The  morning view over the Port Douglas Beach from Flagstaff Hill.

Mossman Gorge is incredibly beautiful – it is also incredibly popular – a shuttle bus service run by the Kuku Yulanji people from the Visitor Centre takes visitors to the start of the walking track which begins with an elevated boardwalk.

The track emerges on the Mossman River gorge with its deep pools and round granitic boulders.

Several lookouts provide views into the gorge.

A circuit tracks leads you away from the gorge into the tropical rainforests.

A king parrot stays well clear of the track – only a few eyes see him out of the hundreds on the walk.

A suspension bridge crosses Rex Creek.

Large granite boulders are features of the track.

An orange footed scrub fowl rakes leaves onto its gigantic mound.

Some plants are so delicate – contrasted with the rampant spiky Calamus vine.

The shapes and colours of leaves are as varied as they are beautiful.

Near the toilets in a giant golden orb spider the size of a man’s hand.

Onto a farm tour in the Whyanbeel Valley just north of Mossman. This Sweet Farms tour is on a working sugar cane and cocoa farm.

The whole “paddock to plate” process for both sugar and chocolate is explained and shown.

The farmers happily showed off their machinery and allowed visitors to inspect these first hand. The same family has operated the farm since 1924 and include environmental practices leading to quality accreditation.

A cocoa pod grown at this farm – they are the biggest supplier of cocoa beans to the local Daintree Estates Chocolate.

The flowers of the cocoa tree and small cocoa pods developing – the flower and fruit on the trunk and thicker branches.

A pod on the tree and a mature pod cut open to reveal the white pulp that surrounds the cocoa beans. These are removed from the pulp, dried and roasted.

Locally produced chocolates – recommended!

After surviving (so far) the crocodiles and cassowaries, we were faced with a new threat while visiting Newells Beach near Port Douglas. If you believe all news reports, 150 people per annum die worldwide from falling coconuts making them a silent menace.

A junk north of Port Douglas just after sunset.

The local tern gang claim the channel marker as their own.

A muted sunset with rain clouds forming on the highest parts of the range behind Mossman.