The Cook Highway from Port Douglas to Cairns is Queensland’s Great Ocean Road with the Coral Sea never far from the edge of the road.

Only two official lookouts exits although there are some other places to pull in for the views. Native kapok and wonga vine add to the view.

Rock Art – a work in progress.

Cattana Wetlands north of Cairns are a set of lagoons and swamps administered by Cairns Regional Council. It is quiet but a number of comb crested jacanas forage across the tops of water lily leaves.

Our youngest wildlife spotter scores again with this turtle on a wet path.

The lookout on the road up to Kuranda overlooking Trinity Bay.

The Kuranda Butterfly House breeds butterflies from egg to larvae to chrysalis to adult. Adult butterflies are released into the large habitat (pictured above).

Three of the many types of butterfly larvae on display.

The habitat area has many flowering plants that are known butterfly food and breeding plants.

A Cairns birdwing butterfly sips nectar from a feeding station.

A myriad of colours and patterns on display.

The Barron Falls lookout is reached by a graded elevated walkway replacing steps.

Barron Falls with its reduced winter flow – still a spectacular sight.

The elevated walkway passed through the forest mid way between the forest floor and canopy.

Green tree ants are everywhere in North Queensland. Their nests in bundled leaves high in the tree tops can be huge. A late drive takes us back to Mareeba away from the crowded coastal strip.