1. The Wallaby Grazing Patch

Located adjacent to Thala’s star gazing observatory lies the cultivated Wallaby Grazing Patch. Looking more like a quaint tropical garden than a marsupial hangout, it’s a splendid place to escape with a good book. If the freshly mowed lawns, profuse endemic flora and wide teak benches don’t inspire some page pondering pleasure, we’re not sure what will.

2. Thala’s rock pool

Of course we have to throw in a bit of poolside reading, as it’s the stuff all good holidays are made of. This is particularly the case at Thala. For here, beneath the colourful overhanging flora, lies a rock pool complete with cascades and translucent water. Importantly, you will find some seriously comfy deck chairs lying poolside. Nirvana for the book browsing aficionado.

3. The seat by the bubbler

Just below Thala’s main rock pool, there’s a path that winds down towards several of the cabins, and eventually, Pebbly Beach. Take a couple of forested bends and you’ll see a handsome bench perched by a bubbler – all near a cliff that overlooks the Coral Sea. Stop, take a drink, take a seat and let the sublime backdrop inspire hours of page pondering paradise.

4. Oak Beach hammock

Of course we couldn’t let slip the obvious yet divine hammock laying potential of Thala’s own private beach. Here, beneath the sway of coconut palms and gentle lap of tropical waves, you can lay down island style and dive into your book. Don’t forget to surface every now and then to gaze at the forest-clad mountains and sip on some fresh coconut juice.

5. Curlews

Possibly the most striking aspect of Thala Beach Lodge when you first get on deck is the views at Curlews lounge. Overlooking tracts of native rainforest, verdant mountains rolling back-to-back, Oak Beach and the Coral Sea, Curlews provides arguably the finest overall perspective of Thala’s surrounds. Take a seat within ear shot of Thala’s rock pool cascades and escape to your world of fact or fiction, forgetting the life you’ve temporarily left behind.

Five Favourite Book Reading Spots at Thala orginally posted on Thala Beach Lodge

Found in both Papua New Guinea and the east and west side of Far North Queensland, the crimson finch – also known as the blood finch, pheasant finch and the Australian firefinch – likes hanging out in vegetated areas surrounding fresh water, such as rivers or swamps.

Unfortunately for this glowing little flitterer, their preferred habitat is regularly burnt out by fires, which includes back-burning. At present, they are listed as a vulnerable species, with their numbers stabilising at an estimated 2000 in Australia alone.

Interestingly, the crimson finch also appears to be a highly endemic bird, as the majority of their habitat covers an area of 139 kilometres square. This area is alleged to have declined since the 20th century, so spying one of these fire faced flyers near Thala is often a real treat. The photo here was shot by Thala owner Rob Prettejohn not far from the resort.

If you do see one, it will likely be in pairs or small groups, as they are a social bird. Following their breeding season, it’s not uncommon to see the crimson finch flying in flocks of 40 to 60 of their kind (perhaps in celebration of a good season).

Identifying traits: it’s a small bird, about 13cm long, with a wingspan of around 16cm. The females differ from the males in that they have brown flanks, breast and thighs, while the males are bright red in these areas. Both species have irises that are predominantly auburn in colour.

The bird’s breeding season occurs from January to May in Australia, often among nests within pandanus palms, or occasionally bushes. These nests are dome shaped and constructed mainly from grasses, and each clutch laid by the finch usually consists of five or six eggs.

Besides spiders, which the adult males and females readily eat, food for the crimson finch mainly consists of seeds from grasses and herbaceous plants, however they will also eat larvae and insects when the need arises.

Whatever stokes the fire of these radiant residents of Far North Queensland.

Crimson Finch orginally posted on Thala Beach Lodge

Watch the full Queensland Weekender episode below:

Kicking off their odyssey in Thala Beach Lodge, the two took to the superbly tropical surrounds like giddy schoolboys. Here Thala’s famous coconut captain, Carl Johanson, took the boys on one of his notorious tours, explaining the numerous benefits associated with the humble coconut.

Then, after exploring Thala’s two-kilometre stretch of first-class, white sandy beach, Alastair decided to show off his culinary skills outside Herbie’s Beach Shack. Here he poached fresh, local barramundi in coconut milk, with garlic, ginger, kaffir lime, chilli and coriander, which Dean exclaimed was “a masterpiece” in between fervent mouthfuls.

Next stop on the Queensland Weekender agenda was the Mossman Gorge Visitors Centre, which opened last year and offers employment to local indigenous people. Local elder and rainforest specialist Harold Tayley took the boys on a tour of the area, and in fine participatory form, Alastair devoured a witchetty grub, which he likened to “wet sawdust”.

