Day 7 January 20, 2025 Daintree Rainforest

Day 7 January 20, 2025

Today we got a bit of a later start. That did not mean we slept later, just that we went down to breakfast later.

Today’s adventure included a trip to Daintree rainforest. Daintree is the world’s oldest rainforest. It is somewhere in the neighborhood of 180 million years of age. The forest was present before Pangea (https://www.britannica.com/place/Pangea )separated into the continents we know today.

The old rainforest is unlike most rainforests you probably think about. The Amazon rainforest is one of the youngest forests. The diversity in the Amazon (monkeys, birds, snakes, insects ) came to be in the forest because they existed before the forest grew and they just moved in. Here in the Daintree rainforest they are more diverse with plants than animals.

The soils here are really bad in most places. Consequently the trees struggle to grow and thrive. On the other hand the lichen, moss and vines thrive by growing everywhere on everything.

The indigenous people were only “given” citizenship in 1948 but only allowed to vote in 1962. In 1968 a teenager indigenous person came up with the idea of starting an indigenous owned and operated tourism business. The tour operators for today are all indigenous people.

The bus took us to the boat. Learned about the Salty AKA saltwater crocodiles. In the summer the crocodiles tend to remain in the water to control their body temperature. We did see one lying about under a fallen tree branch.

The Mossman Gorge is an area that old folks can walk into the rainforest on a raised walkway.

We went to eat in town at the Tin Shed. A not for profit club that serves food and drinks and has slot machines. Very nice people. I ordered the fisherman’s plater which had bugs on it. Now don’t get too creeped out. These bugs were supposed to be there.

Bugs are a type of crustacean seafood in Australia that are similar to lobsters. They are also known as Balmain bugs or Moreton Bay bugs.

Tomorrow we pay for today’s late start as we have to be in the lobby at 5:45 am. We have a chartered flight from Cairns to Ulura, which is located pretty much in the middle of Australia. It will be hot (106 degrees) and dry.

We have been promised a stunning sunset experience and stars. There will be stars at night deep in the heart of Australia.