Port Douglas Market Day

Today we slept in and wandered off to the markets across the road at the waterfront.

I found a faery friend.

It is just so peaceful here.

Kevin went for a paddle at Four Mile Beach.

Of course there was a lookout so we walked to the top, you can tell from the height of the photo that we did some climbing to get up to the top.

Kuranda

Today we drove to Kuranda to have a look through the shops and markets there.

We first went to Barron Falls.

Then the Kuranda shops and markets.

The Kuranda Railway Station is always so beautiful.

On the way home we stopped at the lookout back over Cairns.

Daintree National Park

We went for a walk around our unit in Port Douglas to start the day. As we walk out of our unit into an Arcade we can go to Macrossan Street the main street in Port Douglas or to the waterfront.

We then drove to the Daintree National Part and Cape Tribulation. It is the only place on earth where two world heritage area meet the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree rainforest. The Daintree Rainforest is the oldest continually surviving tropical rainforest on earth.

Alexander Range Lookout.

Cape Tribulation it was here that Captain James Cook thought the name of Cape Tribulation was apt because his troubles began when the Endeavour struck a reef about 40km north east of the cape..

Kulki Lookout.

Marrja  Botanical Walk.

Thornton Beach.

We were so lucky to see not only a Cassawary but her two chicks - amazing when you realise that they are endangered of becoming extinct.

We then ended the day at Jindalba for a 2.7km rainforest walk which was quiet steep however very lush and beautiful.

Cairns

Today we drove to Cairns to get the car serviced. The poor car is three months old and it was due for it's 15,000km service even though we have already put more than 19,00km on it, it is covered in red dust inside and out everywhere from the outback leg of our holiday. 

Leaving Port Douglas we drove past the marina.

On the way we stopped at the lookout.

Whilst we waited for the car we went shopping in Cairns city, firstly at the Pier on the foreshore then in the city.

Port Douglas

Today we drove to Port Douglas. After crossing the Great Dividing Range we were back into country that was familiar to us, mountains with valleys full of trees and greenery.

Sugarcane growing right up to the edge of the road.

We stopped at Cardwell for lunch on the waters edge. A very pretty little village.

There were fires burning on the Pyramid Mountain probably in preparation for the Pyramid Race on the 11th August. We have climbed this mountain many years ago Kevin of course making it to the top and I and another friend made it the the half way mark and waited for Kevin. Approximately 1,000 metres high.

We passed Cairns and started on the beautiful ocean road drive to Port Douglas sweeping around all the bends and watching the ocean to our right. 

We then arrived at Port Douglas and found our lovely little unit for the week, it is actually within the Manta Complex but it was not advertised as being a part of the Mantra so we suspect it is privately owned. The glass wall folds away so you have open air living with the pool just a couple of metres away. 

We just love the unit it is tucked away at the back of the complex however we have out own private entrance to our unit which opens onto the main street with all the shopping and restaurants we could ever want. There is another entrance to the complex opening onto the waterfront, you just take your pick where you would like to go. I think we will have to return one day it is so lovely.