The Last Post

Well, here we are having a quick bite to eat in the Melbourne International departure lounge before we board our flight back to NZ! Today was a typical 'last day on holiday' day where we didn't rush out the door and wanted to savour every last bit of the warm tropical temperatures and our last few hours in Australia. Our flight from Cairns to Melbourne was uneventful with the kids enjoying some on-board entertainment, and we arrived 3 1/2 hours later in Melbourne, exiting the plane to a 10 degree blast of a cold southerly (to give us a taste of what's to come!). The last 46 days have been amazing and we have loved sharing it with you all. There are so many great memories and moments that we have had on tour and our blog, diaries and photos will keep these alive for years to come. As they say all good things must come to an end, and as our boarding call comes over the loud speaker I guess this is it. So, this is TREBS on tour signing off!!
Lots of love Tom, Rosa, Ed, Ben (aka Dad) & Sarah (aka Mum)

TREBS last day at Trinity

We woke to a patchy day for our last day on the TREBS tour. Making the most of a run of blue sky, the kids and Mum hit the beach for a walk to the lookout then a play in the waves, while Dad headed to the cable ski set-up for some wakeboarding. Late morning we treated ourselves to an icecream and checked out the playground. After lunch on the balcony, it was back to the beach and the pool to enjoy the sunshine, the kids in the water for almost 3 hours. We then had some quiet time before going for a drive to Kewarra and Clifton Beaches, with a mandatory stop at a playground, and picking up some fish and chips for a last dinner in the warmth on our Spirata balcony! We all had a(nother) game of Monopoly deal before bed. Oh yes, managed to fit in all the packing over the day.....

Snorkelling with Seastar

We checked-in at the Seastar boat in the Cairns marina at 7.30 am and after a quick safety talk were off across the coral sea to another of the outer reefs of the Great Barrier reef system, Michaelmas Cay and Hastings reef. There were 35 of us on board a catamaran and we made fairly good time across the rough seas to our first stop, Michaelmas Cay. It was a nasty trip for anyone who succumbed to sea sickness, which fortunately didn't include any of the Davidsons. This Cay is made up of millions of years of dead coral building up to make a small sand island in the middle of the sea. It is home to thousands of sea birds, many of them only calling in at nesting time, otherwise the rest of the year is spent at sea. The reef was a few metres off the sandy beach and we spent 2 hours here exploring. After seeing some great reef life we headed back to the boat for some lunch then motored off to Hastings Reef which was a bit closer to the open water. Here Dad did a scuba dive while Mum and the kids listened (with Rosa as guest presenter) to a talk on the local reef system. We spent another 2 hours in the water chasing white tip reef sharks, teasing Nemos and seeing hundreds of beautiful fish among the coral gardens. Ed, Rosa and Tom were great at snorkelling and we were pretty exhausted by the time we arrived back in Cairns after a full day in the water.

Cruising in Cairns

We caught the early bus into the middle of Cairns to Rusty's markets. There were heaps of fresh food stalls with a few rock and jewellery offerings which appealed to the kids. After buying some fruit and vege and a rock we picked up our rental car and headed to DFO to see if we could pick up a bargin or 3. It wasn't a patch on the Brisbane set-up but there were a few purchases and then it was back to Trinity Beach to catch some sun. The weather over the day changes quickly from hot sun to clouds and the odd rain shower and back to sun all within the hour. We had a relaxed afternoon at the beach then the pool followed by an early dinner and bed - ready for another day on the reef, a bit of treat!

Tjapukai experience

After another slow morning, and with the day very overcast, we decided to experience some aboriginal culture so hopped on the bus through to the Tjapukai Cultural Park. First up, we headed down to the Cultural Village to the Bush Foods show, where we learnt about plants traditionally used for foods and medicines.It was then down for some boomerang throwing. Everyone had 3 throws, and all the TREBS except Mum did really well at getting their boomerang to return. Dad was especially good and we were pleased we were inside a net cage when his boomerang returned right around and hit the cage! From there we watched a spear throwing demonstration before heading to the Magic Theatre so the kids could get their faces painted. Looking like little aborigines, and feeling pretty proud of their boomerang throwing abilities, we then went to a show in The Creation Theatre, depicting the spiritual and traditional beliefs of the Tjapukai people. This was followed by a dance performance, again very traditional and spiritual, but with some audience participation that had us singing an aboriginal song and had Tom and Rosa up on stage. The show also included a demonstration of lighting fire with two fire sticks. A didgeridoo demonstation was next, although we didn't get to try this out until we hit the Gift Shop and Dad and the kids gave it a whirl. Finally, we went to a show in the History Theatre, which was a film outlining the effects of modern man's impact on the 40,000 year old aboriginal culture. It was a pretty sobering reminder of how badly indigenous cultures were treated during colonisation. Having all really enjoyed the Tjapukai experience, it was then back on the bus to Trinity Beach, and a quiet night for all.

