LegendaryLife Blog

Rainforest stream flowing into Mossman Gorge.

The family I am renting a room with was nice enough to invite me out for a road trip up to Port Douglas, about 60 km North of Cairns. The main thing I noticed during the drive is how little the scenery actually changes driving Northwards… I would say from Brisbane to Cairns you would be hard pressed to notice any differences. You have cane fields, mountains and bits of ocean with a few towns in between.

Port Douglas: Now this is a Tourist Town!

I was told by a friend of mine the Cairns was touristy, I can’t say other then visiting downtown that I agree with this but Port Douglas… wow! There where whole sub-divisions allocated towards “Holiday Apartments” at a few hundred dollars a night, a marina full of “Reef Tours” of ever kind and more souvenir shops then you can count. Although not as tacky as those found in Niagara Falls, souvenir shops are by their nature tourist traps I didn’t take ANY pictures of Port Douglas, the beach was not bad but definitely not a place I would want to live in but a nice place to visit all the same for a few hours.

Mossman Gorge: Nice rapids and clean water

Mossman Gorge river… no crocs here!

I am more of a “back to nature” type person, and I enjoyed the brief time I visited Mossman Gorge over Port Douglas hands down. I have never in my life seen such clear water flowing from a stream… no silt, no dirt, no bugs… just pure water that if it wasn’t for the reflection of my flash camera, no way I would have ever known it was there! Walking to the lookout points, you could see a torrential river, we got caught in the rain (nothing new) and the scenery was breathtaking. Too bad the suspension bridge was under repair, that would have been interesting… I still got a year here anyhow, plenty of time to visit this place again!

Ellis Beach: Best beach so far

I have walked along beaches in Florida, California and a few places in between but by far, Ellis Beach wins hands down. Not only is the beach naturally clean and beautiful but there is NOBODY THERE! There is nothing in mind more relaxing then walking along the beach with only your thoughts as company. I thought I would have to head up to Cape Tribulation for a little isolation but until I experience that place which I hear is very beautiful, Ellis Beach is my favorite!

The Bottom Line

Nature has beauties that man has yet the ability to match.