Sunday, 9-29-13 Port Douglas Australia
We had a good flight up to Cairns. D & D are only here for 3 days, so we each rented our own cars. They quickly got their rental car so they headed out about a half hour before us to drive to Port Douglas. Now normally a drive on the wrong side the road on narrow windy roads to a place you have never been before is not a problem, but add in the fact it was pitch black and now you have a challenge. Add to that, the Ozzies do not have traffic lights, they have rotaries, about 20 of them to be exact that we had to navigate in the pitch dark going the wrong way around the rotary. We arrived at our apartment complex about 10:00 PM greeted by the owner. I thought he was kidding when he told us that D & D had not arrived yet – not good as they left a half hour before us and we had no way to communicate with them. Next he asked, “Did you get my email ?” Oh Oh then can not be good….. He then proceeded to tell us that the AC was broken in our apartment but that he could A. Try to make other arrangements but he was doubtful of finding us anything because it was, big surprise here, school vacation week or B. We could share D & D’s apartment. He added that even though D & D were only there for three nights, we could keep their apartment the 4th night, but would have to move back to assigned apartment the 5th night. Oh, he was doubtful the AC would be fixed because of course, it was school vacation week. We decided to check out D & D’s apartment which was a 3 bedroom, with one large master bedroom with an ensuite bath, then two other bedrooms that shared a bathroom. We decided to take the twin bed room with the bathroom down the hall as after all, it was D & D’s apartment and we are just that kind of thoughtful people we were. However if D & D never did how up, the master suite was so going to be ours ! Much to our chagrin, wrong word, I meant to say Delight of course – D & D arrived. Let it suffice to say one wrong turn en route Cairns to Port Douglas adds about one hour to your trip ! D & D gratefully let us crash in their apartment and all was well. Yesterday we decided to do a road trip to the Daintree rainforest. D & D did the driving, thank you – for some reason driving on the wrong side of the road on twisty narrow roads did not seem to be much easier in the day light because now we could see all f the oncoming traffic and cliffs we had the potential to drive off of ! We started in Daintree with a river cruise, then took a ferry across the river drove and explored the area and beaches – it really was beautiful scenery. Today we were up and walked to town for the Sunday market which was really fun, then we stopped and enjoyed the marina activity at a waterfront restaurant for coffee. This afternoon we took a speedy boat out to the Great Barrier reef for snorkeling. The snorkeling was fantastic, took lots of underwater pictures, and loved playing in the water for a couple of hours. The reef was a definite highlight for us of the trip. Of course there were kids on the trip – school vacation week. One of the girls told us that we must eat meat pies, and get Tim Tams – the local cookies. We ate dinner tonight at the Tin Shed and of course our meal was complete with chips. SN #8 – In Australia you can not take your leftovers with you unless the restaurant has a takeaway license. Tomorrow D & D fly out to Melbourne for a couple of days, then we will meet back up with them in Christchurch New Zealand. Jon and I are staying here for some fun in the sun and r and r.
We had a good flight up to Cairns. D & D are only here for 3 days, so we each rented our own cars. They quickly got their rental car so they headed out about a half hour before us to drive to Port Douglas. Now normally a drive on the wrong side the road on narrow windy roads to a place you have never been before is not a problem, but add in the fact it was pitch black and now you have a challenge. Add to that, the Ozzies do not have traffic lights, they have rotaries, about 20 of them to be exact that we had to navigate in the pitch dark going the wrong way around the rotary. We arrived at our apartment complex about 10:00 PM greeted by the owner. I thought he was kidding when he told us that D & D had not arrived yet – not good as they left a half hour before us and we had no way to communicate with them. Next he asked, “Did you get my email ?” Oh Oh then can not be good….. He then proceeded to tell us that the AC was broken in our apartment but that he could A. Try to make other arrangements but he was doubtful of finding us anything because it was, big surprise here, school vacation week or B. We could share D & D’s apartment. He added that even though D & D were only there for three nights, we could keep their apartment the 4th night, but would have to move back to assigned apartment the 5th night. Oh, he was doubtful the AC would be fixed because of course, it was school vacation week. We decided to check out D & D’s apartment which was a 3 bedroom, with one large master bedroom with an ensuite bath, then two other bedrooms that shared a bathroom. We decided to take the twin bed room with the bathroom down the hall as after all, it was D & D’s apartment and we are just that kind of thoughtful people we were. However if D & D never did how up, the master suite was so going to be ours ! Much to our chagrin, wrong word, I meant to say Delight of course – D & D arrived. Let it suffice to say one wrong turn en route Cairns to Port Douglas adds about one hour to your trip ! D & D gratefully let us crash in their apartment and all was well. Yesterday we decided to do a road trip to the Daintree rainforest. D & D did the driving, thank you – for some reason driving on the wrong side of the road on twisty narrow roads did not seem to be much easier in the day light because now we could see all f the oncoming traffic and cliffs we had the potential to drive off of ! We started in Daintree with a river cruise, then took a ferry across the river drove and explored the area and beaches – it really was beautiful scenery. Today we were up and walked to town for the Sunday market which was really fun, then we stopped and enjoyed the marina activity at a waterfront restaurant for coffee. This afternoon we took a speedy boat out to the Great Barrier reef for snorkeling. The snorkeling was fantastic, took lots of underwater pictures, and loved playing in the water for a couple of hours. The reef was a definite highlight for us of the trip. Of course there were kids on the trip – school vacation week. One of the girls told us that we must eat meat pies, and get Tim Tams – the local cookies. We ate dinner tonight at the Tin Shed and of course our meal was complete with chips. SN #8 – In Australia you can not take your leftovers with you unless the restaurant has a takeaway license. Tomorrow D & D fly out to Melbourne for a couple of days, then we will meet back up with them in Christchurch New Zealand. Jon and I are staying here for some fun in the sun and r and r.
