A stunning section of water that begins as a highland stream 1300 metres above sea level, the Mossman River runs for 30 kilometres to the Coral Sea, while accumulating water from the 140-million-year old rainforest it travels through on its way down.

Plummeting down a precipitous mountain range on sections of its journey, the river contains water filtered by giant ancient trees situated along its banks. So you’ll be drifting down some of the cleanest natural sources of water imaginable, all while experiencing a unique rainforest environment.

This Back Country Bliss Adventure tour is located roughly one-and-a-half hours north of Cairns and goes for approximately 3 hours. Featured on the TV show ‘Getaway’, the tour location was also used for the Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg series ‘The Pacific’.

Before plunging into this unique environment, guests require a ‘medium’ level of fitness, and are given a wetsuit, snorkel gear and an experienced instructor to take them down a safe and relaxing section of the river. It’s recommended river adventurers bring swimmers (for under their wetsuit), a towel, camera, and shoes that can get wet.

During the Back Country Bliss Adventures tour, you’ll drift down the gentle waters of the river, experiencing the magic from the forest above and riverbed below. And while staring through the crystal clear water, you’ll learn about the local history, flora and fauna of this ancient wonderland.

The tour is suitable for all ages and provides a unique and accessible way to experience this striking local environment. Thala Beach Lodge can organise your Back Country Bliss Adventures river drift snorkel tour for you to experience during your stay.

Back Country Bliss Adventures – Mossman River Drift Snorkelling orginally posted on Thala Beach Lodge

This year, half-day and full-day ironman events, which are typically run in countries such as Germany, France, Spain, Denmark, Austria and New Zealand, and are set to be run in Cairns for the first time.

Races at this years Cairns Adventure Festival include; The Challenge Cairns Triathlon – which features a 3.8 kilometre swim through the tropical waters of Yorkeys Knob, a 180 kilometre bike ride down one of the most scenic roads in Australia towards Port Douglas (right past Thala Beach Lodge), as well as the 42.2 kilometre road run. Not for the faint of heart.

The Challenge Cairns Triathlon is tipped to match the status of the iconic Hawaiian Ironman event due to it’s scenic location. It’s also set to offer the winner the second largest prize money in triathlon history, $142,000, which will attract athletes from all over the world.

The ten days of the Cairns Adventure Festival 2012 features ironman events, kids events, triathlons, a mountain bike challenge, boat and surf ski races, reef swim, fun run, a film festival and a sport and lifestyle expo. The Cairns Adventure festival has something for every age and ability.

If you’re coming to be a spectator or competitor in the Cairns Adventure Festival 2012 Thala Beach Lodge is a great place to base yourself amongst the action.

Cairns Adventure Festival 2012 orginally posted on Thala Beach Lodge

Here guests are given an experienced guide, which will take you to places seldom known, places where marine turtles, sting rays, dolphins and dugongs are known to inhabit. On a clear day at Thala, one can see a rich marine environment of corals, urchins, molluscs, rays and brightly coloured coral-fish without leaving the kayak.

Common sights on this kayaking Port Douglas tour include green turtle heads, which may suddenly appear above the surface before you’ll hear an unexpected whoosh of air. In between marvelling at such sights, stop and look around as you glide over the translucent waters of the Coral Sea, which abuts areas of World Heritage forest.

When drifting in Thala’s neighbourhood sea, you’re amongst the country’s most sacred treasures. On any given day, you might be lucky enough to spy sea eagles plummeting for fish, dugongs snacking on sea grass, or any number of wildly coloured fish hovering around your vessel in unbridled curiosity.

If there’s any place where you’ve got the urge to jump in a kayak, then make this it, as there’s arguably no better place for it.

Thala’s sea kayaking Port Douglas trips launch directly from the resort and typically run for about three to four hours. A moderate to low level of fitness is required, and all kayaking and safety equipment is provided. Thala recommends you bring a hat, sunscreen, water, sunglasses, and a appetite for wonder and adventure.

Enjoy the view!

