Mason's Tours Forest Stories and Wildlife Sightings

The early days

2010-12-27T18:57:00.000-08:00

This pic was taken at what is now known as Cow Bay in 1927. The three Mason brothers had formed a company called Almason with a partner in Brisbane and were developing a large farm near Bailey Creek. Pictured is Ron, Joy, Don (uncles to Lawrence Mason) and Elsie and Andy Mason (Granparents to Lawrence Mason). Joy is the only one still alive and lives in Townsville.

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Thanks for the help Cassowary

2010-10-14T23:22:00.000-07:00

It is always great to see results. This photo was taken in a area of our land that was once grassed for cattle. Over the years we have allowed to to naturally regenerate, and are now actively revegetating it. On one of my last inspections I was pleased to see a Cassowary there, and the pic below shows the evidence! The dropping is full of seeds noticeably Noah's Walnut, contributing even more to the revegetation...

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Landcruiser for Sale

2010-07-31T15:54:00.000-07:00

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For Sale - $22,990.00 ONO

Toyota Landcruiser 100 Series Standard 2001

(many extras)

• Bullbar

• Winch

• Full length Alloy Roof Rack

• Opposite Lock Rear Bar and Tyre Carrier

• 2 Spares

• Tow Bar

• Air-conditioning

• Snorkel

• Split fold seat in centre row

• Fixed 3 seater in cargo area (seats 9 total)

• Air suspension in rear coils

• Onboard Air Compressor

• Upgraded suspension and shocks

• Radiator Screen (prevents damage during water crossings)
• Low water alarm
• 6 Cooper STT Tyres on split rims

Planning a new Daywalk

2010-06-10T15:34:00.000-07:00

Over the last month, we have been using our spare time designing a new 1/2 Day Walk. A small hill at the back of our property looked like it might yield a view, and we actually found two of them!

We have now found a workable track down off the ridge, and the next step is to plan the rest of the walk!

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Revegetation of VDEC area begins

2010-03-28T21:14:00.000-07:00

We have just started to reveg a three hectare area adjacent to the site of our proposed rainforest centre, the process begins with killing the weeds and grass that prevents the natural regeneration (see picture). The site has been allowed to naturally regenerate over the past ten years and we have now signed a Voluntary Declaration (VDEC) over it and plan to have it fully reveged over the next 15 years. The VDEC is our way of compensating for any potential damage done by the construction of boardwalks along Myall Creek.

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Cape Trib Road to be all weather

2010-03-17T16:29:00.000-07:00

Cooper Creek Causeway 'over' after rain...take a close look because after this year it will be a thing of the past! The Cairns Regional Council are currently calling tenders for the construction of high level causeways over both Cooper and Mason Creeks. This will mean that the road all the way to Cape Trib Beach House ...is more or less all-weather. This work is long overdue, and will mean that the last real excuse not to visit Cape Trib in the wet when the forest is at it's best is removed. See you next Green Season! Mason's Tours on Facebook

The Green Season

2010-02-22T14:18:00.000-08:00

On the night of Saturday 20th 2010, Cape Tribulation recieved 256mm of rain, or about 10 inches in the old money. This is entirely normal for this time of the year, and not a really big fall. Our record for a day, set in 1981, is 818mm, or about 33 inches

In fact the road was open again at about 4pm, despite one remaining low level causeway at Cooper Creek. This causeway will be raised this year, and make the road nearly an all weather prospect.

The photo shows Woobadda River on the Bloomfield Track north of Cape Tribulation, with one of Mason's Tours's 4WDs crossing after rain.

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Up close and personal with a Water Dragon

2010-01-21T22:29:00.000-08:00

Last week we saw this large male Water Dragon on the nightwalk. He is a regular this time of the year. Water Dragons are normally very skittish, but soon become habituated to people, as long as they aren't handled or otherwise alarmed.

The people pictured photgraphing this one had just walked under the vine he is sitting on!

Male Water Dragons are significantly larger than females, and form harems of several females. Water Dragons are accomplished swimmers, using their large tail to propel themselves through the water. Even their nostrils ore on top of the nose, allowing easier breathing when in water.

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Scrubhens fight for Territory

2009-12-25T21:04:00.000-08:00

Over the last few weeks we have seen several Scrubhens; they have decided that the area around our houses and the orchard looks like a good new territory. It has been a regular occurance to see a pair wandering around. I love their personalities so it is good to see them around.

Scrubhens are megapodes, also called the Orange Footed Jungle Fowl, they build large mounds of leaves as nests, and the eggs are incubated by the breakdown of the leaves. The process is controlled by the male bird, who adds and removes leaves as needed. The babies are not looked after when they hatch and can fly within a couple of days.

The local aborigines call them 'Cherooka' due to the long drawn out calls that make...Cheroooookaaaa.

The birds we see comprise two pairs, and the new territory is hotly in dispute. It is common to see the males flying up to 4m in the air squawking and packing at each other. They clearly have no love lost...

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4th Generation of the Mason Family arrives

2009-10-25T18:18:00.000-07:00

On 16 October 2009 Amelia Toni Ann Mason was born, and she is the 4th generation of the Mason family to live at Cape Tribulation. She is named after her great grandmothers, Elsie Amelia Dorothea Mason and Toni Berden and her Grandmother Ann Mason. Mother and baby are doing well.

The Cassowaries are back!

2009-10-25T18:12:00.000-07:00

During the last month we have had some great Cassowary sightings on out guided walks. Cassowary poo has been evident on the paths for a few years now and the birds are not bothered by humans at all.

This is very gratifying, because for some time from about 1985 to 2000, cassowaries were rarely seen at Cape Tribulation. Researchers even suggested that at some point they must have been shot, as oral history recorded that they were common at Cape Tribulation as recently as the 1970s. Certainly I can remember them as being common in my childhood.

Although forest clearing and predation by wild pigs definately affects there population, neither would seem to account for the decline in the 90s. In fact some areas of the Daintree maintained very high concentrations of Cassowaries even when other areas showed a decline.

My personal theory is that there must have been some sort of disease that came here in the introduced birds like chickens, ducks and geese that were bought in by settlers, that decimated the Cassowaries here. I suspect that we are now seeing the progeny of the resistant birds, and that is why numbers have been seen to increase from about 2000 onwards....

