An Ancient Landscape - Australia's Daintree National Park

Yes we are home and most of you are aware that I've been a little preoccupied,  but I hope you don't mind receiving the last few posts so I can make this 2011 Big Trip Blog complete!

I've heard a lot of people say its not worth driving all the way up to the Daintree and Cape Tribulation, but when you understand a little of what you are experiencing it really is something special.  Its also very beautiful and dramatic the way the steep mountain ranges are blanketed by dense rain forest that make their way down onto the white sandy beach at Cape Tribulation.

Snorkeling with turtles on the Great Barrier Reef - By Hannah Lindsay

Hi, Hannah here.  So far we've had an amazing trip. One of the things I've been looking forward to most is snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef. It was hard knowing it was going to be right at the end of our travels and having to wait nearly 5 months, but I've been kept  busy doing some pretty  cool things and other unexpected experiences.  Anyway finally the day arrived and it was sooo much fun and something I will never forget!

Cairns and Wonga Beach - Snorkeling, Horse riding, Port Douglas and much more

We were looking forward to hitting the East Coast again and checking into the much talked about Cairns Holiday Coconut  Resort. Unfortunately I ended up in the Cairns Hospital Emergency Ward instead!

Two different worlds in one day!

It was a bizarre feeling to leave the remote, flat, dry coastal town of Karumba in the QLD Gulf  to arrive in Malanda later that afternoon amongst rolling green hills and lush rainforests of the cairns hinterland. We really did feel like we'd been in two different worlds in the one day even though we were still in the same state of Queensland.

Karumba - Queensland Gulf Fishing Mecca

Karumba is a mecca for fishing enthusiasts.  It provides great esturary fishing for Barrumundi and saltwater for many varieties including Blue Salmon and Mackeral.  I think we were the only ones in the caravan park who didnt have a boat.  But thats ok, there are a few charters to pick from and on a recommendation from a fellow traveller we booked ourselves on Kerry D's Fishing Charter. Oh and the sunsets are amazing too!

Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park a tropical oasis in the QLD Gulf

Boodjamulla National Park (formally known as Lawn Hill) is definitely a surprising contrast to the vast expanses of flat dry plains that surrounds it.  Its bright emerald green waters and banks lined with lush pandanus and Livistonia Palms makes it a real oasis in the central gulf region of the QLD outback!

Savannah Way Part 2...1night Borroloola, 1night...Somewhere?

The next part of our Savannah Way Adventure was between Lorella Springs and Lawn Hill National Park.  Our lunch stop on the first day was at the "Heart Break Hotel" at Cape Crawford.

Savannah Way Part 1 - Butterfly Springs and Lorella Springs Station

The Savannah Way stretches across the whole north of Australia from Broome in the West to Cairns in the East. Most of it is bitumen  but as we seem to have some strange attraction to the rough stuff we hopped on the off road (1200km) section from Mataranka in the Northern Territory to Karumba in the Queensland Gulf.