Continuing north towards the Daintree, the jolly duo visited Cow Bay, stopping in at Lync Haven Rainforest Retreat. And after a bout of snake fondling with “cuddles”, watching the local croc get fed, and taking respite from the heavy rain, the two ventured forth to the Daintree Tea Plantation.

Here the pair received a tour, along with a cold, freshly brewed cuppa, before heading to the Lion’s Den, where they had lunch at this legendary adventure stopover. With little time and plenty to show, they continued to Cooktown, visiting Nature’s Powerhouse (the town’s Botanic Gardens), where plants that Joseph Banks collected prior to his return voyage in 1770 were marked for display.

However, it was Clare Richards who really roused Alastair’s senses with her knowledge on cooking with local plants and herbs. And after devouring a Cooktown concocted salad, the two capped off their week long adventure with a flight back to Cairns.

In all, this well presented episode of Queensland Weekender gives viewers plenty of options on places to visit in wondrous Far North Queensland.

Thala on Queensland Weekender orginally posted on Thala Beach Lodge

However, much like other geese, the magpie goose does indeed utter a loud honking sound. And if you’re in any doubt you’ve spotted one, they also have a distinct black and white plumage and yellow legs. It also differs from other waterfowl of its kind in that it has strongly clawed toes that are only partially webbed.

You may see one of these honking flappers in and around the grounds of Thala, as they dwell in northern coastal and eastern areas within Australia. Favouring areas such as wetlands and swamps, they may only move territory during the dry season to areas of greater water. They’re also found in savannah areas in southern New Guinea.

Apart from its claws, its honk and its magpie colours, which it glaringly displays, the bird has several other distinguishing characteristics. Firstly, at no period in its upbringing is it flightless. Males are also slightly bigger than females, and outside of breeding season, the bird is rather gregarious, as often thousands of them congregate for a bit of boisterous honking, possibly to discuss the season’s success or celebrate the fact it’s over.

Also somewhat of a lush, the magpie goose is a specialised feeder, as its diet consists of wild rice, oryza, paspalum, panicum, and spike-rush. However, it will also feed on vegetable matter both in the water and on land.

When breeding, the magpie goose often works in trios, with one male impregnating two females, while all three rear the young (giving them greater chance of survival). The nest, which is prepared by the male, is a floating platform, or if on land it rests on the ground. Each clutch produced by the female contains anything from 5 to 14 eggs.

Magpie Goose orginally posted on Thala Beach Lodge

Despite its syrup slurping surname, the bird in fact mostly eats nectar from plants such as Grevilleas and wild Bottlebrush Orchids. It appears to enjoy this existence immensely, as it fires a succession of rich, whistling calls throughout the day.

The shot above is of a Yellow Honeyeater enjoying an afternoon at Thala, and the yellow, cotton-like object protruding from its mouth is in fact nectar. Ah – the bird’s life.

Yellow Honeyeater orginally posted on Thala Beach Lodge

Found on the Indian subcontinent, South-East Asia, and Australia, the Brahminy Kite soars mainly around the coast, wetlands and marshes, where its lifeless food lies in waiting. However, the bird is also known to engage in a bit of live hunting when the going gets tough. Here a hare or bat will fall as unfortunate prey to its swift hunt.

A medium sized bird, the Brahminy Kite has a reddish brown plumage, along with a white head and breast, making them stand out from other airborne scavengers. The bird also has dark finger-like wing tips, and a short tail, while the juveniles appear a little browner than their parents.

In breeding, the Brahminy Kite favours August to October in the southern parts of Australia, and April to June in the western and northern areas. Interestingly, the bird usually nests in the one spot, typically in large, isolated trees, year after year. These nests are made up of small branches, twigs, leaves, lichen, bones, seaweed and even paper.

Making a piercing “keeyew”-like sound, the bird, in typical predatory fashion, soars the skies for signs of any weak and dying animals. They’re also particularly drawn towards fires in the hope of sighting a fleeing creature. Their numbers are thought be stable, largely because the Brahminy Kite is an opportunist, a survivor, that claws, swoops, pecks and tussles its way towards a good meal.

If you’re lucky, you might see one soaring at fairly low altitudes in and around the grounds of Thala.

Brahminy Kite orginally posted on Thala Beach Lodge

Also like their human counterparts, the female firefly will also respond with a favourable blink to a worthy suitor. To detect these blinks, which are often far off, or pulsating amongst any number of firefly signals, the male is equipped with large eyes and a visor for ultra-mating focus.