Masons Tours are now on Facebook

2009-09-16T19:53:00.001-07:00

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Dugong Rescue Cape Tribulation

2009-08-31T15:52:00.000-07:00

On August 17 2009, a tourist came into our shop and reported that he had seen a Dugong (Sea Cow, Manatee) stranded at the southern end of Coconut Beach. I went straight there, verified it, and rang The Bat House and National Parks. The bat House sent volunteers immediately to keep it went an prevent sunburn. They later built a shelter over it.

More locals arrived and a ranger, and it was decided not to wait for the tide which was hours off, but to use a tractor to move it to the sea. Rod from Cape Trib Sea kayaking provided the sling, Jason and Trav from Ocean Safari the muscle, and National Parks the tractor.

A lot of effort saw the dugong returned to the sea and swim away. A great result!

No-one seems sure why the dugong stranded. It was young male, perhaps inexperienced, who was inside the fringing reef at a time of rapid tide movement. maybe he will be more careful next time...

Sorry the pics are in the wrong order...they reversed when I loaded them!

Who is looking at who?

2009-06-21T15:13:00.000-07:00

This White Lipped Green Tree Frog was discovered recently on a Mason's Nightwalk. At times it was hard to work out who was the spectator as the frog moved its head from side to side, checking out the walkers. Everyone was able to get fantastic shots, and this specimen was a really bright green.

White Lipped Green Tree Frogs can be seen any time of year, but are easier to spot in the green season, when they migrate to castal swamps at Cape Tribulation and breed in their thousands. The croaking sound like aboriginal clicking sticks from a distance.

Mason's nightwalks are on real jungle trails, with boardwalks or concrete paths. It is real jungle all the way. The guide carries a spotlight and all guests are given rechargeable flashlights.

Why not try the excitement of a Mason's Nightwalk when you come to the Daintree?

February weather great!

2009-02-19T23:04:00.000-08:00

Despite all the media hype, the weather at Cape Tribulation has been generally fantastic in February. While it is true that some areas, notably Ingham and Karumba have suffered massive floods, we have not.
Ingham is well south of Cairns, near Townsville, and Karumba is on the west coast of Queensland, nowhere near here.
The picture was taken on the Valentine's day weekend, a couple of kilometres east of Cape Trib, and shows the wonderful calm conditions, and blue skys. The fish were biting too!
While it is true that March can be a very wet month here, I urge anyone thinking of coming here to ring first and ask about the weather on 07 40980070, rather than relying on the media.

Mason's Cafe Opens

2009-01-05T21:12:00.000-08:00

Mason's Tours are pleased to announce the opening of Mason's Cafe. The cafe has been operational for some years but was previously leased and traded as Myall Creek Takeaway. Run by Sharon Mason, the cafe serves burgers, fish and chips, sandwiches,wraps, shakes, fresh juices and much more. Sharon is commited to having daily specials, and offerings so far have included Thai Fish Cakes, Salt and Pepper Calamari, Lasagne (including a yummy vego version), and Chicken Pasta salad.

Mason's Cafe sells Tichum Creek Coffee, grown on the Atherton Tableland, west of Cairns. 'Mario's Blend' is delicious, and the ground coffee can be purchased on site if you wish to take some home. Local Daintree Tea is also served, and likewise can be purchased on site.

All cakes and biscuits served on Mason's 4WD Tours are prepared in the Cafe, and being freshly baked are proving popular. Ann Mason has trained Sharon to make all the old favourites such as Banana and Walnut cake so look out for the family recipes on your next Mason's Tour.

Sharon is also making yummy decadent cakes for sale in the cafe well so look out for these when you visit!

Mason's Cafe also can cater to groups who want lunch as a one off or on a regular basis. Please phone 40980016 to order. Our Green season hours will be 1030 to 1600, but this may vary so ring to check if you are not sure.

Mason's Cafe is 34km north of the Daintree Ferry midway between Cape Trib Resort and Spa and PK's Jungle Village

Amazing Crocodile Sighting

2008-02-24T14:03:00.000-08:00

Last week, a nightwalk group went to Myall Creek as usual to look for Crocodiles. We see Crocs on average about half the time, and many of those sightings are simply the eyes shining back at us. As you can imagine, to see a whole Crocodile on foot, you need to be careful to keep safe, and its not always possible to get close enough on foot to get a really good look.
On this occassion, the guide was scanning the water with the spotlight when a huge commotion was heard up stream. The group went to investigate, and from a high bank were able to clearly see about a 3m Crocodile killing what they believe was a wild pig. For around 15 minutes they watched it death roll and snap at the pig. This is a very lucky sighting, and even for the guide, a once in a lifetime sighting.
The next night the Croc was still there, guarding its victim. Later in the week there was no sign, either the Croc moved the body, or it became soft enough to eat!

Boyd's Forest Dragon

2007-12-23T14:59:00.000-08:00

These amazing Lizards are only found from Townsville to Cooktown in the Wet Tropics. Previously named as part of an Asian genus of Dragon Lizards, they are now recognised seperately as Hypsilurus.
Dragon Lizards are 'Agamids' and the Boyd's has the typical habit of favouring the rear legs when on the ground. It gives them a bow legged gait, often described as like a little old man trying to run.
They have a sticky tongue which can shoot out up to 3cm, amd they use this to good effect picking up ants, one of their favourite foods.
Boyd's love sleeping on tree trunks, and are often seen at night clinging tightly to a tree, just like in the picture. They end up the same temperature as the tree, making it harder for things like the Amethystine Python to sense them.
This one is fairly light coloured, but in the morning they darken up, so as to better absorb heat from the air. They tend not to bask in the sun, but more rely on warm air circulating around them. I have seen Boyd's actually holding their body out so air can circulate around them.
Males tend to have larger heads and jaws, and I would say this one is male for that reason. Boyd's are very common at Cape Tribulation, despite being considered fairly rare by textbooks.

Eastern Water Dragon

2007-12-19T23:32:00.000-08:00

Look at the top left! Nightwalkers on a tour in December 2007 are looking at an Eastern water Dragon as the walk along the trail. The water Dragon has chosen a typical spot to sleep; a sloping vine near a small creek.

Eastern Water Dragons live right down the coast as far south as Sydney, and there are several subspecies. Thsi one is almost certainly a female, judging from the size of the head and body. The males can get much larger, I have seen examples well over 1 metre long. (Note that reference books measure lizards snout- vent, which does not incluse the tail)

Eastern Water Dragons tend to form Harems, with one male having a teritory that includes several females. We notice that their range seems to shrink in dry weather and they spread out along smaller creeks when it rains. Water Dragons can swim and dive, and have nostrils on the top of their snout, so it seems they have evolved for some time to be aquatic.

