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Day 11
Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel beginning at 6:30am featuring hot and cold dishes. Morning: Fly from Sydney (Around 9:30 AM) to Cairns (11:35 AM), we'll depart the hotel via motorcoach for Cooya Beach, a traditional fishing hotspot located at the mouth of the Mossman River. Upon arrival around 10am, we’ll begin our discoveries as we follow a local guide on a tour. We’ll be introduced to the authentic fishing and gathering methods of the region, and even try our own hand at hunting for crabs, mussels, and sea snails on the beach using traditionally-crafted spears. Then, we’ll learn about the intricacies of fishing in this region and the long history of the area with the brothers while in their traditional beach palapa—a home-made dwelling made of dried palm leaves. Afterwards, we’ll set off by coach for our lunch location at about 11:45am. Lunch: At the Mossman Gorge Café around noon. Our selection will include an assortment of sandwiches. Afternoon: Around 12:45, we'll take a 5-minute drive to Mossman Gorge, gateway to the Daintree Rainforest, a region of sparkling waterfalls, lush waterfalls, and towering mountain peaks. The oldest rainforest in the world, Daintree has been home to the Kuku Yulanji people for more than 50,000 years. We'll meet with a local Kuku Yalanji to learn about their culture and legends before setting off on a nature walk led by our Trip Experience Leader to take in some of the region's scenic beauty. Then, at around 2:15pm, we'll leave Mossman Gorge for the 15-minute drive back to our hotel for a couple of hours of leisure time. At about 5pm, we’ll gather outside at the hotel’s colorful tropical gardens for today’s [controversial-topic]: surrounding the mass coral bleaching events that have occurred between 1980 and 2020. It’s hard to think of the crystalline waters off the Queensland coast without thinking of the bright-colored Great Barrier Reef. One of the most complex natural phenomena on Earth, the reef makes up about 10% of all the world’s coral ecosystems, comprised of nearly 3,000 individual corals. The radiant reef brings travelers from around the world to witness its beauty, making it integral to the Australian economy—the Marine Park brings in over $6 billion every year and employs around 64,000 Australians. But the danger of climate change and human impact has become increasingly apparent. Overfishing has resulted in a decrease in water quality; coastal development projects have introduced noise pollution; and extreme weather—like cyclones and flooding—has created lasting damage. These are just a few of the threats experienced by this once thriving ecosystem. After the presentation, we’ll have the chance to ask any questions we may have during a 40-minute Q&A session, such as the conflicting reports in the media about the health of the Great Barrier Reef and the difficulties convincing people of the reality of climate change. We'll wrap up our conversation by 6pm. Dinner: At the hotel around 6pm, featuring a classic Australian barbeque dinner or two-course set menu. Evening: You have the evening to yourself to continue exploring Port Douglas. |
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11/17/22 |
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Port Douglas
Meals
included: B L D