The beach was initially intimidating to walk on due to all the crocodile warnings, but then you realize everyone is doing it and nobody seems too fearful. I even found a group of people sleeping on the beach and swimming in the ocean (which is also not a wise idea at this time of year due to box jellyfish stings). I imagine crocodile sitings are anything but an every day occurrence. Maybe not as rare as cassowaries (which are supposed to be up to two meters high) which were also supposed to be in the area with endless road crossing signs – but then I found a poster with a phone number to call to report any sitings as though they really are hardly ever seen.
The box jellyfish may not have come out just yet this season due to the late arrival of the wet season, but hardly anyone would dare swim with them around. There were emergency bottles of vinegar at just about every path leading to the beach to use on any stings anyone may accidentally get. Urine is supposed to make an acceptable alternative if vinegar can’t be readily found.
Things found on Cape Tribulation Beach
I managed to get my mountain bike out for a bit of an exploration of the area first thing in the morning. It was a pretty good ride up and down four wheel drive tracks, sealed roads, boardwalks (which were a bit too slippery to consider doing again) and a couple of long beaches. The sand on the beach was nicely compact enough to make for easy riding.
Afterwards I took my car up the Bloomington Road to find a fabled swimming hole upstream enough to be safe from crocodiles. Thought i might be the only one there but came across lots of cars parked all over the place. There was a river crossing there the appeared shallow enough tome to continue heading north to see what else was on the route. The road continues all the way to Cooktown, my next destination, but is supposed to be impassible at times. I am considering it for my trip up there but need to hear more from people who have done it. The other option is to return south via the ferry and drive around the other side of Daintree on sealed roads. Anyway, the swimming hole looked crowded and not too deep, so I opted for another one in the heart of Cape Tribulation that was very nice.
Afterwards i did the boardwalk circuit i had mountain biked that morning, except the way you were supposed to do it – on foot. Almost a mile in length it was pretty impressive.
