April 2017 events

Our month in photos

April was a busy month for us, starting with a family reunion weekend at Litchfield National Park to celebrate Brian’s 70th birthday.

Before we left we went to Nightcliff Dragons Under 9’s first Rugby League game of the season.

The next JT?

Go Cuz!

Buley Rockhole

Litchfield Tourist Park Homestead

 Florence Falls

Wangi Falls

Resting fruit bats/flying foxes

Resting family

Four-family get-together

Continuing the reunion theme, we got together for our traditional family and friends’ dinner at the Nightcliff foreshore. 

Wedding Anniversary

Our 34th wedding anniversary on 9 April saw us having lunch at Chow on the Darwin Waterfront. Delicious South-East Asian food and my first taste of green pawpaw salad – yum!

Easter Weekend

Pine Creek Digger’s Rest was our base for the Easter weekend.

Good Friday

Pine Creek Lookout, Watergardens  and Railway

Hooded parrot

Easter Saturday

Moline Rockhole, Kakadu Ranger Station, Bukbukluk Lookout, wildflowers, Miners Park

Easter Sunday

Umbrewarra Gorge, Copperfield Dam, kite, boot tree, sunset

Easter Monday

Home via Burrell Creek. Robin Falls, Adelaide River War Cemetery, Manton Dam wall

Rainbow bee-eater

In the garden

Cavendish and Dwarf Ducasse bananas

Cavendish and Lady Finger bananas

Tomato seedlings

Basil from Penni

Kathy’s orchid – primrose scented

Six sprays on one orchid

Sunset

Our magnificent sunsets always enhance family dinner on the foreshore.

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Thala Beach Lodge

Aerial view of Thala Beach Lodge from the South
Copyright Thala Beach Lodge

In April 1983 we spent our honeymoon in Port Douglas and Cape Tribulation, so for our 30th Wedding  Anniversary we revisited the area.

Courtesy of our daughter and son-in-law, Aisling and David, this included a two-night stay at the luxurious Thala Beach Lodge.

We were greeted on arrival and treated to a tropical cocktail while our car was being valet parked and our luggage taken to our bungalow – along with an ice bucket of Champaign, again courtesy of Ash and Dave.

The very welcoming receptionist showed us the sumptuous lodge and breathtaking views, before the porter took us by buggy to our bungalow – the most secluded in the resort.

After settling in, we explored one of the nature walks which led to a secluded beach complete with beach shack, hammocks and palm trees. The variety and colour of the rocks, shells and the beach itself was incredible.

Later in the afternoon we made the short drive to Port Douglas. Once a sleepy fishing village, the Port is now a hive of activity, a thriving tourist destination with activities, accommodation and eateries to suit all tastes. It’s also popular with birds, with enormous flocks of rainbow lorikeets descending on the high street trees at dusk, sending the tourists scurrying for their cameras.

The next day we drove to the small town of Daintree where the ferry leaves for Cape Tribulation. But not for us this time, instead we had a picnic lunch at Wonga Park on the coast on the way back to Mossman. It used to be possible to drive from there to Mossman Gorge but now the only way to get there is through the impressive visitors centre.

When we got back to Thala we started another nature walk but returned to our bungalow when the rain got too heavy. We were glad we finished it when the rain stopped as it led to a picturesque cove with spectacular views along the way.

After dinner we retired to our room with a DVD from the Lodge’s extensive collection and relaxed with a glass of bubbly.

Next morning we took advantage of having a late checkout and went for yet another nature walk, this time to find the bird pond and hide. We were just about to leave the hide when a noise drew our attention to an osprey nest, complete with osprey and chic. A lovely memory to take with us from our most enjoyable stay at Thala Beach Lodge.