North Queensland

Have now been humidifying and heating ourselves for two days in the tropics of northern Queensland. Base is Port Douglas and the famous 4-mile beach. Apart from the beach (a day or so is enough for this dedicated bushwacker), there is much to do and see here: from the high tablelands just across the mountains east of the Coral Sea coast to the World Heritage site of Daintree National Park a bit further north, and Cape Tribulation. Today we headed across the hills to the highlands -- destination the Mareeba wetlands (a renowned birding hotspot) and the coffee plantations that produce high elevation rainforest coffee. Both were splendidly rewarding.

Here are a few photos (no birds -- the pics still await processing; remember to click on the photos for larger versions). From top to bottom:

A couple of cuppas at Skybury's Australian coffee plantation (PM for Glen: a bag of beans of the type that went into these most delicious cups is coming your way!)

A patch of sugarcane from one of the many huge plantations in the tablelands

Willi leaning against one of the more spectacular termite mounds that dot the highland woods

Sunrise at the 4-Mile beach in Port Douglas

The 4-mile beach in pano

I promise birds in the next post