Day 20 & 21 Rest and Granite Gorge and Davies Creek Rock art

Day 20 was a rest day after our Reef experience. I had a massage, the kids played in the caravan park without us hovering parents. Em also went to the mall, replaced her dying phone and purchased snorkel gear for the kids - video below shows a bit of the park we're staying in

Day 21 will take us to Granite Gorge (cover pic) which is in the Atherton Tablelands. We went via Davies Creek where we walked about 3 kms along a track to some rock art you'll see below. I'm writing this now from the cabin we stayed at Granite Gorge - its the morning and we are planning our Day 22 route through Atherton and onto Lake Eacham

 We also made a few stops along the way, first at a rad looking skate park (yes "Rad" is the word no kid uses these days), then onto a billabong that was teaming with life... and a random old army truck.

We drove about 6 km down a dirt track, then a walk to Bunda Dibandji Rock Art Site. Tom really doesn't like it when I film or photograph him. I'm trying to find the right balance between being in the moment and documenting what happens with my phone. But during this walk the combination of Dad taking pics and the stones that were getting into tom's shoes made him not want to continue. Also the steep gradient made it hard for Em - So Josh and I pushed on while Em and Tom headed back to the car. During the walk Josh found a tiny birds nest

The Rock art we saw was very faded, however, the sign told us it depicted a man who had come to this site to die after being accidentally burnt by two women. The site then became an important birthing site.

 Ems post from here on: We arrived at Granite Gorge about 2.30 and headed out for the swimming hole where the boys found their first ever rope swing! They were in heaven. On the road trip between the rock art and granite gorge we stopped to pick up some Halloween gear...

The amount of animals here is amazing, even Mike got into feeding the wallaby's on our walk. We have seen wallaby's everywhere, 3 peacocks, millions of birds, its just awesome. We are all just happy and relaxed. Could be the combination of space, being on top of a hill made of enormous boulders and being able to see to the horizon on all sides, the abundant super cute wildlife might also help. The boys woke up this morning and ran off to climb boulders with a new friend Frankie from the next cabin. The boys had a great time playing with Fankie who is nearly 4.

Day 19 Hastings Reef Snorkel Adventure

Day 18 was prep and domestic chores. Day 19 was were the action is, so here tis.


Up at 545, big breakfast and off we go. Today's adventure takes us to two locations. The first is a small sand island called Michaelmas Cay where we got to practice using the gear before a snorkel tour - Em and Josh spotted a turtle on this tour. Then onto Hastings reef where we saw some deeper water and more interesting coral reefs.

Heading out to the reef we received all kinds of safety and educational talks. Once the stinger suits came out the kids were both excited and cautious.

 Relaxing on the deck while Em and Josh went off on a glass bottom boat tour

 This image was taken by Tom with the Go Pro after being picked up by the red zodiac after getting tired and cold on the reef.

Kids really enjoyed hanging out on the bow of the boat, especially when on the way out as we crashed through the waves. It was super special to stand at the front of the boat and hold on tight as we raced for over an hour across the ocean back to Cairns. This was Josh and Tom's favorite part of the day.

I took tonnes of video's - it was the first time we'd really put the Go pro into action. We spent last night reviewing the images from a day that was voted new best day on the trip - the weather conditions, boat and reef were just perfect. I was impressed with the quality of the footage from the go pro camera. Alas, most vids exceeded the maximum upload limit for this blog, so they have been extensively culled and trimmed.

 Sven, our captain, was all too happy to let Tom hop into the main chair at the helm. No actual wheel in the wheelhouse, just a tiny joystick mounted on the chair you can see Tom adjusting in this video.

 This was first go at putting on the gear on the sands of Michaelmas Cay

 I will admit I returned to the boat after this snorkel session with genuine wonder - today was magic. Unfortunately the boys got too cold. Tom used the zodiac back at Michaelmas Kay and Josh used it at Hastings Reef. It was a fantastic that they both tried and loved it as it is a big intimidating reef.

 Here's a tour of the boat which took 36 passengers. Its a multi level catamaran power by two Scania marine diesel engines, each producing approx 500hp, according to Sven its quick... Swedish engines for a Swedish skipper. 

Emma is now off to buy snorkel kits for every one, a new passion.

Its the end of the day and we're all a bit weathered. Its off to Sushi train. I've never seen the boys put away sooo much food, by the end we had two massive towers of plates... later that night we still had to go for more food. Huge day, great adventure and no melt downs - very proud of the family

Day 16 & 17 Skyrail Over Daintree & New Camp

Day 16 - Ok so its Team Quartermain heading up from Cairns to Kuranda on the Skyrail gondola - I was already spent before it began. The cable takes you up over the dense Daintree forest. You find yourself looking down into thick green wondering just how anything is able to move amongst it  - and how the hell did they build this? I find out later, large Russian helicopters were used to transport and lower the support towers in, the project taking 4 years to clear red tape and 1 year to actually build. No roads were cut through the forest.




We had an entertaining ranger give the kids a biology lesson on the Daintree's major flora and fauna. I was very proud to see Tom pluck up the courage to ask the Ranger intelligent questions in front of the walking group.




We learnt about the tree kangaroo and how its adapted to life in trees. Also the Cassowary and how it has become endangered. The key reason for reduced numbers, is forest depletion caused by modern and ancient humans. Cassowary require a territory of 20 kms to themselves, adding more via breeding only increases competition for space instead of population.









In Kuranda we checked out the markets, ate ice cream and tried a Coconut... fair to say the taste of fresh coconut was not popular amongst the team.














After Kuranda we boarded the historic train as it weezed its way through the valleys and tunnels earning our respect as we listened to the 20 year history required to build it. This significant engineering challenge began in 1891 with around 30 men killed in construction accidents with another 100 or so more succumbing to snake, bug and spider bites

 

Day 17 and we moved camping location (below) into one of those Big 4 holiday parks - they are  basically, kid heaven. We've been to a few of these types of places before, but this one is real... Most places we've stayed so far have been largely organic, natural settings, but it was now time to let the kids run wild. These places with water slides, water parks and copious play areas gives us older buggers some down time while the kids entertain themselves. I'm somewhat envious of millennial childhood... especially when you compare it to the almost non existent childhood of my grandparents -  my grandma would say "children should be seen and not heard". The stuff we got to do as kids was pretty good... the stuff they have now is freakin awesome.

Something about these places puts me at ease. The experience on arrival is simple and effortless. Your surroundings have a similar feel to how golf resorts set out lawn and natural features, its all very deliberate, neat and considered.

After water activities we kicked back with a simple dinner and a movie. Kinda special to use the outdoor awning area as a lounge room - we really haven't done enough relaxing so far

Tomorrow is another chill day before Monday, when are headed out for a full day beginner snorkel experience on the reef - cant wait.

And for some Day 17 words from Em:
So it turned out that the boys have inherited my love for markets and all that they sell ;) We have been to night markets, opal markets, Kuranda hippy markets and today a farmer's market where Josh managed to buy the samurai sword that he had his eye on 2 or 3 years ago and was not allowed to get. Amazingly the same stall and same sword were still available (light weight wood, all safe).