cow bay queensland | daintree indigenous tours | gurrbi tours | bloomfield track | daintree road map | daintree weather | daintree ferry | jungle surfing
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| A Short History of Cow Bay and Cape Tribulation.The area known as Cow Bay is named after the Sea Cows or Dugongs that graze on the sea grass meadows in the bay. It is truly a beautiful part of the Daintree, rich in rare flora & fauna, from the most colourful butterflies, to the endangered Cassowary, Australia’s second largest, but most powerful bird. Richard Daintree was very much interested in this unique anciant Rainforest and travelled the area documenting strange and new species. the Daintree national Park was of course named after him.
The road that you follow up from the Daintree River follows the original Indigenous peoples trail, set out many thousands of years ago, as the Kuku Yulangi moved in and out of the area according to weather and food supply conditions. The Rainforest holds an incredible number of important food and medicinal plants. The countless creeks, rivers and shoreline all hold important food sources from fish to yummy Mud Crabs! During the 19th century gold was discovered in the ranges behind us, Cow Bay became an important Port and food growing area as chinese market gardeners moved in to supply the growing mining population. Some of the lowland rainforest was cleared for these enterprises and has now regrown. During WW11 American troops opened up an airfield at Cow Bay to service aircraft going to and from New Guinea. As well as covering the Coral Sea. Australian and American troops used the rainforest around Cow Bay for Jungle warfare training. this was later also followed up by troops training for the Vietnam war during the 60s. Cow Bay has special significance for these veterans and as such, Anzac day on 25th April, sees a large presence, as past and current service men, and the public remember those who faught and died during conflicts around the world. Australia has a sad and sorry history when it comes to forest and wildlife! Early Australians had a saying "If it moves shoot it, if it doesn't cut it down" and the Wet Tropics was not spared. settlers have removed all but 5% of the original Rainforest to open up the land to grazing and cropping. Much of he rich farmland around Atherton was once lush rainforest! In the early 70s developers, in conjunction with the then leaders of the state of Queensland decided to open the rainforest for development. They moved in with Bulldozers, chainsaws and explosives. But fortunitely so did the "Greenies" with support from many people as well as the Federal Govt. the Daintree was saved from destruction, and was World heritage listed as an important and rare environment yet to give up all its secrets. Many of these "Greenies" still live and care for the area. Some grow tasty tropical fruits, a feature of our breakfasts. Others started newspapers and tourism businesses, another even became the Douglas Shire Councils best Mayor (In my opinion anyway!) Cow bay and Cape Tribulation now has its own unique brand of resident, from those who have gravitated here over the years to those that have achieved much over their life and want to wind down and embrace this unique environment. Some of these people have built futuristic, environmentally friendly homes up to $8.5 Million! There not the Mansions you would expect in fact they are immpossible to see as they are so well built into the Rainforest. The Daintree Coast is very hard to shake off, once you have tasted its hidden secrets, that only those lucky enough to find them can relate to. Are you one of those lucky enough to find the Rainforests secrets? |
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Indigenous Culture!
Do you know that we have an exciting package tour of Aboriginal Rock Art Sites
led by Nugal -Warra Elder "Willie Gordon" ?
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What will the weather be like!
Visiting the Daintree Coast is special, whatever the season, but if we could break up the year, we would start with-
"Gudjewg" January - March, the Monsoon Season. Our WET starts in middle February, when the Monsoon troughs low down over the state of Queensland start to recede North again. Tropical Far North Queensland in its most spectacular state! Flooding rains and Lightning Storms are quite the norm at this time of year! Those travelling up here need to have a few extra days, just in case!! The waterfalls are simply breathtaking. It is almost beyond belief that any area could be so green, and with the peak tourist season yet to start you can be forgiven for thinking you’re the only souls alive.
