Port Douglas 2013 - Mossman Gorge and Daintree Village

Mossman Gorge was Monday’s destination. We drove to the information centre where we got on the bus that took us to the gorge.

Since our last visit, a boardwalk has been built to reach the gorge making the area more accessible for most people. 

The walk then continues to the suspension bridge and once over the bridge walkers can take the circuit walk through the rainforest for more than 2 km. 

The path on the circuit walk can be a challenge at times but it is well worth the effort. The walk takes you through many different types of vegetation – trees, vines, ferns, fungi and variety of tree roots.

We could hear a variety of bird life in the trees and had a small lizard wander across the path but most of the rainforest wildlife was sensibly hiding, however near one of the pools a number of brush turkeys were fossicking through the dirt in the bush.

The highlight was the sighting of a large, blue, Ulysses butterfly capping off an enjoyable couple of hours walking through the rainforest.

A quiet afternoon followed including a swim in the pool. 

Another 11 km walk along the beach started Tuesday. The wind had died down so there were many more people walking, jogging and cycling along the beach. 

The yoga class had been and gone. The tide was lower than the previous walk so there was more sand visible. 

At the end of the beach we walked out on to the exposed sea bed with the furrows created by the waves and the perforations in the sand caused by the crabs.

There were no kite surfers this morning but towards the end of the walk two hang gliders passed overhead.

In the afternoon we drove north through Mossman, a town surrounded by sugar cane farms, to Daintree Village, a small group of buildings by the Daintree River. A small market is held in a tin shed and we purchased a stone pendant from one of the stalls. 

We ate a sandwich from the Big Barramundi Garden and then visited the Timber Gallery next door.

As well as having a variety of wooden items for sale the gallery had a collection of wood working tools on the walls as well as photos and posters about the history of timber getting in the region.

We then walked down to the river. 

 

The scenery is magnificent. Some years ago we took the cruise down the river to view the scenery and wildlife, including, of course, crocodiles. This time we just admired the view and returned back to the village. 

 There are only a few shops but we purchased a present for our grand-daughter before visiting Eliza’s Gallery where we found a turtle to add to our collection and a lily pad plate. Daintree Village is an interesting place to visit.

After a big breakfast on Wednesday morning we went for a walk around the town. Later we drove to the far end of the beach and as it was low tide we went for a walk across the sand banks and exposed sea bed. 

It was the first time I had paddled in the sea for a long time and enjoyed the experience.

We also revisited the Wednesday market later in the day.

Port Douglas 2013 - Beach and Sunday Market

It rained on Friday night but Saturday morning was fine so we went for a walk along the beach. The beach at Port Douglas is always different each time you visit. 

The tide was beginning to go out and much of the debris that had been on the beach a few days previously had disappeared. 

It was just after nine and the lifesavers were setting up the flags and checking the rescue equipment while the beach umbrellas and beach lounges plus tyres and water equipment were being put out for hire. 

It was a windy morning and one kite surfer could be seen in the distance. He was later joined by four others including one who was practising his jumps with only partial success. 

At the far end of the beach the sand bars were beginning to be visible and we walked out on to the one nearest the beach.

On the way back more people were now on the beach and we passed one group playing beach soccer and several elaborate sand castles. 

A number of dogs were chasing balls and sticks along the sand and in the water. 

Back at the swimming section there were many sun bathers as well as people swimming. It had been an enjoyable 11 km walk.

 The Sunday Market was extremely crowded with people searching for bargains and special gifts from the many colourful stalls selling clothes, jewellery, ornaments and food. 

Services such as tarot card reading, massages and iridology were available. 

There were also entertainers including a bush poet who we had also seen at Kuranda.

Exploring the streets after lunch we came upon an excellent saxophone player performing outside the Court House Hotel – great music.

Port Douglas 2013 - Wildlife Habitat

Wednesday was overcast and windy but still warm so we went for a 6 km walk along the beach. It was high tide so the amount of sand was greatly reduced. Much of the sand was covered with multi coloured leaves, pieces of coral, drift wood, palm fronds and coconuts.

