Cooktown Sunset

We were fortunate enough to stay in the only accommodation that over looks the water in Cooktown. This also meant that every evening we had the best seats in the house for the sunset. It really was spectacular.

Mossman Gorge

Recently I paid a visit to one of my favourite local spots with my family. Unfortunately, what was once a beautiful natural rainforest area which could be accessed by anyone at any time, has now been turned into a money generating, tourist encouraging, over crowded monstrosity.

Much to my disgust the so called "Discovery Centre", does not educate, advise or provide the average Joe with any information about what they are about to see and experience, but does however exhibit some art (which is for sale), hosts a gift shop (with more stuff for sale), has a cafe (ditto) and of course numerous points of "sale" for bus tickets to get you down to the Gorge (as you are no longer able to take yourself!).

It really was quite horrific, even the bus ride was just that. No running commentary about where we were going, no introduction to the ancient rainforest and all it's beautiful secrets. NO...just herded onto the bus, given a ride to the Gorge with a dozen other people who we then had to spend the next 2 kms trying to distance ourself from so that we could actually enjoy the Gorge in all its splendour and in peace.

 But unfortunately that wasn't to be. We even walked past a group of young people who were fiddling with their iPad, incredulous that there was no internet reception!!! What?? No internet? In the oldest rainforest in the world. GOOD LORD! Sigh.

 Even the Boyd's Forest Dragons were conspicuous in their absence.

I was angry for a while. Now I'm just incredibly sad.

That was the last time I will ever be visiting Mossman Gorge.

Frangipani

How beautiful are these flowers? And they smell as good as they look too! The Frangipani is a common sight in Queensland (although native to Central America, Mexico & Brazil) and no more so than in Cooktown. I have never seen so many beautiful a varied Frangipani trees in such a small area, it was quite stunning.

Red Dirt

One of the fantastic red dirt roads we drove on our way back from Cooktown via Battle Camp Road. A true symbol of "Outback" Australia the red dirt is that stunning colour because of the presence of iron oxides.

Annan River

On a recent trip to Cooktown; QLD. We took some time out for an evening fish on the banks of the Annan River. The river and it's surrounds were spectacular and even more beautiful in the light of the "Golden Hour".

Eclipse

Today I was lucky enough to experience my first total eclipse. Unfortunately, there was a lot of cloud cover this morning and we missed viewing the totality, but we did experience the sudden plunge into darkness, the drop in temperature and the eerie silence that followed. It was quite something. Then the clouds suddenly cleared and we had this wonderful view. I felt very privileged to be able to get these shots.