At least once a year someone comes up from our waterhole and says that they have just seen a samll crocodile there. It always turns out to be a Water Dragon!

2007-12-19T23:16:00.000-08:00

This lovely Amethystine Python was seen on a Nightwalk in December 2007. It was about 2m long. Amethystine Pythons get their name because of the wonderful shimmering that you can see off their scales in torchlight or sunlight.

If you look cloesly at the picture you can see this shimmering from the neck down.

This image also allows you to see the heat sensing pits on the nose in front of the eyes, that are characteristic of these pythons. The pits allow the snake to detect the heat of warm blooded prey up to ten metres away!

At the moment the photo was taken, the snake has poked its tongue out. This allows the python to 'taste' the air, something we can only imagine. It has been variously described as a combination of smell and taste all in one.

Amethestine Pythons eat mammals, birds, reptiles, even other snakes! They are not venemous, but have many backward facing teeth to help hold on when they lunge at their prey. They then wrap around and aspyxiate the victim before swallowing it. They grow commonly to 4 metres long, and occassionally to as long as 8.6m. Large examples can eat dogs, pigs, and other large animals.

2007-12-19T23:02:00.000-08:00

Thsi photo was taken on a nightwalk in December 2007. It is a great view of a common frog at Cape Tribulation, The White Lipped Green Tree Frog. These frogs live througout the forest, but migrate to coastal swaps to breed when the heavy rains fill the swamps.

Their calls are loud, from a distance it sounds like millions of aboriginal clicking sticks, closer it is a distict brack-ack, brack-ack.

Only the males call, and the calls are dual purpose, to repel other males and attract females. Apparently the females can select the best male frog from the calls. In my opinion these are the most spectacular frog we have here, and I never get tired of looking at them.

Extreme Crossing of Eammagen Creek

2007-11-18T17:18:00.000-08:00

This crossing was made after an early start to the wet season in 2000. The group had to wait for the water to recede before coming home after a flash flood. Mason's Tours have fitted their vehicles with snorkels and winches to make rare crossings this deep safer. Out of the image is another Mason's 4WD with a towrope ready just in case! The drivers had also walked the crossing to check depth, rocks and current prior to driving in. The crossing was succesful!

Green Season Arives

2007-11-18T16:55:00.000-08:00

Over the last three days Cape Tribulation has experienced about 250mm of rain, and the whole area has changed from brown to green. Creeks and rivers that had slowed to a trickle are now flowing fast, and there are frogs everywhere!
Today the weather has improved, and it is forecast to be reasonably fine later in the week. A Wet or 'Green' Season is a bit like a winter, in that the worst of the weather rarely persists the whole season. Generally there arer rain periods interpersed with periods of calm, fine weather.
In my view, this is the best time to see the forest. The rivers run strong and clear, the waterfalls are spectacular, and the wildlife at its best.
Cape Tribulation has plenty of good accommodation, with either air-conditioned roooms, or well ventilated designs with fans, so you can sleep in comfort after a days exploring.
Visitors are often coinfused about waht to wear...I tell them swimwear with shorts and a t-shirt. Although we provide raincoats, the rain is usually so warm, its more fun to get wet. A 'sacrificial' pair of shoes is also a good idea. Most activities require footwear, so a set of cheap sneakers that you don't mind getting wet is a godsend.
Seeing the Daintree Rainforest in the rain is a fantastic experience, one I recommend. Don't be sad about the rain, enjoy the forest at its best!

Nightwalk Sightings August Sept 07

2007-10-21T15:57:00.000-07:00

The Weather has continued very cool the last couple of months with temperatures as low as 10 Celsius still being recorded. I am sure some Cape Trib residents had to buy new wardrobes!Snake sightings have stayed low, with very few snake sightings recoded at all. The good news is when it warmed up they were all hungry and now we are seeing plenty. The other day when I dropped an account at a local B+B, Rainforest Hideaway, a fair sized python was curled up next to the pond there. No doubt the resident frogs were nervous…
During August and into September the Boyd’s Dragons and Water Dragons were very hard to find, but now that the weather has warmed up, we are seeing plenty. One of our guides, Jennie, started nightwalks in June, and so has had her first three months with few Dragon Lizard Sightings. She commented last week on the sudden change in situation, having seen 4 dragons in one night!
Despite the cooler weather, possum sightings have been poor. The forest is now very thick, having recovered from the 99 cyclone fully, and I suspect this makes possums harder to find.
Croc sightings have been better, since last report. We are now back to about 50% sighting rate, which is where it should be. I am at a loss to explain why the sightings dropped this year, perhaps it was the cold weather…
Many native rats have been seen in these months, representing all the common species. In particular there are lots of Melomys about, and we usually find these by listening for the chewing sound as they use their sharp teeth to open seeds. Quandong seeds are still abundant, and the rats love these.
We have also been seeing Bandicoots regularly, and there seems to still be a healthy population of Northern Brown Bandcoots in the valley. Sometimes we also see the Long Nosed Bandicoot too.
Sleeping Birds are still being seen often, and this will continue until the weather warms up more. Even then, on rainy nights, amny birds sleep low down in the forest.Glowing Fungi has also been present most of the time when wet but hard to find when it is drier.Now that all the reptiles are getting hungry and thinking about reproducing, it’s a great time to do a nightwalk! See you on one soon!

Diadem Leaf Nosed Bat

2007-08-10T18:31:00.000-07:00

Nightwalk Sightings Summary June/July 07 for Mason’s Tours

2007-08-10T18:26:00.000-07:00

The Weather has been very cool the last couple of months with temperatures as low as 8 Celsius being recorded. This has made all the guides freeze, not to mention the wildlife!

