Queensland: It's not just about snorkelling in the reef

I am in Orange right now, snuggled under a warm blanket after a gourmet meal of soufflé, fish and fruit parfait at a hatted restaurant and some tipple at nearby vineyards. I feel like a satiated Cheshire Cat grinning ear to ear with glee, eager to tell all about New South Wales' worst-kept secret! But before I spill the beans on the central tablelands, I feel obliged to write something about my last trip to Queensland. Sorry there is a lot of catching-up to do but we will come to Orange (I'll need another holiday for that perhaps). 

So Queensland - yes, I know I have already written about Brisbane but this one is different, I promise. Now, Australia is obviously known for its blue seas and white sands and reams have been spent with mentions of the Great Barrier Reef, which needless to say, is a must-do even if you can't swim. But if, like Prashant and me, you're not a beach bum and still want to get the best out of your trips this blog might come in handy. 

We usually do our annual pilgrimage to Queensland around June when Sydney is pretty cold but the far north is still warm. It's perfectly pleasant weather to enjoy hiking, walking, swimming, fishing and what have you. 

1. Driving on Australian roads is a treat. You'll meet the odd colourful parakeet flying alongside your car or a herd of kangaroos perched on the side of the road. You will also see perfectly manicured farm houses with mooing cattle and baa-ing sheep along the highways. At other times, you'll be driving along the ocean with drop-dead gorgeous views. Thankfully, there are many look-out points along scenic highways for a quick halt, a photograph and/or a leak before heading off again. We drove up to Mossman Gorge from Cairns city and then went all the way to Cape Tribulation. I am new to driving so did have some hiccups going uphill, at times on unsealed roads, but it was one of my most favourite experiences enhanced by some funny ice creams we stumbled upon along the way... If you are a sucker for sugar keep an eye for the Daintree Icecream Company  You will not be disappointed. 

 

 

2. Daintree rainforests: You could spend an entire day or a couple of hours here. I found Daintree very inviting and therapeutic, and then I read about forest bathing!

We did the Kuku Yalanji Dreamtime walk which is among the topmost things to do in Mossman Gorge and rightly so. The 90-minute guided tour takes you to some untrodden path into the dense forest while giving you a flavour of early aboriginal life and customs.  And, as this TripAdvisor review  by Prashant points out, the Kuku Yalanji walk was the highlight of our tropical Queensland tour. Highly recommended.

 

_{Forms of life on a dead wood}

 _{Basket ferns}

 

 

_{Daintree nature trails} 

 _{Trees so tall they touch the sky!}

 

_{Simply posing ;)}

3. Crocodile Dundee - Sadly, I haven't watched the movie but I've seen lots of Steve Irwin, popularly known as Crocodile Hunter. Crocodiles have always intrigued me - quiet, almost lifeless but so lethal. We jumped on a crocodile tour called "Solar Whisper" which, as the name suggests, is powered by the sun's energy so the boats are not only environment-friendly but less noisy too. If you're not a crocodile fan, I'd still suggest you do the tour because it's a lot more than just spotting crocodiles in the wild.

Fun fact: On average only one person a year is killed by a crocodile in Australia, compared with three deaths from bee stings. 

^{Crawly and creepy!}  

^{Solar whisper eco-tourism boat} 

 

^{Views while on the boat}

 

_{Mangroves on both sides of the Daintree river} 

 

^{Sun bathing croc} 

4. Mossman Gorge B&B: This was a great find, thanks to Prashant's colleague who suggested we book this quaint cottage for our 3-night stay. We weren't even planning on staying at Mossman Gorge in the first place but we did! You can spend an entire day, perhaps a week, at this B&B devouring the delicious cakes and croissants that the host, Mandy, dishes out each morning, watch chirpy little birds stop by for some feed and water, read a book or like another guest at the B&B - walk up to the nearest salon and pamper yourself! 

 

^{The veranda at Mossman Gorge B&B}

_{View from the verandah} 

^{Well-equipped kitchen}

 5. Port Douglas is a nice base for visits to both the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest reef system, and Daintree National Park. The town on the Coral Sea is popular for snorkelling and scuba diving. It also has some lovely restaurants - we were spoiled for choice as there was the traditional Aussie fish and chips, the ubiquitous pizza, the hot and spicy Indian curries and the exotic Mexican fare. But we settled for a Thai place as we always do (I should write a blog on all the Thai places we've ever been to in Australia). Sorry, I don't remember the name now but the food was delicious. We would have gone to them again had we stayed longer. Besides, you can enjoy a quiet stroll along the wharf, check out the fancy wares at the Sunday markets and go back in time with the heritage walking trail. There is never a dearth of 'things to do' at Port Douglas.