This peninsula community of less than 5,000 people is over a three-hour plane ride going north from Sydney via Cairns. June and July are winter months. Like Florida, though, the winter months are mild in Queensland drawing people from down south.

Why visit Port Douglas?  As we think back to our only visit in 2005, there is a certain exotic appeal to the area.  Maybe the two visits by the Clinton’s starting in 1996 placed Port Douglas on the map.  They were here for a short time on 9/11/2001 when the Trade Towers were hit.  The Clinton’s left for America the following Day.

Maybe our visit was prompted to the knowledge that Port Douglas had the easiest access to the Great Barrier Reef?  In an hour with fast-moving boat—like Quicksilver Cruises—can whisk one out to the GBR.

We stopped to feed the largest Parrot Fish we have ever seen.

The reef can be quite extensive. In fact, it is the longest reef in the world being over 1400 miles in length.

Kathie took a picture of me holding a rented underwater camera that did not work very well.

I was able to see several giant clams, playful clownfish and a vibrant reef.

I wasn’t expecting to see a Black Fin Shark however.

It was off of Port Douglas in Batt’s Reef that famous animal lover and conservationist Steve Irwin was killed snorkeling when the barbs of a stingray pierced his chest. The event happened in September of 2006. Our visit was in July of 2005. 

We flew into Cairns, rented a car–remember they drive on the wrong side! I had to keep reminding myself to keep my outside shoulder on the line. We went north on Captain Cook Hwy.

We came across this old boat with the markings of PT 73.  The actual PT 73 was destroyed in California.  There are a lot of gullible Americans traveling these days!

We did stop at the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. This almost five-mile ride takes you over the world’s oldest tropical rainforest—even older than the Amazon.  One way on these gondola cabins will take over an hour to a good size village of Kuranda.

In our gondola, we had an Australian family that lived on a large farm.  The man of the house is allowed to have a gun to “shoot snakes.” 

I remember seeing Areca Palms growing on top of trees. The fight for sun and survival in the rainforest is fierce.

Many people opt to take the train back down to the coast. This experience is well worth the time and money.

Kuranda is an interesting community with many tourists type of restaurants and shops.  

One shop sold Australian Aboriginal “Didjeridu.” 

We did go into a butterfly garden when we were in Kuranda.

We came across this sign “Jumrum Creek.”  There is an actual creek close by called “Jumrum.”

We would think that any community along the coast would have high rises and a multitude of resorts.  There is actually only one major resort in Port Douglas—the Sheraton grand Mirage Resort—developed in the late 1980’s—and just a single story.

We did not have reservations going into Port Douglas.  Kathie found a boutique hotel close to the beach for $60 a night— “Number 2 On the Beach Apartment.”

Port Douglas beach is literally four miles long. 

As we were walking on the beach, we came across this informative sign.  At certain times of the year there are the dangerous Box Jelly fish. One sting from this rather small jelly fish could kill you. Even though there is publicized a net enclosure, we stayed clear from going into the ocean.

At certain times of the year there is always a chance with a crocodile encounter. These saltwater crocodiles can be over twenty feet in length—and they are vicious.  Another reason why didn’t go into the ocean!

Port Douglas has one main avenue with plenty of shops and restaurants. Every other shop always had a picture or statue of a crocodile.

We did visit a restaurant called “Nautilus.”  There are a number of tables in-between plants and shrubs.  It is supposed to be quite exclusive—the place where the Clinton’s ate.  I snapped this one picture.

We did have a nice lunch along the waterfront called The Tin Shed.  I had shrimp and Kathie had a Greek salad.  It is about 12,000 miles from Greece.  We have found out, though, that there is a sizeable Greek community living in Australia.

Close by The Tin Shed is Anzac Park.  There is a decommissioned sea-mine in the park. 

Like all places we visited in Australia and New Zealand, there is always a Veterans Memorial to those that have died in the Great War—World War One.  It was supposed to be a war “to end all wars.” 

On a sunny day, we did visit the famous “Daintree Rainforest.” Along the way we came across this unique sign.

The area is known for the population of southern cassowaries. These birds are regarded as the most dangerous bird in the world.  The claws can easily kill a dog or even a human.  A cassowary can grow over 130 pounds.  We were lucky not to have spotted one in the wild. 

There was always a chance to see a kangaroo. We never did.

In the park, we did take one trail.  I took a picture of Kathie standing by what I think is a Fig tree.

On a smaller tree, we came across a “Boyd’s Forest Dragon Lizard.” It seemed rather harmless perched on the tree.

Port Douglas was actually started by gold prospectors back in the 1880’s.  Today it sits between two World Heritage areas: the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef.  It is ranked #3 of the 100 Best Towns in Australia. It is indeed a place we will always remember.

Thank you for joining us in “Reminiscing Sundays.”