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 - Mareeba and Kuranda

On Thursday morning Robin joined a group to go snorkelling in a river north of Mossman. 

Back in Port Douglas I went shopping and then went for a short walk taking some more photos. 

After lunch at a delicatessen we went for a walk to the lookout. 

After walking up some steep inclines we arrived to discover that the view is now partly obscured by a building project. Is this progress?

Friday was the opportunity to explore part of the Atherton Tablelands as we set out for Kuranda via Mareeba. 

We stopped off at the Mareeba Wetlands, a slow seven kilometer drive along a gravel road. We arrived in time to go on a boat trip on the lake to view some of the bird life. 

There were many swans on the lake and when the boat approached them they took to the air. 

Other water birds visiting the wetlands included this snake head darter, water hens, ibis and cormorants. Jabiru and pelicans can also sometimes be seen but not the day we visited. 

Part of the lake was covered with water lilies that had recently been in flower. Many of the leaves had droplets of water pooling on them. Some still had small white flowers.

In the information centre small birds could be viewed in the aviary.

The area round the lake was similar to much of the land we had driven through on the tablelands with termite mounds distributed among trees and scrub. 

In Mareeba we visited Coffee Works and tasted some of their chocolate before having a quick lunch. 

We had first encountered Coffee Works at their stall at the Sunday Market.

Continuing on to Kuranda, we arrived about 2.30. 

There are a number of markets in the town largely catering for visitors who have travelled aboard the Sky Rail or the train or tourist bus from Cairns. Many of the stalls were closing as we arrived but we were still able to explore a number of the shops and galleries.

This is very much a tourist town providing a chance for locals to sell their wares. One of the markets has a hippie atmosphere with small stalls groups together selling a variety of goods and services. 

We then returned to Port Douglas via the coastal road.

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 2013 - Mossman Show

On Monday we spent a couple of hours at the Mossman Show.

There were lots of rides for different age groups and daring,

carnival games

and show bags were available.

 It was all very colourful and reminded me of the carnivals that used to appear in parts of Australia each summer in the 1950s.

There were three pavilions – one holding caged poultry and birds, plus guinea pigs one day, one with exhibits from community groups and local artists and the third showing projects undertaken by children from surrounding schools plus exhibits of items submitted for judging.

Exhibition items included vegetables and fruit, flowers, cakes and photographs, some of which had won awards.

Other community groups, particularly essential services, had tables outside.  It was very much a community festival that ran for two days.

On the oval a group of riders were putting horses through their paces.

Other activities listed on the sheet of paper we received on entry included a motor bike demonstration, a demonstration of blacksmithing and fireworks. Cattle were also judged at the show.

Back at Port Douglas, after a swim we walked to the park to watch some of the vessels return from the reef and also a group of kayaks, two sponsored by the Court House Hotel, training.