Snake sightings have of course dropped off substantially, with very few snake sightings recoded at all.
The Boyd’s Forest Dragons have been quiet with few seen. Eastern Water Dragon have been around on rainy nights, but even these have been scarce.
Frog sightings have also declined as it gets colder, but we are still seeing Lace Lids regularly and also Stoney Creek Frogs when it rains. There have also been some very good White Lipped Green Tree Frog sightings despite the cold. Most Frogs are much less active until it warms up, but fortunately some still come out to feed.
There have been good Striped Possum sightings, with one sighting having the possum only a couple of metres away. It was a young possum, and didn’t seem to scared of us at all! There are still lots of dead trees around after the 99 cyclone, and this means there are many larvae to be found, which Stripey Possums love.
Croc sightings have been average, the Crocs are also less active when the nights are cold. The same three crocs are still in Myall Creek, and we have seen two in a night on occasion. Cape Trib Horserides have also reported seeing crocs on the bank of Myall Creek during the day.
Many native rats have been seen in these months, representing all the common species. In particular there are lots of Melomys about, and we usually find these by listening for the chewing sound as they use their sharp teeth to open seeds. The Quandongs have just finished fruiting and the Melomys love these seeds.
We have also been seeing Bandicoots regularly, and there seems to still be a healthy population of Northern Brown Bandcoots in the valley.
The cool weather has also resulted in good sightings of sleeping birds, with up to five species seen some nights. These include Spectacled Monarchs, Honeyeaters, Noisy Pittas, Scrubhens, and Silvereyes.
Glowing Fungi has also been present most of the time when wet but hard to find when it is drier.
The good thing about all the cool weather is that when it warms up there are going to be a lot of hungry reptiles around and we expect a sharp improvement in sightings then.
Hope to see you on a Nightwalk in August!!!

2007-08-09T15:57:00.000-07:00

Mason's Tours add Aboriginal content

2007-08-09T15:54:00.000-07:00

Cape Tribulation’s long established tour operator, Mason’s Tours, have joined with Wujal Wujal’s indigenous family businesses Walker Family Tours to offer an Aboriginal guided walk at Bloomfield Falls. Lawrence Mason said the Walkers would conduct their 30 minute walk and talk to the falls on both half and full day 4WD tours operated by Masons.

“The Bloomfield Falls, after which Wujal Wujal is named, is a place of great significance to the area’s traditional owners. The Walker women explain their connection to the land and bring guests inside a living culture in a very unique way. We are extremely happy to be working with the Walker family and believe this gives us the opportunity to now offer the best possible experience to our visitors,” said Lawrence Mason.

The Walker Family Tours section of the 4WD tour will include a morning or afternoon tea. The Bloomfield Falls is a pristine, 40 metre waterfall surounded by lush, World Heritge-listed rainforest. Mason’s Tours operate from Cape Tribulation or Cow Bay, and have just added a third 4WD vehicle to their fleet to cope with the demand during the 2007 peak season.

2007-08-09T15:42:00.001-07:00

2007-08-09T15:42:00.000-07:00

Wet Season 2007 Nightwalk sightings

2007-04-12T21:51:00.000-07:00

The sightings have been good during the last four months, our dry spell has ended but the wet season has not been particularly severe. The wildlife sightings have been generally excellent.Many snakes have been seen this year, including nights where multiple snakes have been encountered. Amethystine Pythons, Carpet Pythons and Spotted Pythons have all been seen. Other species including the Brown Tree Snake have also been seen. Mason’s Tours manager, Lawrence Mason has a very large Brown Tree Snake which lives in the ceiling of his house. Although the house was built with a fully sealed ceiling, the snake has found away in by going through a hole where LPG gas is piped in.
The snake does no harm, and keeps the rats away, so we have not worried about it, although the house can seem haunted as it moves around. Recently our local electrician was employed to run some wires for our backup power system and not knowing about the serpentine resident in the ceiling climbed up there to confronted by 3m of defensive snake! He will be more careful getting in there next time!Boyd’s Forest Dragon sightings have excellent, due to the rain. They are one of the most photogenic of all our rainforest creatures and are often seen on wet nightsEastern Water Dragons have also been active. At times like last year, we were seeing 4 a night. Mason’s have a large permanent stream central to their trails, and thus we see more Water Dragons than other operators. Male Water dragons are harem forming, and much larger than females. We have seen them up to 1.5m long. (Note reptile books measure lizards snout to anus and thus the tail length is left off)With the onset of the cooler weather, the lovely Striped Possums are again here. One of our guides, marina recently saw two of these in one night. They particularly like to feed in the Fan Palms, getting larvae from the Fan Palm Fabric at the base of the leaves.
Croc sightings have also been great too, with even passers by seeing the croc in Myall Creek. We have seen the eyes or in many cases the whole animal right through the wet season.
Native rats have not been seen much at all. Wet weather means less food and less locations for burrows. Native rats have population ‘tides’ and low tide is usually the wet weather. More will be seen as the population rises in winter.We have also been seeing a few Bandicoots , and there seems to still be a healthy population of Northern Brown Bandicoots in the valley. Long Nosed Bandicoots have also been seen a bit.Hope to see you on a Nightwalk in May, June July or August!!!

Ocean Hotels License Mason's Tours

2007-04-12T19:50:00.000-07:00

Mason’s Tours are proud to announce that they have secured the license to operate 4WD Tours from the Ocean Hotels’ Cape Tribulation properties. Mason’s will offer quality Full and Half Day 4WD Touring from Coconut Beach Resort, Ferntree Lodge, and The Jungle Lodge. Mason’s Tours are Cape Tribulation’s original land tour operators and the manager, Lawrence Mason said today ‘ I look forward to working closely with Ocean Hotels to provide the best possible 4WD Touring experience to visitors to the Daintree’. For more information on Ocean Hotels and Mason’s Tours go to www.oceanhotels.com.au and www.masonstours.com.au ‘

Amethystine Python seen on Nightwalk

2006-12-25T17:30:00.000-08:00

Nightwalk Sightings Sept - Dec 06

2006-12-25T16:29:00.000-08:00

This year has been unusual, in that we have not really had any very hot weather. This has meant a slow start to snake and other reptile sightings. (but nice cool nights for humans!)

It wasn't really until November that we started to see many snakes on the Nightwalks, but once we did there were plenty around, with up to 4 snakes being seen in one night in December. Several species have been seen, with the most spectacular being a 4m Amethystine Python, coiled up beside the path! Amethystine Pythons are Australia's largest snake species, with an 8.6m example having been recorded. They do like pets however, and anyone with cats, small dogs, chickens, or in the case of one our guides, rehabilitating Fruit bats needs to be careful or their pets become python fodder.

Likewise the Forest Dragons have not been as visible, usually we see many more of these as soon as the rain starts. During September and October there were a number of Gravid (pregnant) females around, but they appear to have all laid by now. Likewise the Water Dragons have all laid eggs and the babies have hatched, at least this has been our observation along Myall Creek. Cool years are probably harder for these creatures, as there are less insects than usual.