Relaxing at Trinity Beach

Today was a real catch-up day, with a very lazy morning in "Spirata", our Seashells apartment, followed by a session on the beach pre-lunch. The sun had disappeared by late morning and it was thick cloud, so after lunch we were about to head off to do something when, in the space of half an hour, the sky was almost completely blue. So it was back to the beach for the afternoon. The kids enjoyed the waves, and Tom spent nearly 2 hours digging a deep hole and then waiting for the tide to fill it. We topped off the afternoon with a dip in the pool, then enjoyed the view and sound of the sea from our balcony over drinks and dinner. The kids went a little crazy before bed!

Port Douglas to Trinity Beach

After a great week with J and Grumps exploring in and around Port Douglas it was time to say goodbye. J and Grumps headed to Magnetic Island via Undara and TREBS embarked on the final leg of their tour to Trinity Beach, Cairns. After a short 50 minutes drive down the coast we arrived at Trinity Beach, a golden sand beach lined with palm trees and nestled between rocky headlands to the north and south. We dropped our rental off and checked into On the Beach - the last stop in our Australian adventure. We lugged all of our gear up to the 3rd floor and found our apartment, it was very spacious with a balcony overlooking the beach and the ocean. The rest of the day was spent swimming in the pool and enjoying our new surroundings. We were all feeling pretty wiped out after our trip to the reef the day before so we were into bed early, ready to enjoy the beach tomorrow.

Great Barrier Reef

We had waited all week for the weather to settle and the forecast was for calm seas so we booked ourselves onto a Quicksilver trip out to the Great Barrier Reef. After about an hours boat ride we docked at a large pontoon at the Agincourt Ribbon reefs, on the edge of the continental shelf. The pontoon had snorkelling and diving stations as well as an underwater observatory and room for 1500 people. We were in a group of 200 so there was heaps of room. Grumps, J, mum and the kids went on a the submersible boat where they sat about 2 metres underwater and went for an explore around the reef. While they were doing this Dad headed for a scuba dive. There were small reef sharks and some big fish to see. Next was a quick lunch back on the pontoon then we all donned stinger suits (full body lycra suits to help prevent stings from the poisoness jellyfish that had been seen in the area) and collected our snorkelling gear. As we entered the water off the pontoon there were large schools of fish and then a short distance away the stunning corals and fish life of the reef. The snorkelling was fantastic and everyone really enjoyed it. We saw Nemo and all his mates and after a great explore of the area we were back on board the boat and heading back to Port Douglas. On the way back we spotted a humpback whale which was diving and lunging out of the sea less than 300 metres from the boat. Bonus! We all had a quick swim back at the Oaks and fell into bed fairly exhausted after our day in the ocean.

Kuranda Scenic Railway and SkyRail

Again we were off not long after 8.00, and this time down the road to Freshwater, just north of Cairns, where we hopped on the Kuranda Scenic Railway for the trip up to Kuranda. This amazing 37km railroad took over 5 years to build up through the Barron Gorge to Kuranda, and 26 years to complete in its entirety through the Tablelands to Herberton. It was a slow windy trip up with 14 carriages, at some stages such a bend you had great views of the brightly coloured engines and many of the front carriages. The train goes over 55 bridges, through 15 handcarved tunnels and around 98 curves, ascending 327 metres. It was amazing to think it was all done with dynamite, picks and shovels, tools the workers (up to 1500 at a time) had to provide themselves. The train stopped at Barron Falls Station for 10 minutes to give us some stunning views of Barron Falls, 329m above sea level and with a 265m drop.

Arriving at Kuranda, we wandered the markets for nearly two hours, with the kids picking up some wee souvenirs, then after a quick picnic lunch, we boarded the SkyRail to descend. The SkyRail has 114 gondolas which skim the rainforest for 7.5kms from Kuranda down to Caravonica. It took a year to construct, with all of the 33 towers being lifted in by helicopter to minimise damage to the rainforest. We managed to spot some turtles far below on a trunk as we went over the Barron River, and enjoyed the view of the rainforest from above. We stopped at the Barron Falls Station for some more views of the Falls. We also hopped off at Red Peak Station, the highest point on the SkyRail at 545m, to wander through the rainforest, before the last descent with great views of Cairns and surrounding areas.

After picking up the cars, it was back up the road to the pool, catching the last of the day's sun.

After dinner, we all headed into Port Douglas for a spot of cane toad racing at a local bar. It was very funny watching the 6 cane toads racing in two races, and even more so to get the chance to pick them up afterwards, which the kids, Dad and Grumps all enjoyed!

