On our second day in Cairns we rented a car and drove up through the Daintree Rainforest…part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This was my first opportunity to exercise my driving skills on the wrong side of the road (aside from the moped in Thailand). Supposedly the drive up the coast was beautiful, but I was busy trying my hardest to stay left and not knock off the mirrors from oncoming traffic. No worries, no problems, just weird.

Beach lookout

Beach lookout

Beautiful beach on the drive to Daintree

We crossed the Daintree River on a ferry, and went to the Discovery Centre for a rainforest walk.

Croc warning at the Daintree river ferry crossing

Cassowary crossing

Cassowary sighting

Then we drove back to Mossman Gorge for a short hike (high-tailing it back to the trailhead just in time for the last bus to the parking lot).

Taking in the gorge

Interesting buttressed roots at Mossman Gorge

On our way out of Mossman Gorge, we happened upon a few bat-free mango trees. After seeing other tourists picking mangos, Nicole insisted we stop to do the same. Not pictured here, my mom enjoyed the hunt as well.

Check out those mangos

Although disappointed at our lack of fauna sightings, we still had a wonderful time. We stopped in Port Douglas for dinner on the way back.

Family dinner in Port Douglas after enjoying Daintree