Rain Forest Day Trip
Monday, 14 April 2003

Please click on thumbnail for a larger photo (File size in brackets)

There are actually very few pictures taken of this excursion. This excursion was very special in that it was very one-on-one - we being our guide Davids only clients today (he takes a maximum of 4 per excursion). We caught on early that what he was endeavoring to offer us was an experience, and he succeeded admirably. The cameras got in the way of that as what we had to learn to do was listen, observe, and wait, so we put those away.
The first part of the trip was on a rainforest property of his own where he had developed a relationship with the wildlife there. The animals and birds were gently coaxed to come right up to us (David was carrying a sack filled with treats such as ripe banana, sweet potato, peanuts, and grains).
The second part of the trip was showing us that there were actually several types of rainforest. He showed us the explosion of rain forest species and diversity as one climbed the mountains and crossed 500 meters above sealevel. And after a drive through the mountains he showed us a different rain forest - as it existed on the inland side of the mountain range. We also got to see the effects of the severe drought that much of Australia has experienced for the last several years.

(39 KB) A look down at the coastal lowlands between the mountain range on the left and the water on the right

(71 KB) Tour guide David bonding with a wallaby

(40 KB) The canopy overhead in the lower rainforest

(42 KB) lower rainforest

(70 KB) Windmill Creek in the upper rainforest. We stopped here for lunch (grilled barramundi, mmmm-mmmm-mmMMMM!)

(55 KB) On the other side of the mountains, Mitchell River, the second largest river in Australia. The water is down MANY meters compared to normal

(65 KB) Mitchell River riverbed

(64 KB) Mitchell River riverbed

(62 KB) Mitchell River riverbed. We had our afternoon "tea" here before heading back across the mountains

For more on this Australian Natural History Safari check out David's website at http://www.anhs.com.au


^ Top of page
« Previous page