These famous blinks come from segments located on the underside tip of its abdomen. Here, certain chemicals are released, which react to the presence of oxygen with a blaze of light before they’re soon exhausted. The body then quickly charges in time for the next burst, which produces the distinguished flashing effect.

If one can detect a sense of urgency in the firefly’s flash, it’s because they’re in a hurry to mate due to their short life span. The larvae produced from this hurried courtship, who are luminous from an early age, feed on snails by paralysing them. Adult fireflies, however, are believed not to eat at all.

In order to feed their larvae, fireflies are drawn towards temperate or tropical places, particularly wet, wooded areas such as rainforest where there’s an abundance of food. During the larvae stage, fireflies will hibernate over winter, burrowing underground or hiding under the bark of trees. The larvae will then emerge in spring to feast.

Interestingly, the flash produced by fireflies is a “cold light”, having no ultraviolet or infrared frequencies. This chemically sourced light, which can be yellow, green or pale-red, projects wavelengths from 510 to 670 nanometres.

Fireflies orginally posted on Thala Beach Lodge

The female red-tailed black cockatoo, unlike the its name suggests, has yellow/orange panels on its tail. Males juveniles appear similarly until puberty, at about four years of age. Here their yellow feathers are gradually replaced with red ones, a process which takes four years to complete. Other differences in the sexes are that male’s bills are grey, while female’s are a pale horn colour.

In breeding, this obsidian-looking bird nests in tall, hollow, vertical and often isolated trees (to escape from predators) from May through to September. And if a particularly good nest is found, the bird may use it for a number of years.

Endemic to Australia, the red-tailed black cockatoo will often nest in the drier parts of the country, particularly across northern Australia. They can often be seen in large flocks near Thala during the dry season, where they’re in search of their main staple food, eucalyptus seeds. However, like other parrots and cockatoos, the bird can feed on a wide variety of grains.

Also like many other Australian parrots and cockatoos, this dark, seed eating screecher has zygodactyl feet, with two toes facing forward and two facing backward. This particular trait allows the birds to stand on one leg, while grabbing something with the other. And like many other birds of its kind, the red-tailed black cockatoo is almost exclusively left footed.

Other, more unfortunate traits it shares with parrots and cockatoos is that it’s threatened by the illegal bird smuggling trade, as it can fetch a high price in areas within Asia. However, the red-tailed black cockatoo is more adaptable to aviculture compared with other birds of its species. In 1938, ornithologist Neville Cayley reported one living to over 50 years of age at Taronga Zoo.

Red-tailed Black Cockatoo orginally posted on Thala Beach Lodge

A small to medium sized tree which can fire up to 40 metres in height, the flame tree is Queensland’s biblical incarnation of the burning bush. This striking looking tree has bell-shaped, scarlet coloured flowers, which form in clusters at the end of its branches.

At the ends of these flowers lie large leather pods which host corn-like seeds. These thin seeds contain a nutritious foodstuff within, which were eaten by Aborigines after toasting. The seeds can also be collected to propagate this wonderful specimen, although if choosing to do so, it’s best to use gloves due to the irritant hairs they contain.

When in bloom, Brachychiton acerifolius is arguably the most spectacular of Australia’s native trees. Typically deciduous year-round, it flowers in late spring, therefore anyone travelling in north-eastern Australia at present could see this tree in full-fire. Keep in mind this feat takes 5-8 years to perform from seedling, so it’s a well-prepared show.

Although entirely native to the tropical regions of Australia’s east coast, the flame tree is now accustomed to temperate climates, as it’s cultivated the world over for its remarkable beauty. However, its full-growth potential is only reached in its original, warmer climate of north-eastern Australia, where you may be fortunate enough to encounter a fiery whopper.

Besides international plant lovers, Brachychiton acerifolius attracts insects, birds, butterflies, and the many Australian’s who flock in droves to gaze upon the fiery foliage of this unique and wonderful specimen.

Illawarra Flame Tree (Brachychiton Acerifolius) orginally posted on Thala Beach Lodge

An integral part of the belief system of the Kuku Yalanji, also known as “rainforest people”, revolves around nature and the knowledge of its intimate cycles. This information has remained alive and well within the Kuku Yalanji, with present custodians passing on the knowledge of their forefathers, which their forefathers passed on before them (and so on).

