2 - 5 April 1999

 
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Ellis Beach (107K)2 April 1999
There's no wonder the slogan of far north Queensland is, 'Where the rainforest meets the reef'.

This shot on yet another beautiful beach illistrates the point perfectly. And in case anyone is wondering, this is Ellis Beach, just a short drive north of Cairns.

Mossman Gorge (114K)2 April 1999
The large boulders and lush fauna that are typical of the Mossman Gorge area.

Here we're looking down the path of one of the smaller streams as if merges and flows down to the left there.

Mossman Gorge Bridge (165K)2 April 1999
It's all part of the adventure - following the bush circuit brings you to this rather interesting crossing.
Above Mossman Swimming Hole (91K)2 April 1999
Up stream of the water hole we swam in you see more of those huge boulders.
Mossman Swimming Hole (120K)2 April 1999
A typical forest swimming hole.

Was great fun here to dive into the current flowing from the left (see the churned up water?) and let it literally shoot you downstream.

Mossman Gorge Forest (159K)2 April 1999
More of the Mossman Gorge rainforest.

This shot was taken from what looked like a small river bed, that probably becomes a raging torrent at the height of the wet season.

Daintree Rainforest (181K)3 April 1999
Believe it or not, there is a small creek down there somewhere between all those ferns and trees. The Daintree Rainforest as seen at the visitor's centre site.
Daintree Forest Creek (177K)3 April 1999
One of the many creeks to be crossed when driving through the Daintree Rainforest.
Bushcamper River Crossing (112K)3 April 1999
A Britz Bushcamper, not too disimlar to the one I was travelling in (OK - so it's identical) crossing a creek here in the Daintree Rainforest.
Daintree Forest Creek (109K)3 April 1999
Yet another Daintree Rainforest creek, this one being criss-crossed with a fallen tree and vines.
Daintree Forest Creek (150K)3 April 1999
Another Daintree Rainforest creek. From what I remember this one was a lot deeper than it looks, and was where I took a refreshing dip. I know - not too bright but I managed to survive the leeches and other nasties in there, so don't worry!
Coconut Rob (93K)3 April 1999
Rob on a beach near Cape Tribulation (perhaps this is Thornton Beach?).

Proving this is truly paradise - munching on a freshly fallen coconut after having bashed it open on the rocks.

Cape Tribulation Mangroves (166K)3 April 1999
Mangroves on the Coast of Cape Tribulation. These were incredibly thick, but could be negotiated thanks to the boardwalk through them at this point. Many small crabs could be seen in down below, if you stand still at look hard for a second or two.
Bloomfield Crossing (64K)3 April 1999
Cool... for all of us that like to roar through water in our vehicals, check this out! The Bloomfield Crossing, far north Queensland.
Bloomfield Crossing Sign (116K)3 April 1999
A reminder to all those driving over the Bloomfield Crossing and those foolish enough to think about swimming in the raging torrent. Don't bother, because you'll end up miles downstream (perhaps having first travelled through a large reptile!).
Black Mountain (116K)3 April 1999
Black Mountain in far north Queensland. A bizzare pile of rocks that has been pushed up from the ground - and is apparantly still growing!
Black Mountain Gecko (120K)3 April 1999
More wildlife of the Australian outback - a small Gecko found running around near Black Moutain.
Green Tree Frog (50K)3 April 1999
A green tree frog found at the Cooktown camp site.
Green Tree Frog (48K)3 April 1999
A green tree frog found at the Cooktown camp site.
Cooktown Statue (92K)4 April 1999
So this is why they call it Cooktown - a statue of the famous captain stands close by the site that was apparantly used to repair his boat The Endeavour in 1770.
Bushcamper (86K)4 April 1999
The Britz Bushcamper that served us so well on this trip.
Bushcamper (85K)4 April 1999
A vehical can get mighty messy up here with all the dirt roads (or more like mud tracks) as can be seen here.
Development Road Lookout (103K)4 April 1999
On the inland development road from Cooktown to Cairns - this is the awsome view from Bob's lookout.
Development Road Lookout Panorama (126K)
4 April 1999
The amazing panorama as seen from Bob's lookout, on the inland development road between Cooktown and Cairns.
Rock Wallaby (140K)4 April 1999
A very tame Rock Wallaby at the rather dubious Granite Gorge.
Lake Tinaroo (83K)5 April 1999
Early morning at Lake Tinaroo - from Fong On Point.
Lake Tinaroo Pine Forest (174K)5 April 1999
The road to Fong On Point leads through this old growth pine forest here at Lake Tinaroo.
Cathedral Fig (165K)5 April 1999
Cathedral Fig - a huge strangler fig situated near Lake Tinaroo.
Curtain Fig (124K)5 April 1999
Curtain Fig has grown this way as the original host fell into an adjacent tree. The strangler roots continued to grow from the slanting host and stayed here long after it died and decomposed.
Millaa Millaa Falls (156K)5 April 1999
Millaa Millaa are the first falls on the circuit. It's a nice quiet spot and looks like the pool below could be a good swimming hole (unfortunatly time didn't permit trying it out).
Zillie Falls (69K)5 April 1999
Zillie Falls follow Millaa Millaa on the waterfall trail. Unfortunately there wasn't really a route down to the base of here so this is about as good a view as you can get.
Ellinjaa Falls (108K)5 April 1999
Park up above Ellinjaa Falls and take the 200m trail down to view them. Worth the minute effort wouldn't you agree?
Mungalli Falls Terrapin (100K)5 April 1999
Mungalli Falls is not on the waterfall circuit road, but is very close by. Although we didn't trek to the bottom of the falls for a shot this terrapin was spotted swimming in the pool above them.
Gillies Highway Lookout (89K)
5 April 1999
The view from Heale's (sp?) lookout, taken from the Gilles Highway on the way back to Cairns.
 
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