Crocs on the Daintree River

When you visit far north Queensland there are a few things you just can't miss - the reefs, the rainforest and crocodiles - that's if you especially like nature. We were based in Port Douglas on a recent holiday and I just had to tick crocodiles off my list.

Never smile at a crocodile?  
(Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

We had seen the flags advertising Bruce Belcher's Daintree River Cruises on our way to the Daintree and decided to check it out.

We found out that they ran 7 one hour tours daily. Each tour comes with complimentary tea or coffee that you can help yourself to before or after your tour. You can also pre-book a properly baked (in the oven, none of that microwaved stuff) sausage roll or pie which is done to perfection, before your tour so that it is ready for you upon your return. They also have a very well stocked fridge of cold drinks. The lunch tour comes with a pie or sausage roll and a cold drink.

Free coffee and a spot for lunch 

(Photo copyright Maria Ngo)

There is a very attractive eclectic and colourful dining/waiting area which is indoors. There is even an old disused railway carriage here which will no doubt prove a winner with the little children. There is a separate outdoor area where you can also hang out. And yes, there are toilet facilities here which did not miss the keen decorator's attention.

It is an altogether well run family enterprise with knowledgeable passionate guides who love what they do and care about the Daintree River ecosystem and the crocodiles that live there.

We saw a few tree snakes and several large crocodiles who seemed rather unperturbed by how close the boats got to them. We learnt a fair bit about the plant life along the river as well. Now I know why there are these yellow leaves that seem so out of place among the lush green trees and also why some sea hibiscuses are yellow and some are red.

Are mangrove trees all the same? 
(Photo copyright Maria Ngo)

The season, time of day and the tides, can affect what bird-life you might see on your tour. We didn't see that many birds on our trip but it didn't matter too much because we got to see the main attraction. All in all, the hour passed all too quickly and we only made occasional use of the binoculars that they provided.

Port Douglas to River Cruise 

Bruce Belcher's Daintree River Cruise is about a 40 minute drive from Port Douglas assuming all goes smoothly - it took us over an hour to get there on a different day though due to detours and other delays.

Red and Yellow 
(Photo copyright Maria Ngo)

So if you are visiting the area and want to tick crocs off your list and learn a bit about the river ecosystem at the same time and have beautifully heated up pie, this award winning enterprise would be my recommendation.

Toyah Towers, Balancing Rocks - not your usual tourist stop - near Cairns

We were travelling between Port Douglas and Cairns when we spotted stacks and stacks of rock piles on the beach near the road. 

Balancing rocks near Cairns (Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

Needless to say, we were intrigued. We had not read anything about this unusual spot in our research of the area. 

So on the last day of our stay in Port Douglas we made it a point to stop there. Parking was very very limited in the area as it was not an 'official' tourist stop nor lookout spot. It is only possible to stop here when you are travelling from Port Douglas to Cairns as there is only a very very narrow strip of 'parking' on the beach side that you can glide into. (Do not attempt to turn right into this space if you are travelling norhtwards towards Port Douglas - drive exactly 2 km down the road to Wangetti Beach where there is a parking area that you can turn around in.) 

Looks sturdy enough (Photo copyright Maria Ngo)  

As I stood there watching those who had arrived earlier, I noticed that there was such an air of mischievous delight as old and young tried their hand at this simple act of stacking up stones in this public space. It felt like a stolen pleasure. It drew out the creative spark in people as they scrounged around looking for appropriate sized stones and rocks to create their 'sculpture' - their piece of art. 

Concentrating and creating (Photo copyright Maria Ngo)  

It was as if we were saying with that simple act, "We were here". We had left our mark. Whether it lasted just a day or two, or weeks or months, it didn't matter. Our participation was contributing to the pleasure we were giving others as they too came to build their memorial. It was a kind of connection with nature and with those coming after us, and those before us. 

It was collaboration at its best. It was community art. Each piece contributing to making a larger whole. It was very satisfying. 

Communal effort (Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

Everyone respected the other's 'master pieces' - no matter how sturdy or flimsy they were, we took care not to bump into them or topple them over. 

The act of building the sculpture-memorial was, might I say, rather zen. It was a task that couldn't be hurried. It physically made me slow down as I looked around for my piece of rock that was the appropriate size for the task - first a stable base and then smaller ones on top. 

Each one a work of art 
(Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

I attempted a couple before we had to leave. I left rather reluctantly. This was the kind of thing I could easily have spent more time here - to create, to capture the moment digitally, and to connect. 

A true balancing act. Does it look like a sea-lion? 
(Photo copyright Maria Ngo)