This is our favorite time of the year. It is also the time of plenty, the fishing is great with the warm water, low winds and with the runoff into the rivers, the fish really come on the bite. One of our Swiss scientific guests said to us at this time of year "Your Rainforest, It comes ALIVE" With a huge happy grin on his face! Many Scientists, Naturalists and Photographers travel here at this time.
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"Yegge" April - May, the forest is teeming with wildlife, there is something different to see every day, the rivers are clearing and everywhere is green and fresh. A visit to the Daintree Discovery Center or a Jungle Surf Ride can bring you face to face with some of the inhabitants. It is an excellent time to explore the "Bloomfield Track", the Falls are amazing. Flowers abound at this time of year, we are often drowned out by the sounds of Rainbow Lorrikeets by day and Bats by night, making the most of this time. Crocodiles are easier to spot as thay bask in the Sun to get warm as the temperature seldom passes 25'.
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"Wurrgeng" June - August, is the colder time. Night temperatures can get as low as 10C or (45F) the fruits are ripening and we regularly have a Southern Cassowary visit us to eat our rainforest fruits (and sleep in our carport area). They are extremely hungry as they are fattening up for egg laying (female) and Incubating (male) so it is a great time to see them gulping down huge quantities of fruit! Jindalba Boardwalk is a hot spot to see them (only 900 metres from the Retreat) Jindalba is also excellent for viewing Bennet's Tree Kangaroo and Spotted Quoll! Great colonies of fruit bats from the Daintree River fly in to reap the forest harvest. Crocodiles spend most of their day basking on the River banks such as Cooper Creek and the Daintree. Cruises often reward with great sightings of huge Crocs.
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"Gurrang" September - December, the days and nights are warming, the skies are clear and it is a great time to see the sights by foot, horse, bike, boat or 4.W.D. or helicopter, whether you bring your own or have us arrange one for you. The days are usually dry and warm (We average around 30' with the nights lower of around 21') It often rains at night as the "Dew Factor" takes effect which is why the Rainforest stays green. The rain usually stops at around 7.00AM which is just in time to go exploring. We seldom get the heavy flooding rains assosciated with the Monsoonal Trough as it drops down below Cairns quickly, taking the rain with it. Due to the fact that winds rotate clockwise around Lows in the southern hemisphere, the rain from the Pacific causes flooding in Southern and Inland Queensland and New South Wales. At this time we quite often have to water the new plants in the gardens, wishing we could get some rain! This is certainly the case on 03/01/2011 when everyone thought that the whole of Queensland "Was under Water"
Needless to say the Days and nights on the Reef are fantastic with hardly any winds, lots of Sun and the visability is wonderful!! If you can;t get us on the phone at this time of year it is because we can't answer the phone under water. Please leave a message, we eventually will get back on dry land, unless we grow gills! Then!!!!????
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Map of the Daintree Coast!
We also include this handy map on the Tropical North and one to where we are! Courtesy HEMA maps!
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| The Daintree River Ferry runs continuously from 6.00AM till Midnight Sharp! The busiest time is 11.00AM till 3.00PM. We would like to suggest, to avoid the queue that can sometimes build up to cross the Daintree River plan to arrive mid to late afternoon. Remember that as a guest we offer you a Return ferry pass so you need only buy the one up! Saving $11.00. There is plenty to see and do on the drive up from Cairns, explore the fantastic beaches and the Tropical Wilderness of Mossman Gorge. There is an excellent Indigenous Culture Centre as well as guided walks. Cow Bay, is perfectly located in the centre of this remarkable ccoastline being only 90 minutes from Cairns, and 25 minutes from Cape Tribulation. This ideal location enables you to explore the World Heritage listed Daintree National Park and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, with ease and flexibility as you are free to see the best sights or tours, be they here, North or South. The Daintree / Cape Tribulation Rainforest is a remarkable, ever changing place to visit, and I know that you will absolutely love visiting us. We hope to see you soon!!! |
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| Your Daintree Rainforest Retreat Hosts | 336 Cape Tribulation Road |
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Please take some time to visit the following links | |||
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