Sea Kayaking Port Douglas Trips orginally posted on Thala Beach Lodge

Beginning in 1994, the Port Douglas Carnivale took shape when locals decided to celebrate a yacht race in colourful fashion. Eighteen years later and the event has blown into a full-bodied tropical fiesta, featuring all manner of food, dancing, art and sporting events.

The Port Douglas Carnivale 2012 kicks off with the ‘longest lunch’ (from 11:30 to 3:30), followed by a food and wine festival beneath coconut trees in the evening. Later in the week one can experience various sporting activities and art displays, the latter including work from the local indigenous community.

There’s also Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea (supporting the fight against cancer), a Seafood Extravaganza, cabaret ensemble, photography exhibition, local golf tournament, the Exemplar Clipper Cup (a regatta held off Port Douglas), a sit down comedy show, and a live sporting panel – including “cold beer, hot pies and raw jokes” (if the mood’s not already light enough).

The second half of the carnivale explodes with the annual iconic Macrossan Street Parade, which includes around 50 floats and 10,000 spectators. Typically a festival highlight, the parade showcases the community spirit in a colourful festive fashion. The 2012 parade has a ‘heavenly bodies theme’, which will become apparent upon observation.

Other activities include the Daintree Station Bullride Spectacular, where some of the country’s best riders take on the toughest bulls, and the Four Mile Beach Day, which comprises outrigger racing, treasure hunts, tug-of-war, beach cricket and sand castle building for some family friendly frolicking.

Finally, to top it off, the Port Douglas Carnivale 2012 concludes in the ‘Tin Shed’ with the Rio Carnivale Party, a masquerade party including DJ’s, South American tapas and cocktails on arrival.

There’s also a chance to be a part of the festivities by entering the Miss Carnivale 2012 or the Song of Carnival competition. You could also get behind the street parade flotilla, or get involved in one of the many food and market stores available. Have a look at the Port Douglas Carnivale website for more details.

Stay at Thala for Port Douglas Carnivale 2012

Located just 10-15 minutes south of the Port Douglas village, a regular shuttle bus service makes Thala an ideal destination to relax between the Carnivale frivolity!

Stay in a Jungle Walk Bungalow for only $99 per person per night, including tropical breakfast daily! Rate is based on two guests per room and is subject to availability. Direct bookings only – email reservations@thalabeach.com.au or phone 07 4098 5700.

Port Douglas Carnivale 2012 orginally posted on Thala Beach Lodge

Excursions include half-day and full-day tours, which head out to areas such as Green Island. Located approximately 27km offshore, Green Island is around 15 hectares in size, and contains virgin rainforest which meets the translucent waters of the Coral Sea.

Tours fly visitors out to the island before dropping them off for lunch, swimming and reef snorkelling experiences. Here you can choose to return to Cairns (providing you want to!) by catamaran or helicopter. Other options include continuing by helicopter towards an outer reef pontoon, where you can enjoy a hot lunch while getting a close look at reef life from the underwater observatory.

Great Barrier Reef helicopter travel is not only a unique way to see the reef, it’s also the fastest, so you can have added time in the morning to relax, plan a massage or take in a romantic dinner upon return. Great Barrier Reef helicopter tours pickup and drop-off at Thala Beach Lodge.

If you’re really pressed for time, or you’re wanting to pack in as much as possible, there’s also 30 minute and 60 minute scenic flights. Tours going for 30 minutes typically include flights over areas such as Green Island, Arlington Reef and Vlasoff and Upolu sand cays. Here a camera is a must, as you will witness some of the most striking scenery earth has on offer.

Sixty minute tours typically include the above, with the addition of Stoney Creek Falls, Barron Waterfall, Barron Gorge and Kuranda in Cairns’ luscious tropical hinterland. Many tours also include gourmet meals and regular snorkel stops at any one of the coral island cays or pristine reefs.

There’s also Great Barrier Reef helicopter tours that will land on a catamaran in the outer reef, where luxury accommodation, lunch, snorkel and dive options await. Here a camera, sunscreen and swimwear are a must.

Contact Thala Beach Lodge for further information on Great Barrier Reef helicopter tour pickups and drop-offs from in and around Port Douglas.

