The Daintree...

We left Port Douglas feeling exhilirated. Our next destination was the Daintree. This is part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area and extends from the Daintree River north to Cape Tribualation. We stopped first in the small quiet town, Daintree Village. This was a logging town established around 1880 to transport Red Cedar trees down the Daintree River. They were logged for their strength, size, and versitality as a timber. The town now has has several small shops and a few cafes. Later in the day we took an awesome trip down the river and got to see amazing wildlife, including crocodiles.



The Daintree River forks at this point around Snapper Island.



Trees along side the riverbank form webb like roots and branches. This helps them adapt to floods during the wet season.



Saltwater Crocodiles are protected in this area and seen regularly. We got a chance to see one up close along the river banks sunning itself. These are very prehistoric looking creatures and very dangerous. There have been numerous documented reports in the Daintree River from crocodile attacks, many resulting in death, so we decided to pass on the afternoon swim in the river!



A snake neck swan resting on a tree branch.



A baby crocodile. It was about two feet long. Adult crocs can grow to be over 20 feet in length!