Cairns - Mission Beach (QLD Trip)

Early in the morning of Friday April 7, I left the hostel to get to the pick-up point where the 11-day tour with Adventure Tours Australia (ATA) was supposed to start.

Our day began at Lake Eachamin in the Atherton Tablelands, a volcanic crater filled with cool clear water,

proceding afterwards to the Barron Falls (in Aboriginal language: Din Din Falls).

where we observed this nice phenomenon of spiderweb: the spider creates that cross in the middle of its web with the aim that birds can easily see it and thus don't accidentially fly into and destroy it.

Our guide Max seemed to be quite knowledgable and also showed us some green ants whose back part can be eaten. I didn't dare having a try, but it is supposed to have a citron-like taste...

On the way to the spectacular Millaa Millaa Falls

we stopped somewhere in the middle of the tropical forest at the impressive "curtain fig tree" which is created through a seed deposited and then growing along the side of a host tree, building aerial roots. Strangling the host tree it fell into a neighbouring tree. Vertical fig roots descend from the fig's trunk to form the curtain-like appearance.

Close to that unusual tree we made an interesting discovery. And to make that discovery easily visible for you I circled it in red:

Before visiting the 3,500 residents (varying in size from 30 cm to 5 m!) of the Johnston River Crocodile Farm we drove through Innisfail, main target of cyclone Larry which passed the whole region only few days before. Larry devasted the whole area, took off roofs of houses, turned and bent roadsigns and didn't leave hardly any tree straight. The cyclone was also the reason why bananas in Australia now cost nearly $3 each: Larry completely wiped out (see picture) most of Australia's banana crops which were cultivated in that area.

Well, after a phone call making us realise that Larry also twisted the roadsign indicating the way to the crocodile farm by 180°, we finally found the right way. Also the farm has been hit by the cyclone as a demolished entrance hall let conclude.

It was not only feeding but also stroking time (for the "Salties"):

And here some fresh water ones ("Freshies")

and a little one for me...

In the afternoon we approached our overnight accomodation "Scotty's Beachhouses" in Mission Beach. Still high temperatures and also extreme humidity allowed a nice bath (or water battle) under rain.

Last highlight of the day was for me to eat Kangaroo meat for dinner, speciality on the nearby restaurant's menu.

If I liked it? Well... it is actually really good, but the problem is that Kangaroo meat always has to be served as "medium" cooked. And I simply can't stand meat that isn't completely "well done"... But interesting experience :-)