Great Barrier Reef Helicopter Tours orginally posted on Thala Beach Lodge

Besides its unrivalled views, which stretch uninterrupted for 110 kilometres across this tropical wonderland, Ospreys offers guests food from its seasonal herb garden, local suppliers and the Coral Sea. In short, the experience will make you feel you’re very much a part of this spectacular setting.

Chef Catherine Pacy hints at what to expect at Ospreys Restaurant. “We use ingredients from the backyard and the sea, so a lot of fresh fish, poultry, vegetables, fresh herbs”. Catherine adds, “if you’re lucky enough you may get to watch the sea eagle dive for fish”..“and breakfast with the cheeky lorikeets is a must”.

Situated adjacent to forest treetops, guests are also likely to experience sunbirds, lorikeets and honeyeaters flying in and around the treetops as they dine. All while this unique Port Douglas restaurant serves up starters like sand crab miang with shredded coconut, zesty pink pomello and lemongrass wrapped in betel leaf.

Other treats to get you started include yellow fin tuna, prawn and scallop sashimi with wakame salad and sake sorbet. There’s also fresh barramundi and local mud crab for main courses, served with any number of seasonal accompaniments.

Winter time in Port Douglas is comparatively warm, with little rainfall, making it an ideal time for deck loungers and ocean ponderers to visit. Ospreys’ winter menu will help you settle in with its selection of fare such as freshly shucked Pacific oysters and Greek-inspired saganaki cheese served warm with a drizzle of honey and fresh lime.

Winter mains at this Port Douglas restaurant include succulent calamari with bok choy and snow peas, wok tossed with homegrown garlic, chilli and lemon grass, served with a pandanus of rice. Or for something with a little more traditional heart, there’s twice-cooked pork spare ribs, with a house made hickory smoked glaze, served with red cabbage coleslaw and warm turkish bread.

Not to mention the extensive selection of Australian wine available. And did we mention the view? When it comes to eating in Port Douglas, there’s none better.

Port Douglas Restaurant Ospreys orginally posted on Thala Beach Lodge

The project’s chief scientist, Australian Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, says over 50,000 panoramic images will be uploaded to boost pubic awareness of the Great Barrier Reef in the face of climate change. He says although the public may consider climate change to be a contentious issue, around 99% of scientists working in the area now treat it very seriously.

In promoting awareness through its virtual experience, the Catlin Seaview Survey will also use dive-robots with claws to capture the images, which will document the health of coral reefs up to 100-metres in depth. The robots will also collect data and carry out surveys in areas the professor says are little studied.

Launching in September this year, the Catlin Seaview Survey will take roughly two-years to complete, and will be split into three areas – shallow reef; deep-water; and mega fauna. The shallow reef survey will be confined to 20 sites, which hopes to provide a “baseline” for understanding climate change on coral reefs.

In the deep-water survey, robots will take the charge, plunging to depths between 30 and 100 metres to collect information on the health and biodiversity of deep-water reefs. The mega fauna survey will be handled by cinematographer and shark researcher Richard Fitzpatrick. With the use of satellite tags, Richard will study the migratory patterns of tiger sharks, green turtles and manta rays in response to rising sea temperatures.

In preparation for the project, the professor says the team will focus on fitting out the dive robots while further developing deep-sea technology to withstand changes in underwater pressure. When the Catlin Seaview Survey begins, scientists will base themselves at sea for around 3-4 months, while 10-14 day expeditions are undertaken.

At the conclusion of the project, which is a collaboration between global insurance outfit Catlin Group Limited, not-for-profit organisation Underwater Earth, and partner Google, it’s hoped it will expand to other parts of the globe so the planet’s fragile ecosystem can be better understood in the face of climate change.

Professor Hoegh-Guldberg says the Great Barrier Reef is facing some serious problems, which “is why it is so important the public gets on board with this survey”.

Checkout more info on the Catlin Seaview website.

