Daintree to Cooktown

The Daintree

We headed north to check out the Daintree, beautiful drive up to here and even better when you get over the river (on the barge). Stayed at Lync Haven in middle of Daintree - had a few kangaroos and wallabies fenced in which the kids enjoyed watching being fed. Did some nice walks in the Daintree, and checked out a few beaches. Imagine golden sands, turquoise waters and rain forests ending right on the beach. Have been getting a bit blase about beaches as we've seen a lot and they're all gorgeous but these were stunning.

We'd been told about some black rocks on a beach that bounced when you threw them (used to be a tourist pull, but people were taking the rocks so the tour operators don't go there or tell about them anymore). We found them and they were very cool, the black stones would just richochet from one rock to the next for up to 10 bounces - but we found you had to watch where you threw them as some were like a boomerang!

From there we headed up the Bloomfield Track which is one of two ways to Cooktown, mostly dirt with a few creek crossings. The boys (Rob included) loved the river crossing.

Horses remind us who's boss on the Bloomfield Track

30km from Cooktown, is a must stop destination 'The Lions Den'. It was only midday, but we couldn't buck tradition so stopped in for a coldie.

Definitely a male hand in the decor

Cooktown

We stayed at an awesome little camping spot Endeavour River Escape - a working cattle and clydesdale farm. Had a huge bush area to ourselves, with fires (firewood provided - too easy) every night.

Unfortunately for me, a lot of wildlife here and I seemed to meet all of it. Discovered a marsupial bush mouse in the food containers, a huge brown spider in the washing, a giant centipede under the tent canvas and a baby scorpion on the tent mesh! Dad spotted a frog and a cricket (I know what I'd rather see). Didn't see any crocs on the river but they were there, a big croc called Charlie resided three bends upriver. We put crab pots in the river and got heaps of crabs out but all too small.

Endeavour River (named by Captain Cook), looked very amazon like and a crocs mecca

Burn-off just out of Cooktown, the birds hang out on the road waiting for prey

Clydesdales at the campground. Ruben's patting 'Digger'

Finch Bay, Cooktown. We weren't planning on letting them swim but there's not many spots you can be sure there's no crocs, like a wading creek.

Cooktown Lighthouse

Tomorrow off to Lakefield National Park.