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Up good and early for our "Cape Trib." trip. As first in the bus we took "prime" seats behind the driver. Someone else always seems to grab that seat so it was our turn. In practice one of you effectively gets a front seat drive the other sees the back of the driver [hard luck, Helen]. The second feature is a benefit/cost: you get to ask the driver lots of trivial questions that you'd never shout from the back of the bus but you do have to chit chat with the driver. Sometimes good, sometimes bad.

First stop was the Rainforest Habitat in Port Douglas. In essense this is a bit of an aviary and zoo. Under a huge net (like a really big net) they've a rainforest like climate stuffed full of exotic birds. The most exotic being the Cassowary which is a bit like a small emu but with a thick wodge of a plasticine fin on its beak (you'll have to look one up, it's not a pretty sight) quite rare in the wild (not enough rainforest!) but common enough in captivity. There are plenty of other exotic enough birds as well, able to fly a few tens of yards before the net rules out any further passage. There was some hint at [being a] sanctuary but I had the impression it was a simple aviary. Few clues abounded about any conservation work. Outside there were ducks including the really cute gaggle of water whistling ducks who hiss (for want of a better description) rather than quack, plenty of roos of various types, some larger birds and some crocs (no ducks in their enclosure!). They also manhandle some koalas which is somewhat unsound.

Next a croc hunting river trip on the [river] Daintree (the northern most limit of the cane plantations). Quite an informative trip regarding the flora if not the fauna from a crone looking American with half removed tattoos. I felt he returned to narcotic amusements each night from which he would awake with some new insignia on his side. He knew his stuff though even if the crocs were all hiding.

After lunch and a glimpse of Cape Trib. itself (rather than the region) before returning back to Mossman Gorge for a "rainforest walk." Hardly off the beaten track nor of any distance -- I'm sure we walked further from the bus to the beachhouse for lunch. A few splashed into the croc-free river before heading home. To be fair [in review of the trip] you see a rainforest and rainforest creatures but I felt a little shortchanged -- not enough focus on the rainforest proper via guided walks etc.. Never mind.

A bit of launderying before heading out for tea. We were going to dine at the Hilton on Steph's (recurring) advice but we were running late and weren't that keen on shellfish so we ended up in Red Ochre a very good restaurant itself quaffing a bottle of plonk in the process.

Back to the room to prepare for tomorrow's early start. For me this consisted of throwing everything off the bed and going to sleep.

Cairns YHA S21.14371 E149.17860 Elev. 26m