En route to the Daintree rainforest
Arriving for our river tour in Daintree
Jon and I on the river cruise
On the river
A sign at the boarding area of the river boat…….
And as warned - there were crocodiles !
Driving on to the ferry to cross the river
Cassowary warning sign
We arrived at the beach and there were stinger warning signs everywhere - luckily we were there before the season started
Cow Beach
Guess Who ?
It is amazing how the rainforest comes right down to the water's edge
Yucking it up with D and D at a cafe
Dorothy and I styling in our PJ's !
Sunday market in Port Douglas
The inlet coming into Port Douglas
Port Douglas
Beautiful little church on the water's edge
Waiting for some brunch
Don't mind waiting when the view is beautiful on the water
View of Port Douglas - the whole area is an easy walk. The right side is the inlet and harbor/marina. The left side is where are hotel was, just a quick walk to an amazing beach !
We took a quick ride on the Ballyhooley steam train that only ran on Sundays
On the train !
Port Douglas Yacht Club
Port Douglas Yacht Club
Checking in our trip to the Great Barrier Reef on the high speed Reef Sprinter
Leaving the marina
A relaxing start
Then we hit the open water we were going so fast it forced the skin back on your face like you were getting a face lift ! Note Jon's position !!
Jon and Dorothy getting ready to get in
A little island and light house not far from our snorkeling spot
Jon's in and off !
We rented an inexpensive underwater camera so the underwater pics are not the best - but you get the general idea !
Practicing my mermaid moves….
Jon popping up
We had a blast - Jon, Susan, Dorothy and Dick
Wed. AM – 10-2-13 Cairns airport waiting for flight to Christchurch
We had a fabulous couple of days in Port Douglas and wish we had some more time there. Monday we drove about an hour to Kuranda. Kuranda is a small village located in the tablelands, and is surrounded by a World Heritage rainforest. We decided to take the scenic skyrail cable car ride up to the village, then take the train back down. The Skyrail was 7.5 Km long and was a really beautiful trip through the train forest. The village is an artsy kind of place and we did some shopping, then hit up the bar of one the hotels because Jon somehow sniffed out the Patriots game on TV. We then caught the train for our return trip. One thing about us, is if there is a train or a boat, we are on it. The railway was constructed in the late 1800’s, and had 15 hand dug tunnels and 37 bridges. The train ride was about 1 hour and 45 minutes. It was just perfect scenery everywhere. Yesterday we went to the Wild Life Habitat in Port Douglas. We were surprised at how much we enjoyed it. There were lots of kangaroos and Wallabys walking about that you could feed by hand which was a first. We also were able to get up close to a Koala bear who actually opened his eyes for a short bit, then right back to sleep. In the afternoon we went to the beach it was devine. It was a quick stroll from our apartment. The beach was a five mile beach with hardly anyone on it. It had a great surf and we spent a couple of hours just playing in the water. Afterward we walked the beach to town for some afternoon libations on the beach. We are back in an airport waiting for our flight to Christchurch. We meet up with our tour guide and D & D tomorrow AM to start our ten day tour with a private guide of the South Island. I have had only written communication wit the Guide named Rhys, and I am hopeful that all will go well………
On the sky cable car
Up in the town of Kuranda - this is the Hotel/bar that Jon found the Patriots game in !
Kuranda
Rode the sky cable car up, took the train back down
the Port Douglas Wildlife Habitat was a wonderful surprise - we spent the whole morning here
The 2 baby black necked storks
Babies with momma
Koala
One of the 100's of gorgeous birds
Cassowary
Black swan
Feeding the wallabies
Smile !
What a boy !
Downtown Port Douglas
Walking to the beach
The path to the beach from our hotel
Almost deserted - the swimming was wonderful !
A happy boy !
Late afternoon libation
Walk from town back to our hotel
Leaving Australia….