The dry weather has been good to the Native Rats, and we have had many good sightings of Melomys, Cape York Rats, Prehensile Tailed Rats, and White Tailed Rats. Rats are to a degree dependent on good weather, the smaller species tend to suffer population declines when there is prolonged rain.

Crocodile sightings have been good, with regualr good sightings of up to 3 different Crocs. Sadly this year here we had a Crocodile trapped and removed from a local creek, despite local opposition. It had bitten a tourist, but only after extreme provocation from the tourist, who actually was silly enough to get in the water with it and slap a stick on the water. We feel that Crocs should not generally be removed from wilderness locations such as this, especially if the attack is the result of blatant stupidity as this was.

Generally other sightings have been good with most nights groups seeing sleeping birds, insects and spiders, and even the occasional Striped Possum. Frogs have been a little active, but will surely be present in huge numbers once the rain begins. Rainy warm weather really is the best time to see wildlfe here.

See you on a rainy Nightwalk in 2007!

Nightwalk Sightings Summary Jan – May 06 for Mason’s Tours

2006-06-18T22:12:00.000-07:00

The sightings have been average during the last five months, our dry spell has been replaced with the wettest weather for years! So far nearly 5m of rain has fallen in 2006! Although wet weather often results in improved sightings, this year’s deluge appears to have even put the wildlife off…

Snake sightings have been poor generally. We have seen only a few Amethystine Pythons and some Brown Tree Snakes. The largest snake of the season was seen by me in suburban Manoora, a suburb of Cairns. This was a whopping 3 to 4 m Python, easily 20kg or so! Must be some nervous cats in that street. Parks and Wildlife told me that these snakes adapt well to suburbia, and live in roof spaces and the like. It sure surprised me!

Boyd’s Forest Dragon sightings have been average too, even with all the rain. These lizards are often found on tree trunks at eye level, which makes for great viewing. Boyd’s Forest Dragons are only found in the wet tropics from Townsville to Cooktown and are a special thing to see here.

Eastern Water Dragons have been the exception, and proved a reliable sighting during the wet. At times we were seeing 4 a night. Mason’s have a large permanent stream central to their trails, and thus we see more Water Dragons than other operators. Male Water dragons are harem forming, and much larger than females. We have seen them up to 1.5m long. (Note reptile books measure lizards snout to anus and thus the tail length is left off)
Leaf tailed Geckos have not been seen much. We usually see more of these around May. Their camouflage is really amazing. They are often seen on tree trunks facing downwards, presumably hunting for insects. Once found, they are seen sometimes for several nights on the same tree.
Frog sightings great at the start of the wet, but there was so much rain that I think they bred until they could do no more.
Few Striped Possums have been sighted during this time. There are still lots of dead trees around after the 99 cyclone, and this means there are many larvae to be found, which Stripey Possums love. We often here the noisy little fellows before we see them, as they make a real racket searching for food. I expect more of these to be seen during the winter months.
Croc sightings have also been average; the Crocs have perhaps been traveling during the warm weather. I expect the sightings will improve now that the weather has cooled down. In fact the last week has seen some really good Croc sightings.
Native rats have not been seen much at all. Wet weather means less food and less locations for burrows. Native rats have population ‘tides’ and low tide is usually the wet weather. More will be seen as the population rises in winter.

We have also been seeing a few Bandicoots , and there seems to still be a healthy population of Northern Brown Bandicoots in the valley. Long Nosed Bandicoots have also been seen a bit.

Hope to see you on a Nightwalk in June July or August!!!

2006-01-05T19:39:00.000-08:00

This small crocodile has been seen recently near the Bloomdield Falls on our 4WD Tours

2006-01-05T17:20:00.000-08:00

Paul Mason Guiding a Walk At Cape Tribulation

Nightwalk Sightings Summary Oct - Dec 05 for Mason’s Tours

2006-01-05T17:09:00.001-08:00

The sightings have been good during the last three months, considering the dry spell we have had. In fact it has been the driest since 1992, with all the grass dying and Cape trib looking browner than it has in years! Rain on 23 December and since has made the place undergo a quick colour change back to green though.

Snake sightings have been fair, more so during December.
We have seen several Amethystine Pythons, some as long as three metres. These friendly and handsome snakes are common at Cape Tribulation. They get their name from the shimmering amethyst colour they display under light. These are constrictors, and are not venomous at all. The biggest one ever recorded was 8.6m long. Mason’s Tours have several times seen 5m plus individuals on their trails.

Boyd’s Forest Dragon sightings have been poor, up until the rain. These lizards are often found on tree trunks at eye level, which makes for great viewing. Boyd’s Forest Dragons are only found in the wet tropics from Townsville to Cooktown and are a special thing to see here. Since the rain, up to 4 per night have been seen.
Eastern Water Dragons have also quiet until the rain. In fact 2 dead ones were found during the height of the dry. Their bodies were unmarked, but it would seem the dry weather in some way caused their demise. Mason’s have a large permanent stream central to their trails, and thus we see more Water Dragons than other operators. Male Water dragons are harem forming, and much larger than females. We have seen them up to 1.5m long. (Note reptile books measure lizards snout to anus and thus the tail length is left off)
Leaf tailed Geckos have not been seen much. We usually see more of these around May. Their camouflage is really amazing. They are often seen on tree trunks facing downwards, presumably hunting for insects. Once found, they are seen sometimes for several nights on the same tree.
Frog sightings have been excellent since the rain, and most nights the sound of croaking can be heard. So far it has not been wet enough for breeding, but believe me the frogs are ready and waiting!
Some Striped Possums have been seen, on all areas of the tracks. There are still lots of dead trees around after the 99 cyclone, and this means there are many larvae to be found, which Stripey Possums love. We often here the noisy little fellows before we see them, as they make a real racket searching for food.
Croc sightings have been good; the Crocs have been seen on well over 50% of the walks. On several occasions the whole croc has been seen on the surface. The largest seems to be about 2.5m long and is not that worried about us looking at him. The are still three crocs are still in Myall Creek, and we have seen two in a night on occasion. People have also reported seeing crocs on the bank of Myall Creek during the day.