Some had blown down during the night but many had also arrived via the waves.  

In the afternoon we went down to the marina to check out the Wednesday market with a variety of stalls – a smaller version of the Sunday market. We had a vanilla ice cream from the Vanilla Australia stall – very tasty.

At 5.25 we met Shannon from the Wildlife Habitat and with one other person went on a night tour of the sanctuary. It was brilliant. We saw a variety of birds including jabiru (James and Jabba and their offspring), a cassowary, herons, magpie geese to name a few.

We also met owls and a pair of tawny frogmouths.

 One of these, Audrey, sat on my arm for a time.  

We walked through enclosures feeding wallabies, meeting an emu, viewing eels and crocodiles and flying foxes. There were also frogs, the opportunity to meet a python and view koalas and a quoll. Wandering around the enclosures in a group of three with a guide viewing the animals as they went to sleep or woke up was a great experience.

Port Douglas 2013 - the beach

On Tuesday we walked along the path and road along the headland and then back through the park to the main street. 

Later in the afternoon we walked for a couple of kilometres along the far end of the beach. As it was low tide the size of the beach had expanded considerably with a large expanse of mudflats and sand bars now visible.

It was windy so some took the opportunity to fly kites and kite surf.

Port Douglas - Four Mile Beach



View over Four Mile Beach

Four visits to Port Douglas so far - the last two in 2009 and 2010 for two weeks each time. Why Port Douglas? It is the ideal place for a relaxing holiday. Great beach, warm, sunny days with low humidity in July and August, variety of accommodation available, wide range of restaurants, opportunities to explore the Great Barrier Reef, close to the Daintree rainforests, opportunities for daytrips to Mossman Gorge, Cape Tribulation, Kurranda and other locations on the Atherton Tablelands.
Four Mile Beach

Swimming area at top of beach

The major attraction of Port Douglas is Four Mile Beach, a long wide stretch of firm sand ideal for walking along, jogging and cycling but also for making sand castles, playing beach cricket, beach soccer or any other related sport as well as creating sand castles and moats or sand sculpture. The patrolled area for swimming is at the section of the beach near the town.

Small crabs create sand patterns

Walking along the sand first thing in the morning sand patterns in the sand can be discovered.

Sand banks at low tide

Low tide exposes the mud flats near the mangrove end of the beach. Among the small mounds of mud armies of small crabs can often be seen scurrying across the sand before disappearing into small holes. This is a good time to explore the pools between the sandbanks for shells and small sea creatures as well as viewing seabirds looking for food.

Holes belonging to larger crabs



Mangroves

At the far end of the beach mangroves are at the waters edge. A sign at the beginning of this section warns of the possibility of crocodiles in the area.

Crocodile warning sign on beach



A variety of tropical vegetation lines the beach.

Most mornings we walk along the beach for up to three hours and every time the beach is different. On one morning there was a yoga class with fit young women taking part. Further up the beach a young woman played a guitar. Beach cricket would be the most popular game on the wide expanses of sand but we have also seen families playing beach soccer, Aussie rules and ping-pong. Dogs can sometimes be found playing in the water at the far end of the beach or looking for a passer-by to play fetch. All sorts of sights can be observed walking along the beach in various modes of undress - some bodies definitely having spent too long in the sun. Twice a day the Munch van travels along the beach selling drinks, ice-cream and other refreshments. There are also areas where beach umbrellas and lounges can be hired along with beach cricket sets, boards and other equipment for the water. The beach has been a wonderful place to stroll or relax but on the last visit it was obvious that the ubiquitous mobile phone had begun its invasion of the area. One morning when I walked along the beach it rained for the first hour but, although constant, the rain was light and the weather and water was warm. A number of other people were also enjoying their walk in the rain. Once the rain stopped any damp clothes quickly dried - it was another beach experience.