Since 1986, Kuku Yalanji guides have been demonstrating this knowledge, along with their history, stories and culture in and around Mossman Gorge (their traditional homeland). And in May this year, the Indigenous Land Corporation and Mossman Gorge Aboriginal Community combined to open an eco-tourism centre at the gorge.

This centre includes a café and an indigenous art gallery, and is the starting point for guided walks in the area, all of which are run by the Kuku Yalanji. The gallery features local works of the Kuku Yalanji, while the café offers locally sourced food infused with bush tucker. There’s also an eco-friendly bus service which transports visitors to and from the gorge.

The Mossman Gorge walks include demonstrations of traditional plants use, identifying the local bush tucker, and learning about dreamtime legends and the history of cave paintings. Visitors will also experience an enchanting narrative describing the relationship between the Kuku Yalanji and the rainforest environment.

In the past year, the Kuku Yalanji Dreamtime (KYD), the body under which their tours operate, has been working through the “Respect Our Culture” (ROC) Accreditation Program with Aboriginal Tourism Australia. This process is establishing KYD as a mainstream tourism operator, which certifies local employment, maintains strict socio-environmental concerns, and ensures the traditions of the Kuku Yalanji are upheld.

Members of the Kuku Yalanji are often invited to Thala Beach Lodge to share their knowledge of the environment and traditional customs with guests. For more information on the Kuku Yalanji, visit the Mossman Gorge Centre.

Kuku Yalanji orginally posted on Thala Beach Lodge

Found in north-eastern Australia, from Mackay to Cooktown, the Cairns Birdwing Butterfly’s favourite habitat is primary rainforest. However it will also subsist and breed within an urban garden given it contains the right variety of plants.

About this, the species is very particular, as when still a caterpillar the female will use chemical receptors in both her abdomen and legs to detect an especially tender leaf. And when undergoing its great metamorphosis into a butterfly, the creature does so in a cleverly camouflaged cocoon, which resembles a lifeless, dried up leaf.

Interestingly, once hatched, the Cairns Birdwing Butterfly has only four to five weeks of life. Given little time, the males are desperate and aggressive in propagating with a mate, and will often engage in morning patrols, competing with other males to find its flittering prize.

Even once a female is found, courtship can be lengthy and aggressive, taking up to 36 hours. Here the female sensibly slips the male a sedative to keep his behaviour in line. And so, after hours of intense, fascinating behaviour, the cycle begins anew.

Whilst the Cairns Birdwing Butterfly carefully chooses its place to pupate, or change into a butterfly, much of its native habitat was at one time cleared away, which greatly threatened its numbers. Further to this, the spread of exotic vines such as the Dutchman’s pipe, which is lethal to the butterfly’s larvae, threatened their survival.

Recently, however, programs to address these issues have helped the butterfly’s numbers return to normal. At present their status is not endangered.

Cairns Birdwing Butterfly orginally posted on Thala Beach Lodge

Also found in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, the Soloman Islands and Vanuatu, the rainbow lorikeet clings to its favourite habitat of rainforest, coastal bush and woodland areas. In Australia, this bright, nectar loving creature is found along the southern and eastern coastline, from SA up to north QLD.

A medium sized bird from the parrot family, the rainbow lorikeet is difficult to distinguish between the sexes merely by sight. Juvenilles, however, possess a black beak which gradually turns to a bright-orange upon entering adult hood – a beacon of maturity. Interestingly, they also have a tongue with a papillate appendage, which is adapted to extract pollen and nectar from flowers.

Apart from pollen and nectar, the rainbow lorikeet will consume fruit such as papaya, mangoes and apples. And due to their often frequent contact with humans, this florid flyer can be hand-fed in many places, particularly in gardens, campsites and sanctuaries. However, care must be take to feed the bird appropriately, as processed foods can negatively affect their plumage.

Concerning their behaviour, the rainbow lorikeet likes to travel in pairs, and may occasionally respond to a flock’s call to fly in unison before retreating again to their intimate formations. Their breeding time in Australia is from September through to December, when they’ll nest in tall tree hollows, trunks or overhanging rocks. Interestingly, the bird will also spiritedly defend its nesting areas against brutes such as the noisy miner bird and the magpie.

Fortunately for guests at Thala’s Ospreys Restaurant, these handsome birds can often be spotted in the adjacent treetops during breakfast time, as here they like to feed off the nectar in the morning light.

The Rainbow Lorikeet orginally posted on Thala Beach Lodge

Imagine the ground far below you as you are transported into the vast blue sky above. A new world opens up to you as you witness the cool blue of the Coral Sea, the vast rainforest and the awesome mountaintops. Hang gliding has got to be one of the most visually exciting things you can do anywhere in the world. This experience is an off the beaten track adventure you can have during your visit to Port Douglas.

