Imechapishwa: 19.02.2018
We have completed the first major stage of our journey. We have left behind the stunning East Coast to continue our journey along the West Coast of Australia.
Over 49 days, we traveled along the coast from Sydney to Cape Tribulation. During this time, we crossed two time zones, three climate zones, and covered nearly 5,900 km. That's equivalent to the straight-line distance from Munich to Acadia, USA or to Mugango, Tanzania.
Most travel guides would focus on the cities, beaches, wildlife, plants, and experiences. However, what they don't mention are the unique names of the creeks. Especially in the subtropical/tropical region, we crossed countless creeks during our journey. There were creeks named after animals (Pig Creek, Alligator Creek), creeks named after first names (John Creek, St James Creek), and also more unusual names like 'Ginger Beer Creek', 'Little Goodbye Creek', 'Battery Creek', 'Big Maria Creek' or 'Horseshoe Lagoon'. This is also the place where you won't find the incredibly creative mailboxes mentioned. Mailboxes in the shape of a cow, a robot, a minion, a tractor, or a Snoopy doghouse compete with the improvised mailboxes such as knight helmets, boat engines, refrigerators, or the most popular model: the microwave.
Now, we would also like to briefly describe what we experienced on the East Coast in the last few days.
After our mango wine tasting in Mareeba, we drove through Kuranda and Cairns towards Cape Tribulation. Here, tropical rainforest meets magnificent sandy beaches. We bathed in crystal-clear, cool streams surrounded by small fish and dragonflies. At Coconut Beach, we decided to crack open one of the many ripe coconuts. With a sparse kitchen knife and brute force, we finally managed to crack it open.
The drive took us along one of the most beautiful coastal roads in the world back to Port Douglas and Palm Cove. Here, we spent the last few days in tropical weather with a temperature of 34°C and over 80% humidity. At least there was no need to dry off after showering, as you would be just as wet if you did. Wearing clothes feels like putting them on immediately after handwashing. The wet look is a constant trend here. However, the stunning landscape makes up for the constant sweating.
We arrived safely in Perth (Western Australia) on Friday night and are currently enjoying the moderate temperature of 27°C in this beautiful city.
Cheers,
Vroni & Maria