Native rats have been active; the lack of really heavy rains means their numbers have been staying high. In particular there are lots of Melomys about, and we usually find these by listening for the chewing sound as they use their sharp teeth to open seeds. These same sharp teeth can wreak havoc in your house, and Melomys are fond of moving in with locals!!!
We have also been seeing Bandicoots regularly, and there seems to still be a healthy population of Northern Brown Bandicoots in the valley. Long Nosed Bandicoots have also been seen a bit.

Hope to see you on a Nightwalk in January, February or March!!!

Mason’s Tours Founder Passes Away

2006-01-05T17:09:00.000-08:00

Paul Mason 05/09/1937 – 18/09/05

Andrew Paul Mason (known as Paul), who had lived at Cape Tribulation nearly all his life, passed away in the ICU at Cairns Base Hospital on Sunday 18 September 2005, after a short illness.
Paul was born in 1937, not long after his parents moved there from Cow Bay. He spent a lot of his childhood in the area, and it was probably then that he started his love of fishing. He often said to his son that he remembered his brother Don taking him fishing, and later in life they were able to enjoy that again, until Don passed away in 2003.
After school Paul worked in various aspects of the family business, including timber cutting, and Mason Shipping. Mason Shipping was originally started for the benefit of the farm at Cape Tribulation, but ended up becoming much larger and took Paul all over Cape York. During the timber cutting years, Paul learned a great deal about the Rainforest, and this knowledge was used years later when he began guided walks.
His experience during the timber years also lead to his belief in the need for conservation of North Queensland’s Rainforests, and he was in later life able to share his firsthand knowledge of the damage caused by logging with many researchers who came to the area.
He had a serious fall in the rainforest when 17, he fell a long way down a series of cascades while walking on Mt Hemmant, and broke his pelvis. As a result, he reckoned he always knew when it was going to rain!
Paul traveled to the then British Solomon Islands in the early 1960s and worked as an Agricultural Advisor, and while there met and married Ann. (They celebrated there 40th wedding anniversary in March 2005.) They returned to Australia and purchased land at Cape Tribulation and ran cattle for many years, before moving into tourism.
During the 1970s Paul worked for the Douglas Shire, mostly on Cape Tribulation Road and always said it was while doing this that he got the idea of offering tours to visitors. In 1981, Paul founded what is now Mason’s Tours, doing guided day walks on his land and in Oliver and Noah Creek Valleys. Next year will see 25 years of operation by this business.
Paul Mason was a pioneer not only at cape Tribulation, but also of a style of tourism that today is the mainstay of the region. We call it eco-tourism, but Paul did not like the term, as he believed that true eco-tourism would be really different and more sympathic to the environment. When Mason’s Tours began in 1981, with Paul as the sole guide, it would have been one of only a few, if any similar businesses in the whole of North Queensland.
Paul and Ann’s refusal to sell land to agents or subdivide at any time has had a profound impact on how Cape Tribulation developed.
Paul and Ann were also founding members of The Cape Tribulation Community Council, which was instrumental in the founding of The Cape Tribulation National Park.
Paul and Ann took on The Cape Tribulation Shop in 1977, originally started by the Mann family, who rented a house off them. This business recently moved to a location closer to the road, and many people will remember Paul on his comfy stool working there.
Paul wished to be cremated privately with no fuss or fanfare, and his wishes were be carried out. His ashes will be scattered on the land, in the forest and on his favourite fishing spots.
He is survived by wife Ann, son Lawrence (manager of Mason’s Tours), and daughter Suari.

2005-04-15T17:15:00.000-07:00

This is the biggest we have seen the Falls - water was over the bonnet and up to the windscreen when we crossed the causeway!!! (high tide meant no current to wash us away)

Bloomfield Track Conditions April 2005

2005-04-15T17:12:00.000-07:00

After a below average wet season The Bloomfield Track is easily trafficable. There are some potholes and minor washouts, but nothing to stop a 4WD. Care needs to be taken a creek crossings.
The creek crossings are rocky but passable, low clearance 4WDs need to plan a course through them to avoid the bigger rocks. Woobadda Riveris the worst.
The Bloomfield Causeway has been damaged and drivers need to stay on the upstream side to avoid sections that have subsided. Also remember that the causeway is tidal, and at tides over 2.4m the causeway is affected. The amount of fresh water alters (increases) the effect. Plan to cross at low tide.
There are several washouts where the road has been reduced to one lane and the going is very slow.
Lawrence Mason has produced a comprehensive Cape Tribualtion to Cooktown Map which you can buy locally for around $5. It contains 2 pages of 4WDriving Tips, a trip meter map and detailed Cooktown Street Map. In full colour, it is a must have for self drivers.
Mason’s Tours are operating on the road and their comfortable vehicles have long travel suspension that soaks up most of the bumps. Additionally we carry extensive recovery and safety equipment so we can tackle most obstacles the track throws at us.
Mason’s Tours also modify their Lancruisers so the rear row of passengers has 10cm more legroom than standard Landcruisers.
We have a Satellite phone, which is carried on the vehicle returning last each day.
Contact us for a memorable experience on the Bloomfield Track!

2005-04-15T16:53:00.000-07:00

The Brown Tree Snake is commonly seen here, did you now these snakes are an introduced pest on the Isalnd of Guam??

2005-04-15T16:52:00.000-07:00

The rare Lace Lid Frog

2005-04-15T16:47:00.000-07:00

Masons Tours Staff with a 4.6m Python in the 1980s

Nightwalk Sightings Summary Jan - March 05 for Mason’s Tours

2005-04-15T15:55:00.000-07:00

The sightings have been very good during the last three months.

Snake sightings have been excellent, more so during March.
We have seen numerous Amethystine Pythons, some as long as three metres. These friendly and handsome snakes are common at Cape Tribulation. They get their name from the shirring amethyst colour they display under light. These are constrictors, and are not venomous at all. The biggest one ever recorded was 8.6m long. Mason’s Tours have several times seen 5m plus individuals on their trails.

