We finally had a sunny day in Australia so we dug deep into our bags to breakout the sunscreen. We eventually got out of bed and went for a walk on. 4 mile beach.
Welcome to Port Douglas. Enjoy your walk visitor to Port Douglas, if the stingers and the crocodiles don’t get you there are always slippery rocks.
Four Mile Beach. No crocs yet.
Four mile beach
Kari and Grace on Four mile Beach
Beautiful morning. Thank god we didn’t run into any stingers
Street Art— for Ashley
After we passed the street art we dropped into a little shop for smoothies, acia bowls and cold pressed juice. Then it was back to our room to soak in the pool, read and catch some rays.
Before we knew it it was time for our afternoon adventure. We had signed up for a rainforest hike and river drift through the rainforest on the Mossman River. A small clear river which starts at a natural spring in the mountains. Being spring fed and short means it is too cold for crocodiles. (We hope).
Our guide, Artemis picked us up outside our hotel. Yes our guide was named Artemis the same name as the Greek goddess of the hunt, wilderness, moon and archery so we felt pretty safe with her in the rainforest. We had about a 20 minute drive before we reached the drop off point.
This abandon sugar cane mill is for sale if you want to turn it into a historical B&B. Sugar cane has been a huge crop in this region, but the mill has closed and it sounds like for many this will be the last time sugar cane is planted in the fields near the Daintree Rainforest.
In the rainforest
The canopy is a little sparse secondary to a large cyclone last year. The Daintree rainforest is over 180 million years old and has existed since the time of the dinosaurs. It is home to many rare species of plants and birds like cassowaries. Some of the plants in the Daintree can be traced back to the supercontinent, Gondwana. One includes the Idiot Fruit Tree. Finally, the Daintree is one of the few place on earth where the rainforest comes right down to the ocean creating a very close relationship with the Great Barrier Reef.
This is a giant mahogany tree with its expansive root system.
There are a lot of theories on how the rainforest communicates with itself. Artemis was more than happy to share that information with us.
One way is the Mycorrhiza network, trees often use this underground fungal network to send chemical signals warning of pest or disease. It is also referred to as the Wood Wide Web.
When some trees are attacked by insects or pest they will release into the air volitile organic compounds which will signal nearby plants to activate their defenses.
When trees are being eaten by pest they can also increase the production of bitter tannins and alkaloids.
The forest is alive.
One plant Artemis did use to scar us into obedience was the Gympie-Gympie, the Stinging Tree. It is beautiful broad leafed plant with tiny hairs (like fiberglass strands) that inject a powerful neurotoxin that cause extreme pain that can last weeks or months.
It grows in clearings, Artemis believes it is the rainforest way of protecting new growth. I was too scared to even take a picture of it
The other tree we saw was a Black Bean Tree. It drops these huge black seed pods. The seeds are poisonous to humans if eaten raw. The aboriginal people discovered a leaching and roasting process to remove the toxic alkaloids so the pods could be eaten. Cassowaries can just eat them whenever and wherever they like.
Team Anseth carrying the river sled.
Portaging up stream
The rainforest and the river
No Gympie-Gympie is going to get these guys.
The rainforest and its vines
Grace and Katie getting ready to launch.
Grace drifting the Mossman River
Katie enjoying her float time.
Purifying ourselves in the cool waters of the Mossman River
One more because the rainforest communicated with me through the Mycorrhiza network and wanted to be in the blog.
Becoming one with the rainforest.
Am I a tree? Is the tree me?
At the end of the trip, the girls and Artemis!!!
A great guide can make the trip and Artemis was fantastic. She was fun to hangout with and passionate about the rainforest. That makes for a great afternoon of adventure.
After we got back, we walked to Sunset Park. Here is their ANZU statue dedicated to all the men from Australia and New Zealand who lost their lives during WW I.
We eventually made it to the Tin Shed, a local pub which is supposed to have cold beer and excellent local food options.
Sunset Beach
Tasmanian Salmon Sashimi
A view from the restaurant.
On our way home after a busy day.
Let’s get to bed early tonight because tomorrow is our day snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef!!!!!!
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