Catlin Seaview Survey orginally posted on Thala Beach Lodge

Here they can be found in the country’s top end, where their milk, oil and skins are increasingly put to good use. However, all this information and more can be discovered on Australia’s only coconut tour, at Thala Beach Lodge in Port Douglas.

Named the ‘Coconut Odyssey Tour’, resident coconut enthusiast Carl Johanson takes you into the world of the coconut, where you are sure to come out amazed at the range of coconut benefits applicable to your daily life.

The abundance of native specimens at Thala Beach ensures guests can sample a variety of coconuts, from the young green to the rare apple coconut, each of which have their own distinguishing characteristics.

Carl reveals that coconuts reduce body fat, lower cholesterol and build the immune system. They also contain a succulent meat, juice, milk and oil, with the latter being put to a variety of uses.

Coconut oil can be used for cooking, a hair conditioner, and as a food dressing. However, remarkably, the fat in coconut oil is entirely unique, being made of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA), or alternatively, medium chain triglycerides (MCT).

What does this mean? MCFA’s do not negatively affect cholesterol, and they even protect against heart disease. Coconut oil and palm kernel oil are by far the best dietary source of MCFA.

Coconut oil is also found not to deplete the body’s reserves of antioxidants (unlike other oils), and coconuts have been positively tested in the prevention of liver disease and osteoporosis.

In different cultures, coconut benefits have been exploited in traditional medicine for thousands of years. Some of the uses include: removing abscesses, burns, dysentery, scurvy, typhoid and ulcers.

In modern medicine, medical health journals have published the effectiveness of coconuts in treating ailments such as: skin fungi, throat bacteria, urinary tract and gum infections.

And as you’re sure to find out on the Coconut Odyssey Tour, coconut benefits also extend to the shell, as the husks are a source of charcoal and are used to buff floors in many countries. They are also used for eating, cooking utensils and musical instruments. The trunks can also be used for constructing bridges, houses and furniture.

Want to stay healthy and sustainable from a singular source that can substitute (and surpass) many different food types? The coconut, or “the tree of life” as it is called in many countries around the world, may just be the answer.

Coconut Benefits orginally posted on Thala Beach Lodge

Here the bird life, butterflies, mountains, Daintree Rainforest and sounds of the Coral Sea lapping against white sand creates an atmosphere of beauty and tranquility, for a truly memorable experience.

Thala Beach Lodge has a history of hosting people’s big day, as its unrivalled charm and seclusion have led to a history of romantics seeking it for the ultimate wedding day bliss. Here you’ll find a number of wedding options that are sure to give you just what you want.

Whether it’s a beach wedding at Thala, or a wedding in Thala’s Peacock’s Room or Curlew’s Lounge overlooking the rainforest, or even in our secluded garden meadow, it’s your choice. Reception areas are Curlew’s Lounge, Herbie’s beachfront shack, or by our tropical rock pool for the ultimate in enchanting intimacy.

Food options for the big day include an extensive canape and platter selection, banquet options, two buffet menus, Asian noodles, a gourmet barbeque and a gourmet beachside barbeque menu if you’re not keen to rid the sand from your toes just yet. Of course a beach wedding at Thala also includes any number of premium wines, spirits, beers, soft drinks and local tropical fruit juices.

Importantly, wedding packages at Thala cover the essential elements for your big day, making sure you’re as relaxed as possible to focus on the one you love. Packages typically include:

• Fees for the marriage celebrant.
• All administrative costs associated with organising the wedding.
• The venue for the ceremony.
• Bouquet for the bride and a buttonhole for the groom.
• Bottle of Australian sparkling wine served after the ceremony.
• Professional photographer – which includes 2 hours of photography presented on a CD/DVD.

Why would you want to get married anywhere else?

Have a look at our wedding gallery for inspiration….

Beach Wedding at Thala orginally posted on Thala Beach Lodge

The three-part one hour series was created by Cairns based company Digital Dimensions, and was produced by Britain’s BBC. The team allegedly spent weeks at sea in remote locations, shooting over 600-hours of underwater film in SCUBA and new high-tech gear that enabled them to stay underwater for greater lengths of time.