Boyd’s Forest Dragon sightings have been regular. These lizards are often found on tree trunks at eye level, which makes for great viewing. Boyd’s Forest Dragons are only found in the wet tropics from Townsville to Cooktown and are a special thing to see here.
Eastern Water Dragons have also been seen most nights. Mason’s have a large permanent stream central to their trails, and thus we see more Water Dragons than other operators. Male Water dragons are harem forming, and much larger than females. We have seen them up to 1.5m long. (Note reptile books measure lizards snout to anus and thus the tail length is left off)
Leaf tailed Geckos have not been seen much. We usually see more of these around May. Their camouflage is really amazing. They are often seen on tree trunks facing downwards, presumably hunting for insects. Once found, they are seen sometimes for several nights on the same tree.
Frog sightings have been excellent, as we are in wet season, we are still seeing Lace Lids regularly and also Stony Creek Frogs when it rains. White Lipped Green Tree Frogs have been very active, and we have seen many other species as well. Frog sightings will decline as it gets drier.
Some Striped Possums have been seen, on all areas of the tracks. There are still lots of dead trees around after the 99 cyclone, and this means there are many larvae to be found, which Stripey Possums love. We often here the noisy little fellows before we see them, as they make a real racket searching for food.
Croc sightings have been good; the Crocs have been seen on well over 50% of the walks. The are still three crocs are still in Myall Creek, and we have seen two in a night on occasion. People have also reported seeing crocs on the bank of Myall Creek during the day.

Native rats have been active; the lack of really heavy rains means their numbers have been staying high. In particular there are lots of Melomys about, and we usually find these by listening for the chewing sound as they use their sharp teeth to open seeds. These same sharp teeth can wreak havoc in your house, and Melomys are fond of moving in with locals!!!
We have also been seeing Bandicoots regularly, and there seems to still be a healthy population of Northern Brown Bandicoots in the valley. Long Nosed Bandicoots have also been seen a bit.
Hope to see you on a Nightwalk in April May or

Nightwalk Sightings Summary Aug/Sept 04 for Mason’s Tours

2004-10-17T15:52:00.001-07:00

Once again the sightings have been quite good during the last two months.

Snake sightings have slightly, more so during September as the weather warmed up. One night a group saw three snakes, definite evidence that the snakes are waking up and feeling hungry, as they do at this time of the year. The next two months should be great for snake sightings

There has still been regular Boyd’s Forest Dragon sightings despite the dry weather. Eastern Water Dragons haven’t been seen much and I don’t expect we will see any until it rains a bit.
Leaftailed Geckos are still very active. Despite their camoflage we have seen quite a few of these amazing lizards. They are often seen on tree trunks facing downwards, presumably hunting for insects. Once found, they are seen sometimes for several nights on the same tree.
Frog sightings have remained slow, as we are in the dry season, but we are still seeing Lace Lids regularly and also Stoney Creek Frogs when it rains. Most Frogs are much less active until it warms up.
Lots of Striped Possums have been seen, on all areas of the tracks.There are still lots of dead trees around after the 99 cyclone, and this means there are many larvae to be found, which Stripey Possums love. We often hear the noisy little fellows before we see them, as they make a real racket searching for food.
Croc sightings have been good, the Crocs have been seen on well over 50% of the walks. The are still three crocs are still in Myall Creek, and we have seen two in a night on occasion. People have also reported seeing crocs on the bank of Myall Creek during the day. More importantly we have had a sighting on the beach at night during august. I always believed that crocs rarely if ever venture into the ocean during winter, but have now amended my beliefs!

Many native rats have been seen in August and September, representing all the common species. In particular there are lots of Melomys about, and we usually find these by listening for the chewing sound as they use their sharp teeth to open seeds. This is the time of the year the rodent population peaks, and they are everywhere.
We have also been seeing Bandicoots regularly, and there seems to still be a healthy population of Northern Brown Bandcoots in the valley. Long Nosed Bandicoots have also been seen a bit.

Hope to see you on a Nightwalk in October or November!!!

Nightwalk Sightings Summary Aug/Sept 04 for Mason’s Tours

2004-10-17T15:52:00.000-07:00

Once again the sightings have been quite good during the last two months.

Snake sightings have slightly, more so during September as the weather warmed up. One night a group saw three snakes, definite evidence that the snakes are waking up and feeling hungry, as they do at this time of the year. The next two months should be great for snake sightings

There has still been regular Boyd’s Forest Dragon sightings despite the dry weather. Eastern Water Dragons haven’t been seen much and I don’t expect we will see any until it rains a bit.
Leaftailed Geckos are still very active. Despite their camoflage we have seen quite a few of these amazing lizards. They are often seen on tree trunks facing downwards, presumably hunting for insects. Once found, they are seen sometimes for several nights on the same tree.
Frog sightings have remained slow, as we are in the dry season, but we are still seeing Lace Lids regularly and also Stoney Creek Frogs when it rains. Most Frogs are much less active until it warms up.
Lots of Striped Possums have been seen, on all areas of the tracks.There are still lots of dead trees around after the 99 cyclone, and this means there are many larvae to be found, which Stripey Possums love. We often here the noisy little fellows before we see them, as they make a real racket searching for food.
Croc sightings have been good, the Crocs have been seen on well over 50% of the walks. The are still three crocs are still in Myall Creek, and we have seen two in a night on occasion. People have also reported seeing crocs on the bank of Myall Creek during the day. More importantly we have had a sighting on the beach at night during august. I always believed that crocs rarely if ever venture into the ocean during winter, but have now amended my beliefs!

Many native rats have been seen in August and September, representing all the common species. In particular there are lots of Melomys about, and we usually find these by listening for the chewing sound as they use their sharp teeth to open seeds. This is the time of the year the rodent population peaks, and they are everywhere.
We have also been seeing Bandicoots regularly, and there seems to still be a healthy population of Northern Brown Bandcoots in the valley. Long Nosed Bandicoots have also been seen a bit.

Hope to see you on a Nightwalk in October or November!!!

The Bloomfield Track current conditions

2004-07-28T15:15:00.000-07:00

Despite the good wet season The Bloomfield Track remains in reasonable condition. Parts of the road were impassable in March due to landslides and flooding and washouts at creek crossings, but these have been fixed and the road has been open since April.
The pictures show
· Emmagen Creek in flood, when it is this high there is no hope of crossing and if you try you get washed away as some have discovered.
· A landslide between Cape Tribulation and Emmagen – there were actually two of about the same size

At the moment the road is somewhat potholed and there are some slippery sections after rain where all the gravel has washed off.
The Douglas Shire Coucnil is grading the road, and have passed Emmagen Creek
The creek crossings are rocky but passable, low clearance 4WDs need to plan a course through them to avoid the bigger rocks. Woobadda is the worst.
The Bloomfield Causeway has been damaged and drivers need to stay on the upstream side to avoid sections that have subsided.
There are several washouts where the road has been reduced to one lane and the going is very slow. This will improve when the Grader reaches those sections.

