The Daintree Rainforest covers a vast area and is said to have evolved for 180 million years, thus being close to 170 million years older than the great Amazon. It makes sense then that some pre-historic creatures dwell here.
In the time since, we lost a few abilities; the crocodiles can survive loosing a limb by slowing down their heart rate to 2 beats per minute, giving their super blood clotting capability just enough time to heal their wounds. They use the same slow pulse technique to stay under water for up to 2 hours if needed. How cool would it be, if we could like a crocodile replace our teeth up to 44 times during a life span. Mind you, with a life expectancy of 100-150 years and their fierce jaw snapping, they probably need it. Having 30 to40 top and 30 to 40 bottom teeth, they can go through 3000 to 4000 teeth from birth to death.
The rain forest vegetation got more wonderful and weird the further North we headed. Massive trees bend and twist through the dense canapé for some sunlight. Their roots extending like wavy valances for metres along the forest floor. This creates a wide base to withstand the force of cyclones. 
The root buttresses also hold nourishing plant and animal droppings within. For the cassowaries and smaller birds, there is a lot of bush “Tucker” to be found: native plums, apple-like fruit and nuts.
Fascinating are all the climbers, vines and hanging baskets. So called “Epiphytes" like the basket, the elk horn and the bird’s nest ferns, survive attached to trees by trapping their own water and nutrients. A little eery are some of the mangrove swamps.
Right next to the Daintree river we found a great caravan park (See above). The reception and facilities are patched together from bits of wood and corrugated iron with old farming equipment dangling from it’s ceiling. From here we were only short drives away from Mossman Gorge and the ferry to Cape Tribulation.
We have been gorging ourselves on gorges! Every gorge we have seen so far had a different character, and all had crystal clear water. I couldn’t help myself, and having forgotten my swimsuit, jumped straight into the rock pool wearing my shorts and t-shirt.
Cape Tribulation has the most beautiful beaches, but again, swimming is not suggested due to the odd crocs and stingers.
So we had to cool ourselves by stopping at both of the Daintree Rainforest tropical ice cream outlets. The first one is run by an octogenarian. We had the rainforest one, made of lemon myrtle, organic vanilla, coconut, kale, spirulina and ginger, yum!!!
On the way back, we got the 4 flavour cup at the other ice creamery, including wattle seed and black sapote ice cream. Equally delicious!
Along with the ice cream there is some rather unusual food available in the Daintree. We saw some carnivorous mammals of the human variety devour a super seized tasting plate of boar, crocodile, camel, kangaroo, emu and buffalo burgers.
But Austin wasn’t interested - he was only interested in the local “birds”. Here’s some shots we took around the Daintree river.
Sacred
kingfisher
Great
egret
Royal
Spoonbill
Nankeen
night heron
Lookout on Cape Tribulation