The team also deployed Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs) to capture what cinematographer and co-producer Richard Fitzpatrick says was footage exceeding Attenborough expectations, as it “has to be bigger and better”. This Great Barrier Reef documentary team also took to “bugging” reef hotspots with remote camera technology in order to minimise disturbance to wildlife, enticing animals into full view for the audience.

Whales were reportedly captured swimming a few feet from corals, while lemon sharks were captured in hunting mode and cameras were even attached to turtles, apparently in a harm free manner.

However, what greatly facilitated the filming of this phenomenal world was the collaboration of the project with James Cook University, and the aid of its giant scientific research tank. Here closeups of rare reef inhabitants were taken which would not have been possible in the wild.

Caught on film was the “precise microscopic details when corals bleach” – something that has never been filmed before. Although the most challenging aspect of this Great Barrier Reef documentary the crew faced was capturing a free-swimming coral polyp grow its stony exoskeleton.

Rarely explored lagoons were also captured in detail, as well as mountainous coral regions and cays barely above sea level. In all, 2300 km of the reef has been explored in extensive scope and detail, with the aid of technology that’s taken the team where no camera has gone before.

Viewers inspired by the Great Barrier Reef documentary can access this amazing place through any number of tours in the area, which are available from Thala Beach Lodge near Port Douglas, Cairns.

Great Barrier Reef Documentary orginally posted on Thala Beach Lodge

The rugged slopes of the Coastal Ranges and Windsor and Carbine Tablelands trap moisture from the ocean, ensuring continued rainfall that gives life to the Daintree Rainforest and Mossman River.

Such conditions have given birth to the spectacular Mossman Gorge, while inviting inhabitants such as the endemic Boyd’s Forest Dragon. Others attracted to the gorge include the female Cairns birdwing (Australia’s largest butterfly), the florid paradise-kingfisher bird, saw-shelled turtles, and the platypus, which inhabits the gorge’s quieter pools.

The region’s flora is characterised by the low light conditions created by the steep gorge. The resulting rare plants are part of the familial linage of some of the first flowering plants on earth. Here some plants hitchhike towards sunlight, while others, like the Lawyer Vine, use its hooks to climb tree trunks to higher vantage points.

The Mossman Gorge region is the only place in the world where two World Heritage listed sites meet; joining the Daintree Rainforest with the Great Barrier Reef.

The story of the Mossman Gorge, however, also extends to the traditional owners and custodians of the land, the Kuku Yalanji people.

Living in harmony with the gorge environment for over 50,000 years, the Kuku Yalanji people offer visitors a rare insight into the region’s flora and fauna, as well as their traditional practices which have prevailed through generations of subsistence.

The Kuku Yalanji offer guided tours of the gorge, and in order to enhance the visitor experience while supporting local community, the Indigenous Land Corporation and Mossman Gorge Aboriginal Community have nearly completed an eco tourism visitor centre at the site.

Set to open in May this year, the centre will host a café, indigenous art gallery, booking area for indigenous guided walks and an eco-friendly bus service to run visitors to and from the gorge itself. Visitors will be able to see the land through the Kuku Yalanji people’s traditional way of life, of which they are so very proud.

Currently, several moderate to easy walks exist within the park, as well as guided dreamtime tours provided by the Kuku Yalanji. Checkout the Mossman Gorge Centre website for more information.

Mossman Gorge orginally posted on Thala Beach Lodge

With nearly 200 bird species sighted in and around the lodge’s grounds, guests often find themselves dining amongst lorikeets, sunbirds and honeyeaters, as they fly in and out of the treetops adjacent to the restaurant.

Birdwatching walks with local bird and butterfly expert David Anderson are available free of charge for guests of Thala. There’s also a Bird Sighting Calendar at the lodge which encourages guests to add to the number of sightings in and around the area.

A passionate advocate for the region’s avian inhabitants, David says the varied topography of rainforest, open forest, dry country, swamps, mountains and sea around Thala Beach Lodge provide the perfect playground for more than half the country’s bird population.

