was beautiful seeing how all the corals sort of wove together.

We then had lunch which took us nicely timewise to our helicopter trip. Gill was fortunate to get the seat beside the pilot and the weather really improved at this point. It was a totally different perspective and we were both so glad we had booked this, it made the day. After that there was still some time before the return trip so we went on the submersible again. The queue for that never seemed to be as long a I had expected. The area for snorkeling seemed very busy but an Australian family from Melbourne we sat with on the way out and back said it did not feel so crowded in the water. We also had a look around the underwater observatory on the platform.

23 September

Greg picked us up on time and in a comfortable mini-bus for our Daintree Walkabout Tour. After a few more pickups we drove out to the Mossman Gorge Centre for scones, cream and jam (for breakfast!).

Our group of nine was then driven out to the start of our walkabout with Roy, an Aboriginal guide who proved to be excellent. He took us around a pathway stopping at various points to tell us of the history and culture of his people. At school, as an Aborigine he was not supposed to mix with white pupils but they were attracted by the fruit he had for lunch and wanted some. He started taking some every day and it got more popular. He then asked for some of their lunch in return. It started a lifetime of mixing with white people and working together. He told us of white friends who had been ill because of contact with certain trees and plants that doctors had not been able to cure, what worked were Roy's native remedies. He also showed us how certain leaves could be rubbed together with water to produce a soap.

After that we were driven to Silky Oaks Lodge for lunch. This was a real treat as we had expected something along the lines of a cafe and a sandwich. Instead we had lunch at this lovely hotel (rooms start at £300 per night). We had Baramundi and it was excellent.

Then off for our river trip with the hope of seeing some crocodiles. I saw one and Gill saw a second baby croc but it was so well camouflaged that I did not see it. We also saw a green tree toad. Captain Mick was very good at spotting the wildlife.

Before returning us to the hotel, Greg took us to a lookout over Port Douglas and Four Mile Beach, then down to a small harbour area. At St Mary's by the Sea church there was a wedding, on our 44th anniversary.

During the tour, Greg told us the lowest temperature ever recorded at Cairns was 19 degrees Centigrade but Google tells us it dropped to 11 degrees in 1948! Impressive nonetheless.

In the evening we dined at Bucci sharing Calamari followed by a Lemon Tuna Risotto, having had a substantial meal midday.

24 September

Lazy day around the hotel, having had two very full days before.

We had lunch at Ziva. Gill had a massage on the way back and I returned to do my packing. After Gill had done hers, we walked along the beach and Gill had a paddle.

In the evening we ate at Zinc close to the hotel and had another very good meal.

Outside the hotel on our way back were two parent curlews with a chick. They jumped onto the pavement area but the chick could not manage it and was too young to fly. Eventually the parents got back onto the road and they went off, presumably in search of somewhere safe the chick could manage. It was quite amusing to watch.

Photos

From our hotel room
70 today!	The Great Barrier Reef
	Roy at Daintree Rain Forest
Golden Orb Spider	... poisonous, thank goodness for zoom lens!
Painting of Roy	Swimming pool at Silky Oaks Hotel
Salt water crocodile	Tree frog
Overlooking Port Douglas
The grounds of our hotel

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