Mission Beach

We arrived at Sanctuary Cove eco-retreat at Mission Beach in mid-afternoon.  After we checked in and headed to our room, we were blocked by a cassowary (named Clive)standing on the path! They are quite imposing and unusual to look at.  We took another path and let him have his space. This place is neat - we are staying in a little screen hut on a platform in the rainforest.  We upgraded to one with an outdoor bathroom. - REALLY outdoors, like just out on a little deck beside us with only the rainforest on the other sides!   We walked down to the carpark and went into town to pick up a few groceries. The walks up and down are very steep - a good workout!   We had dinner at the restaurant and a game of scrabble on the deck overlooking the forest and the bay.  We had an early night in the wet tropical rainforest with creatures of all sorts lulling you to sleep.

A cassowary on the way in to the Eco retreat at Mission beach

The view from the deck

Clive blocking the path to our room.

The path down to the carpark and beach.

Our little hut!

A leaf insect - not in our hut!

Home, sweet home - there were weatherproof curtains to block wind or rain, neither of which we had.

Our bathroom.

Deck at the lodge/dining room

June 28 (Friday)
I watched the sun rise over Bingil Bay in front of our hut, then read out in the sunshine on the deck while Boyd slept late. The insects quieted and the birds started at 6:19. Interesting bird calls though, not the crows and corellas of home. I think I heard a cassowary (or some other very large bird) stomping around in the forest in front of us, but I couldn't see anything through the tangle of vines and undergrowth. We had breakfast on the deck of the main lodge, then read and lazed about there for the morning. Walked down to Brookes Beach in the afternoon and spent a bit of time there, then picked up our laundry from the car, showered, did laundry, ate lunch on the deck, had naps and read on our little deck.   We had another delicious dinner and 3 games of backgammon, which I won 2-1.
What an exhausting day! We booked another night here.

Brookes Beach at the foot of our hill.

 

June 29 (Saturday)
Watched the sunrise from the bed and lazed about. Had a massage (very good one, too) at 10, then Boyd and I headed down to the shops to pick up some picnic food and a knife.   We went to Mission Beach and had a picnic on the sand, then he dozed while I walked along the shore - it is a long beach of hard packed sand so the walking was easy and the water was warm on my feet.   Because the reef is close here, there are no big waves or strong currents. We went to Brooke's Beach for a while on the way home - until the beach was in late afternoon shade - then headed up the steep hill.   We took the path to the pool and saw another cassowary near the pool!   Then, when I was taking photos in the lodge, Stuart the cassowary stopped just outside for a drink. You'd think they were common at the rate we are seeing them!   Dinner and another set of backgammon - Boyd won tonight.

These signs are put up when cassowaries are seen in the area.

Mission Beach

June 30 (Sunday)

Heard bats and growling/snapping in the night - maybe possums arguing with each other.   After breakfast, we packed up and got a ride back down to the parking lot. We drove to Mission Beach and went for a run -48 minutes - down the beach and back. It was lovely! 

A rhino-like beetle we saw along the way (about 3 inches long!)