Its electric-blue feathered neck draped in a bright raspberry-hued wattle, a beautiful southern cassowary gives me a hard stare from a few metres away. I’m momentarily mesmerised — then I spot the dagger-like claws beneath its lustrous black plumage.
I’d pulled into a seafront pitch at Etty Bay Caravan Park, south of Cairns on Queensland’s rainforest-fringed Cassowary Coast, and, right away, the region had lived up to its name. But after a few minutes, the bird thankfully resumed pecking at the fallen fruits lining the shoreline, in time with the thumping rhythm of the waves.
As a resident of New South Wales, I’d long itched to see this far-flung stretch of coast, known for its wild swathes of rainforest as well as its endangered, human-sized namesakes. But, reluctant to trade my trusty Subaru Forester for a campervan, I’d opted for the next best thing: a rooftop tent.
The tent attaches to the rack of almost any vehicle, morphing — with a smooth pop-up motion — into a comfortable bed. In Australia, it’s a budget-friendly alternative to the traditional campervan, and equally popular for those not keen to take the wheel of a bulky vehicle. Travellers can rent one as part of their car-hire package, leaving plenty of room in the vehicle for baggage.
After a barbecue on the shore, I nodded off to the sounds of the Pacific Ocean, a salty breeze washing in through vents in the canvas.
The plan was to continue north along the coast. There were tempting side trips along the way that I wasn’t able to do without a 4WD, but my compact home-on-wheels was generally more than up to the task, navigating backroads and squeezing into tight pitches with ease. After a bit of practice, I fell easily into the routine, and could pack down the tent in less than 10 minutes.
I’d particularly looked forward to reaching Cape Tribulation, the remote headland where Lieutenant James Cook’s ship the Endeavour struck a reef in 1770. This wild stretch of coast, in the heart of the ancient Daintree rainforest, is home to rare Australian wildlife, including duck-billed platypuses, echidnas and tree kangaroos.
A car ferry across the crocodile-infested Daintree River — the only way to reach Cape Tribulation from the south — transports travellers into a dense tangle of fan palms and giant butterflies. Where the road south of the river is framed by vast, golden fields of sugar cane, here the route is coloured in infinite shades of green.
On arrival, I traced the road that snakes up into the tangle of greenery as far as the Mount Alexandra Lookout, which offers views that swoop across the canopy to the deep blues of the Great Barrier Reef. The air, thick and warm, felt alive, as if the rainforest were breathing.
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Clustered on the east coast of Scotland are seven tidal pools. These seawater swimming holes are the perfect harnessing of nature, and show how communities have found ways to immerse themselves in their environment for generations. St Monans, for example, sits where the North Sea beats ferociously against the cliffs and much of the coastline is inaccessible—this rectangular body of water, however, offers a safe swim. Traveling between these tidal pools on a road trip is about so much more though. It's an adventure connecting witch folklore, dolphin spotting, forest bathing, rock ‘n’ roll legends, fly fishing, and the most delicious smoked haddock soup you’ve ever eaten.
Tripadvisor has released a preview for its upcoming 2024 study on the Experience of Travel, which showed that 67% of travelers surveyed across 7 key markets placed more value on experiences than things. It’s a drum the sector has been beating for a while.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kelsey Frampton, a 21-year-old business student from Fresno, California, who's studying in Barcelona. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
Tripadvisor laid off around 125 employees, or 4% of its workforce, in the third quarter and the company said last week that additional job trims will take place before the end of the year.
Is there anything better than drive-through Christmas lights? All you need to do is pack some snacks, turn up the seat warmers, queue up your favorite seasonal songs, and—well, sit back, relax, and cruise. Whether you don’t like crowds or simply want to get in the holiday spirit from the comfort of your toasty car, drive-through holiday lights are a hassle-free and cozy way to enjoy some of the greatest outdoor sights the season has to offer.
Its electric-blue feathered neck draped in a bright raspberry-hued wattle, a beautiful southern cassowary gives me a hard stare from a few metres away. I’m momentarily mesmerised — then I spot the dagger-like claws beneath its lustrous black plumage.