Where the rainforest meets the ocean

Ahhhhh Port Douglas. Oh how we love you! It is our third visit and delivers the goods everytime! The food, the cocktails and coffee and the offer of golf and massages made this the perfect way to re-enter civilisation after our 10 day safari up north. To sweeten the deal our foursome was expanded to include our great travel companions Diane, Danny and the gorgeous Saskia before G-PAC departed for home.

2 mojitos and a martini with a view

Cocktail hour at Barbados Bar

Tropical dessert at 2Fish – best seafood in town

Godmother and goddaughter dining out

Just an hour north of Cairns the little village of PD offers a gateway to two world heritage listed areas with the Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation a leisurely 2 hour drive north and the Great Barrier Reef accessible from the marina. As we travelled north and crossed the Daintree River (where we spotted a salty croc!) we were alert for cassowary sightings (nil) and keen for an adventure, which we found in Cape Tribulation with the crew at Jungle Surfing Canopy Tours.

Rambo took this photo

Gaz views the rainforest from a new angle

Walking through the centuries old rainforest is incredible, but flying through the canopy on ziplines adds a completely different perspective, particularly when you are hanging upside down! This was great fun and an awesome way to experience the Cape Trib area, and the locally made Daintree Ice Cream and swimming in a natural fresh waterhole finished off our Daintree experience.

The Daintree National Park meets the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park at Cape Trib

From rainforest to the ocean we boarded the sleek Silver Sonic vessel at the Reef Marina for a day out on the reef. This option is not the cheapest day trip out of PD but offers a small crowd of approx 80 (compared to other vessels that take out over 200) and we got to stop at 4 different sites throughout the day. We have been fortunate enough to snorkel up here before, as well as other locations in Oz and around the globe, and the GBR is still our number 1. Visible from outer space and the largest living structure on the planet, it’s pretty hard to beat.

Reef sharks, turtles, barracuda, eels, a groper and too many other species to name – we had a spectacularly clear day with water temp in the high 20’s and unbelievable visibility. It was Gary’s first time to the reef and a special experience for us to share that with him. Every Australian deserves the chance to see this magical underwater world, and equally we all share the responsibility of preserving it.