Mason’s Tours are operating on the road and their comfortable vehicles have long travel suspension that soaks up most of the bumps. Additionally we carry extensive recovery and safety equipment so we can tackle most obstacles the track throws at us. We have just purchased a Satellite phone, which is carried on the vehicle returning last each day. We aim to have a Satellite phone for each vehicle by the end of this year.

Contact us for a memorable experience on the Bloomfield Track!

Nightwalk Sightings Summary June/July 04 for Mason’s Tours

2004-07-27T22:07:00.000-07:00

Despite the weather being very cool the sightings have been quite good during the last two months.

Snake sightings have of course dropped off substantially, but there have still been sightings of Brown Tree Snakes, Spotted Pythons and several sightings of large Amethyst Pythons.
The Boyd’s Forest Dragons have been quiet, but we have seen a few on rainy nights as well as the odd Eastern Water Dragon. These Dragons seem to prefer to sleep outside on rainy nights! No one is quite sure why but they are definitely easier to find when it rains.
There have been some nice Leaftailed Geckos about as well. I suspect we miss a lot of these due to their excellent camoflage. Even with the large tail it is difficult to spot these lizards. Its amazing to see one of these lick each eye in turn!!! They keep the eyes moist in this way.
Frog sightings have also declined as it gets colder, but we are still seeing Lace Lids regularly and also Stoney Creek Frogs when it rains. Most Frogs are much less active until it warms up.
There have been a few Striped Possums about, but we are not seeing as many as last year. This may well be due to the Cyclone damage healing making it easier for these little guys to hide in the vegetation. There are still lots of dead trees around after the 99 cyclone, and this means there are many larvae to be found, which Stripey Possums love.
Croc sightings have been average, the Crocs are also less active when the nights are cold. The same three crocs are still in Myall Creek, and we have seen two in a night on occasion. People have also reported seeing crocs on the bank of Myall Creek during the day.
Many native rats have been seen in these months, representing all the common species. In particular there are lots of Melomys about, and we usually find these by listening for the chewing sound as they use their sharp teeth to open seeds.
We have also been seeing Bandicoots regularly, and there seems to be a healthy population of Northern Brown Bandcoots in the valley.
The cool weather has also resulted in good sightings of sleeping birds, with up to five species seen some nights. These include Spectacled Monarchs, Honeyeaters, Noisy Pittas, Scrubhens, and Silvereyes.
Glowing Fungi has also been present most of the time with some spectacular displays.Hope to see you on a Nightwalk in August!!!

2004-05-30T23:14:00.000-07:00

Emmagen Creek in flood 18 March 2004

2004-05-30T23:12:00.000-07:00

Landslide on The Bloomfield Track March 2004

2004-05-24T15:57:00.000-07:00

A Brown Tree Snake (Night Tiger)

2004-05-24T15:55:00.000-07:00

Tube Nosed Bat

2004-05-24T15:54:00.000-07:00

Boyd's Forest Dragon

Nightwalk sighting Summary for May 2004

2004-05-23T22:29:00.000-07:00

Mason’s Tours Cape Tribulation
(the only Croc Spotting Nightwalk in the area)

Nightwalk sightings on Mason’s Tours in May 2004 have been so far been generally good, but the dry weather and the first cool nights resulted in a general decline in sightings.
The Boyd’s Dragons have been reliable as always. It has been usual to see at least one dragon most nights. Boyd’s Dragons are the original tree hugger, usually allowing full contact between their belly and a tree. It has been suggested that this makes them the same temperature as the tree, and hard to find for things like Pythons, which use infrared to sense prey. I am not sure about this, as I reckon a python would be reluctant to swallow a full grown spiky Boyds! One Dragon seen was so tiny it must have been hatched only recently.
Melomys, which are cute little native rats have been seen a bit despite the fact that big wet seasons usually cause their population to decline. Often on nightwalks you will hear them before you see them. Once you hear a gnawing sound, all you need to do is stop and look closely at the surrounding low vegetation and you will often find the culprit sitting on a leaf nearby. It seems to take them up to 30 minutes to break through some seed cases and get to the seeds inside.
There have been sightings of several other native rodents, including Cape York Rats, White Tailed rats, rare Prehensile Tailed Rats and even a rare Water Rat (Hydromys)
Crocodile sightings have been average, with Crocs seen on about 25% of the tours. In some of these cases, we have seen the whole body of the croc, really exciting to get such a good look at night! It seems that there are two medium sized crocs in Myall Creek, and one very small one who spends most of his time upstream.
Striped Possums have been active this month as well, with several sightings. These noisy little fellows are often seen on Fan Palms, but many of the dead trees left from cyclone Rona have been attracting them due to the amount of larvae inside. Striped Possums are amazing to watch, using their paws to tap and listen for likely hollows. They then rip away at the rotting timber to access the yummy larvae inside! We also saw one last week attacking the bottom of a large fern with gusto, there must have been something yummy inside!
Water Dragons have also been seen often in May. Like the Boyd’s Dragon, these are often found sleeping on horizontal vines or branches. They are much more skittish than the Boyd’s, however, and we have to be much more careful not to disturb them. Water Dragons are harem forming, and as such the males are much larger than the females, some males reach 1.5 metres long including the tail! Over the last 2 years researchers have been coming to our land (and other areas) to look at various aspects of the Water Dragon lifecycle, particularly comparing them with what happens in more southerly populations.

During the periods of rainy weather, we have been treated to some spectacular areas of Glowing Fungi. The light we see is chemical reaction, two enzymes, luciferin and luciferase mix and the reaction makes the light. It is certainly a special thing to see.
Fireflies are also being seen more often, and they have a much more direct control over the bioluminescence and produce a flashing light, which is used as a means of communication.
Insect and spider sighting have been good, this is an active time for our smaller beasties as well. Few nights have gone past where we have not seen various cricket species, spiders and other insects. Some of the more unusual include Wood Weevils, Giraffe Weevils, Scutigeramorph (Long legged Centipede!), Scorpions and Net Casting Spiders.
We have seen quite a few snakes this month with Adam seeing 7 snakes on one walk! Slaty Greys, Amethystine Pythons and Brown Tree Snakes have been the most common. As the weather cools, we expect to see less snakes, but our 15 years of records tells us that we often see the biggest snakes in June!