A unique addition to Thala’s birdlife is the Osprey Bird Hide, launched by David and the team at Thala. The hide, located on the forest edge and overlooking the Macalister Range, provides visitors a rare opportunity of watching Osprey feed their young in a natural habitat.

Other avian residents are seasonal, while some species may be rarely seen – have a look at our Birdwatching page to see the full list of sightings at Thala. This presents an exciting opportunity for birdwatching enthusiasts to document potentially new sightings.

The unique array of bird life at Thala Beach Lodge offers the guest an experience not found elsewhere in the country. Each new day bestows the visitor with vibrant colour and song, a feature common amongst the treetops of Far North Queensland for thousands of years.

Have a look at some of these shots captured while birdwatching at Thala Beach Lodge Australia:

Birdwatching at Thala orginally posted on Thala Beach Lodge

These graceful, saucer-like creatures are extremely agile, being able to move at rapid speed while often breaching the water in spectacular fashion. They are also known to commonly inhabit ‘cleansing stations’, (where wrasse, remora and angelfish remove parasites) found in and around the Great Barrier Reef, and Ningaloo Reef Western Australia.

Unlike its cousin the stingray, manta rays don’t contain a barb, and have the largest brain to body ratio of any Elasmobranchs (sharks, rays and skates). The largely solitary manta ray is also known to travel large distances, scouring the ocean for food such as plankton and fish larvae.

Being a filter feeder, the manta ray strains water through its gills as they swim, and often glides in vertical loops during meal times. This, it is thought, is to concentrate plankton numbers for greater feeding efficiency.

In courtship, female manta rays are tailed by several males before arcing into graceful looping motions while the males follow suit. Such behaviour has been filmed off Lady Elliot Island in the Great Barrier Reef.

Copulation is believed to occur at no more than one metre in depth, with the event thought to be facilitated by a full moon. Eggs hatch inside the female internally, so she bears live young, typically 1-2 pups.

The first historical record of this enigmatic sea-glider is in Peruvian culture, where the Moche people worshipped the manta ray. While little is known regarding the manta ray’s lifespan and travelling behaviour, the closely related warm-water ray is known to live 25-years, and one manta ray is documented as being 24-years-old.

In cultures across the world, the manta ray is valued for its properties in traditional medicine. This has unfortunately lead to unsustainable fishing practices in developing countries within Africa and South East Asia, and the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has listed them as ‘vulnerable to extinction’. They are not currently protected in Australian waters.

Hot-spots for viewing manta rays are in and around the Great Barrier Reef. Tours to the Great Barrier Reef pickup and dropoff from Thala Beach Lodge.

Manta Ray orginally posted on Thala Beach Lodge

Earth Hour originally started in Sydney in 2007 and quickly developed into a global event to boost climate awareness by unifying people across the globe through a symbolic action – turning off their lights for one hour.

Earth Hour is a WWF initiative symbolising the collective power of individuals, businesses and governments to reduce our impact on this planet. From its beginnings in Sydney Australia Earth Hour has grown to millions of people in over 5000 cities across 135 countries.

In Australia 2000 businesses, 334 schools, 154 councils and 130 government departments took part in Earth Hour 2011 and this year Earth Hour 2012 is looking to be even bigger! The Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and other iconic Australian buildings will be switching their lights off for Earth Hour 2012.

Join Thala Beach Lodge in switching off your lights for Earth Hour in a global movement to raise awareness about the 1 planet we share. Be part of a truly global community committed to creating a more sustainable future!

Earth Hour 2012 orginally posted on Thala Beach Lodge

The T-Qual accreditation makes quality tourism operators easy recognisable by potential visitors to Australia and provides assurance to potential guests that your expectations will be met, consistently high standards will deliver quality experiences, you will receive value for money in your chosen price range and guests can relax, knowing that you will be taken care of.

According to Minister for Tourism Martin Ferguson, “A national symbol of quality is good for consumers because value-for-money choices become more visible, and it’s good for those who strive for the rewards that come from reaching the levels of quality and customer service that consumers expect.”

Thala receives T-Qual Accreditation orginally posted on Thala Beach Lodge