#nqld

[vvanderful-world]

When stopping in at Etty Bay (near Innesfail) and Lynchaven in the Daintree we spotted Southern Cassowaries (Casuarius casuarius). The juveniles have a darker brown/green plumage, and when adult, will support a dagger-like middle claw up to 12cm long, giving them the most deadly kick of any animal alive today. They also slide in just after the Ostrich as the world’s second heaviest bird, the heaviest of which reach 85kg!

[vvanderful-world]

Taking a walk through the Mossman Gorge area of the Daintree National Park it was interesting to hear the stories of the Kuku Yalanji culture which portrayed a deep respect of nature and knowledge of the local cycles. The eco-tourism centre run by the Indigenous Land Corporation and Mossman Gorge Aboriginal Community was wonderful. One of the systems put into place to preserve the area was to reduce traffic heading into the gorge by organising a shuttle bus to transport tourists. Also great to see was that the boardwalks, picnic furniture and car park bollards were made using re-purposed plastic from industrial and domestic waste sources.  

[vvanderful-world]

Cruising around Port Douglas and the Atherton Tablelands, we became very settled with van life- loving picnics, wildlife and drive-in movie theatres! See if you can spot the cheeky cassowary :). Betsy also made a new pal, Urvan the pop-top.