In the morning I was treated to one of several nature tours offered by Thala Beach Lodge. My guide had a wealth of knowledge and explained all the flora as we made our way through the forest to the beach and onto the plantation. I really liked tasting the sour acid secreted by green weaver ants, and it was amazing to smell the crushed leaves of several different trees. But I'd recommend staying away from the aptly named fart-bush.
Just a short drive up the coast I arrived at Cooya Beach. It’s a great place to have an authentic Indigenous experience with the Walker Brothers at Kuku Yalanji Cultural Habitat Tours. Wading barefoot through mangroves set the stage for some crabbing and spear fishing. While I didn’t get any fish I did manage to spear the first crab I went after, and I finished the day with two!
As if spearing them wasn't enough, once I brought the catch back to the Walker brothers’ home, we were treated to freshly cooked crab. Simply boiled in saltwater, they taste as though marinated in butter — very good! Skip your local five star restaurant; these guys really know how to cook up some seafood. It was also very interesting to learn about aboriginal ways from people with a deep personal connection to the land and who really cherish their heritage.
Next, I headed to the Daintree Rainforest — which is over 135 million years old. It just blows my mind — there are still prehistoric plants and animals living here. If you want experience it and have a little adventure at the same time, Jungle Surfing Canopy Tours is for you. Their bus picked me up from my accommodation at the Ferntree Rainforest Lodge; they had me ready to go in no time. Soon I was zipping through the Daintree canopy on Jungle Surfing’s five flying fox lines. Each line stops at a large tree platform where you can chat with other adventurers and survey the ancient forest above, around, and below you.
I’ve seen quite a few rainforests, but I never really understood how thick the canopy gets until now. It really does block out so much of the sunlight that there’s little growing on the ground. Unfortunately the prehistoric cassowary eluded me, but flying past countless shades of green foliage made this a very memorable experience. The guides were entertaining and informative too. There’s nothing like experiencing nature’s wonder, pumped up on adrenaline, with a healthy dose of Aussie humour and hospitality on the side!
For the truly adventurous at heart, Mason’s Tours provides a unique Croc Spotting tour on the Daintree River at night. Don’t forget your torch — there aren’t any street lamps where we’re going. Of course crocodiles are the main event, but in case they’re feeling a bit shy, the rainforest provides many other unique creatures. Their night-time calls and sounds transform the rainforest atmosphere. My favourite little creature was the White Lipped Green Tree Frog. It was really cool getting up close and personal with so many fascinating creatures at night.
Day 4 - Helitours and scuba diving >
Jungle Surfing in the Daintree
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