We were scheduled to be picked up at 12:50 and warned that we should have lunch first. In the event, the pick up was early, but happily we had had an early lunch, too.
The bus was a 26-seater, but the maximum on this tour is 10 couples. There was a solo traveller, so 19 of us all up. The pairs of seats were all numbered, apparently haphazardly, and there was a notice with the location of seat numbers. If we were in, say, seats 10 on one day this would tell us where seats 11 were, which we were to ride in the next day. This system makes sure that over time everyone rides on the left side and the right side, and towards the front or the back. No-one 'owns' a particular seat.
The driver and organiser were a couple. Grant did the driving, the on-road commentaries and attended to the luggage. Debbie organised room keys and catering. Often this involved pre-ordering meals so we had to select meals from two or three options hours or even days in advance. A feature of Outback Spirit tours is the inclusion of 'real', i.e. espresso, coffee at breakfast and alcoholic drinks with dinner. Debbie said she had a budget for these – and always went over it. Not that we saw anyone indulging to excess.
The first day was a simple drive to Port Douglas. We saw lots of sugar cane growing. There was a stop at the Port Douglas Sugar Wharf before we checked in to the Sheraton Resort. No budget accommodation on this tour! We climbed back onto the bus to be taken to Flagstaff Hill, where we admired and photographed the view.
Four Mile Beach from Flagstaff Hill
A bus tour would be impossible without a clear timetable. We had our bags packed by the appointed hour, and only had to leave them outside the room. Sheraton employees would transfer them to the bus and Grant would load them.
For our 'cabin' bags we used the nice little backpacks supplied to us by Outback Spirit, including a very practical water bottle. From Port Douglas we were going on a couple of bush walks so Eve popped her hiking pole in her backpack. Bill carried the backpacks from the room to breakfast and afterwards out to the bus. Along the way the pole disappeared! Since the bus carried extra poles it wasn't a disaster, but it remains a mystery.
The first walk was the Mossman Gorge in the Daintree National Park. Our indigenous guide, Levi, pointed out the uses of many of the plants along the way.
Just outside the Mossman Gorge Centre was this Giant Golden Orbweaver.
The most dangerous plant in Australia. Dendrocnide moroides, commonly known in Australia as the stinging tree, stinging bush, or gympie-gympie, is a plant in the nettle family Urticaceae. It is notorious for its extremely painful and long-lasting sting.
An unidentified lizard
Some of the trees have buttress roots that jut out like the fins on a spaceship. Levi demonstrated how effective these are for communication by thumping the root with a rock. An accomplice at the Gorge Centre was listening for this and sent a reply.
The next activity was sitting down in a boat on the Daintree River. The notable wildlife here was not spiders, but Saltwater Crocodiles.
A 4-metre crocodile. That's medium sized here.
Another boatload of tourists on the Daintree River
From the river we went to the Cooper Creek wilderness, home to old growth rainforest. Our guide not only identified many items of interest but explained that the total protection of the area was actually damaging. Invasive species, like pigs, may not be killed. Some of the plants are not propagating because they have evolved to rely on animals to spread their seeds or seedlings. This was likely done by now-extinct animals in the distant past, but more recently by the aboriginal human population. He risks major fines if he moves seeds or seedlings himself.
Spiny Leaf Insect (Extatosoma tiaratum), a species of stick insect.
The accommodation that night was in the Heritage Lodge & Spa. How appropriate.
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