Day 13: Rain Forest

Our apartment proprietor, John, insisted that we rent a car on Sunday to go to the markets in Port Douglas.  He managed to get us a car from Saturday to Tuesday.  So, today we picked up the car and headed inland.

Our first stop was at the Skyrail, where we hopped on a gondola and glided above the local rainforest.  The mountain top was still engulfed in the morning mist and the coastline below disappeared as we ascended.  We disembarked at the first stop and had a guided tour of part of the rainforest.  We saw some awesome and beautiful foliage.


Our guide also told us about the various animals and insects that inhabit the forest.  Most of the local creatures are nocturnal, like the tree kangaroo, so we didn’t get to see any, except a few birds.

At our second stop we explored the rainforest and discovery centre on our own.  We saw the Barron Gorge which is currently a small trickle compared to the torrent that rushes over the rocks during the rainy season. 

The Skyrail terminated in the small village of Karunda.  We disembarked again to explore the village and have lunch.


After our unhurried exploration of the rainforest, we hastily headed to the next recommended destination of the Coffee Works; a coffee, tea, and chocolate tasting bar in Mareeba.  We arrived just as it was closing, but were able to get some yummy chocolate samples and refreshing iced libations.


We headed back along our route to Jaques coffee plantation in hopes of getting a tour of the ranch, but, once again, arrived as it was just closing.  The pilot, that gives aerial tours of the estate, was kind enough to allow the kids to sit in his micro-lights.


On our way home, we stopped to get some fun photographs of sugar cane crops and termite mounds and sugar cane.


We had great fun exploring the Australian countryside.

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