Cape Tribulation - north of the Daintree

We set off bright and early - 8.00 a.m. - to beat the crowds on the ferry crossing from south to north of the Daintree River. Drove straight on to the barge that is cable winched across the short distance and then it was off the other side to explore the Cape Tribulation area.

First stop was the Waluwurrigga Alexandra Range Lookout, which due to all the cloud, was a total white-out so we continued on to the Discovery Centre for a coffee in their canopy cafe. By now the rain was pretty heavy, so we saved the boardwalk for later, and drove slowly through the very scenic 35kms to Cape Tribulation, past the few tiny hamlets tucked in the rainforest, that provide accommodation and basic services. Cape Tribulation is the furtherest north you can go on a sealed road, without a 4WD. We were expecting a small settlement but there is nothing there, just a (would-be stunning on a nice day) beach where the "rainforest meets the reef", one of the few places in the world where the tropical rainforest comes right down to the beach. After a dash through the drizzle to the lookout, and a couple of snaps, we meandered our way back, stopping at the Daintree Icecream Company to test the day's flavours - yellow sapote, wattleseed, raspberry and passionfruit. Absolutely delicious, and it was fun to then wander around the exotic fruit orchard checking out the actual fruit trees, including the Davidson plum (which gives a very tangy flavour!). By now the rain had stopped, so we were able to picnic at the start to the Jindalba Boardwalk, which was a good after-lunch walk through some stunning thick rainforest, all the time attempting to spot a cassowary with no success! Managed to get some pretty good views of Port Douglas, the Low Isles etc at the lookout on our way back to the ferry.

Back across the Daintree and back to the Oaks for a laze around the pool. J and Mum then walked along Four Mile Beach to the town end which was a good stride through increasing drizzle, so by the time we got there were a little wet to do too much shopping!

J and Grumps offered to babysit so Mum and Dad headed out to The Beach Shack, a local restaurant with a sandy floor. A delicious meal of baby squid, swordfish and other seafood!

Market at Port Douglas - 4 July

The kids made the most of having the pool right under our balcony with an early morning swim, while J, Grumps and Mum went to have up a coffee in Port Douglas before we all hit the Cotters market in Anzac Square. This kept us all entertained for quite some time, with a few purchases being made. We all enjoyed the french buskers, and as usual the the kids, especially Tom were drawn to the stalls with "rocks and gems". They weren't quite so keen on the cane toad purses since we have all loved "Toad Rage", a story about Limpy the cane toad, while away. It was then back to our rooms for lunch, and despite Port Douglas not turning on the blue skies for another, it was still warm so we all lounged around or in the pool. Late afternoon, we left Grumps reading and snoozing, and headed for On the Inlet, a restaurant on the marina, where from the bar side viewing gallery we saw George, a monster size groper, getting his daily feed. An early night for the kids, and a relaxed one for us yarning on the balcony.

Crocodiles in Daintree

We made a picnic lunch then set off up the road to Daintree, about a 40 minute drive north of Port Douglas. We had our first croc tour from Daintree village on a tour boat, we werethe only ones on board and were lucky enough to get a close up look at Fat Albert, a 70 year old 700 kg monster. He was huge and had been known to eat a full grown beef bull (the local farmers lose about a dozen cattle a year when they come to drink from the river). Next stop was our second boat trip that started a few kms downstream. We saw 6 crocs ranging in size from a wee hatchling of about a foot long up to a 2.5 metre girl (hatchlings mum). Our observant guide spotted 3 green tree snakes hanging on the limbs of trees beside the river, a large sea eagle and some kingfishers. We heard stories of locals that had been taken by crocodiles (four last year including a boy who had been swimming in a lagoon 300 metres downstream from where we had spotted several of our crocs). From here we headed back to Mosssman Gorge which boasts some of the oldest rainforest in the world. We enjoyed a walk through some very lush tropical rain forest then headed back to our digs for a swim. Although weather not the best, still warm and too hot to sleep well at night. The kids enjoyed an overdose of shampoo in our balcony spa bath before bed!

Pearl you darl! - our tribute

Ed - the thing I loved about Pearl was sleeping upstairs

Rosa - I loved pearl because she took us every where.I really loved pearl .

Tom - I loved Pearl because she took us everywhere we wished. I also loved Pearl because we got to sleep up on the top bunk,Pearl was also very homely and nice to live in, good old Pearl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dad -Well darl, you were never going to win any beauty contests but looks can be deceiving! You handled the roads and overtaking manouvres like a Ferrari and took us on an amazing adventure. Being on the road was a very easy way to live and we loved it. Thanks Pearl for all the great memories - you wee ripper!!!

Mum - Pearl you were camping on wheels, it was so relaxing! Nothing beats waking up and deciding you would like to breakfast somewhere different. Stopping wherever you like, with your house on your back, Pearl, you made it all so easy. I could go on and on, but Pearl, you beaudie, we loved every moment!