If you do think you’re up to this exciting experience, Thala Beach Lodge can organise tours with local high flyers, Updraught Microlights and Hang Gliders in Port Douglas. They offer a wide range of flights and hang gliding for beginners to experienced pilots.

The popular alternative to hang gliding is to take a flight on a microlight plane. These small-engine craft are flown by experienced pilots and offer a unique way to view the region. Guests accompany qualified pilots in a tandem experience with these flights lasting anywhere from 35 minutes to 100 minutes of flying time.

For hang gliding, the options vary from 20 minutes of tandem flight time to 40 minutes. For all other tailor made options, you can contact the staff to make specific arrangements to suit you.

Whatever way you choose to fly, the view from above is world class. While hang gliding, expect to take in views from the Great Barrier Reef, the forest in and around the township of Port Douglas, the surrounding pristine rainforest of the Daintree and white sandy beaches.

The abundance of nature and wildlife is an extraordinary thing to witness while flying above land and water. You may be lucky enough to see crocodiles, dugongs, turtles, sharks, dolphins or giant rays. All from a safe distance!

One of the most popular experiences is to fly over the Daintree River on a tandem microlight flight. With this tour you will fly along the coastal beaches to the delta of the Daintree River then track north-east out into the Coral Sea to circumnavigate Snapper Island, returning back to the mainland and Ship Wreck Bay.

Other flights include a tandem microlight adventure over Cape Tribulation. Here you will wonder at the rugged beauty of the coastal mountains and take in the extraordinary ecology of this protected part of the world.

Microlight flights are scheduled for sunrise and sunset flights daily. Hang gliding tours also depart daily.

Hang gliding Port Douglas orginally posted on Thala Beach Lodge

Each brain coral is formed by genetically identical polyps which secrete a hard exoskeleton of calcium carbonate. This makes brain coral one of the most important coral reef builders.

In feeding, these brainy corals extend their tentacles at night, which rope in small drifting organisms. They also feed off nutrients fed to them by algae which live within their maze-like walls. In the daytime, the brain coral uses its tentacles to cover the grooves on its outer surface.

The most common sub-species of brain coral, Favia, is also known to use its rangy tentacles aggressively, stinging its coral neighbours in the dead of night. The brain coral also relies on its hard shell to protect it from severe hurricanes and lunging or overexcited large fish.

Its hard outer shell, built by the tiny polyps that live within its walls, make it a type of stony coral. Hundreds of these polyps can live within a brain coral at one time.

The polyps have two layers – an outer ectoderm and an inner endoderm, which are separated by a jelly-like mesogloea. They also have a single opening which acts as both mouth and anus, which is surrounded by a ring of tentacles containing stinging cells or ‘nematocysts’.

Brain Coral orginally posted on Thala Beach Lodge

The hawksbill, which owes its name to its tapered head ending in a pointed bird-like mouth, can be found throughout various parts of the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. However, it’s mostly in tropical shallow lagoons and coral reefs where they like to subsist. Here they can be found lazing under caves and ledges throughout the day.

Like the green and leatherback turtle, the hawksbill turtle has flipper-like arms well adapted to life in the open ocean. However, it differs in a number of respects to its counterparts, as it has two claws on each flipper, while it crawls on land with an alternating gait, leaving uneven tracks in the sand.

Hawksbills also have a heart shaped carapace when they’re young, which turns into a more elongated shape when they get older. Its carapace, unlike other turtles, is also serrated, having overlapping plates which give it a distinctly reptilian appearance when viewed from above.

In mating, the hawksbill turtle breeds biannually, with the females dragging themselves onto the beach at night before digging a nesting hole with their flippers. Baby hawksbills hatch after two months before making their dangerous swim to the shoreline, where they’re often lucky if they avoid the clutches of seagulls and crabs, who prey on their vulnerability.

In feeding, the hawksbill is omnivorous, although it mostly consumes sea sponges. Interestingly, they can also devour food poisonous to other creatures such as the Portuguese man o’ war and the jellyfish-like hydrozoan. And as far as predation is concerned, the hawksbill can be eaten by larger fish, sharks, crocodiles and humans.

Unfortunately for the hawksbill turtle, they are a critically endangered species, as their shells remain the primary source used for decorative purpose. Their eggs are also eaten around the world despite their protective status.

The Hawksbill Turtle orginally posted on Thala Beach Lodge