Newell Beach Takeaway - on the way to Daintree

On the Esplanade at Newell Beach

I know it is pushing it to call Newell Beach as Daintree but it is on the way to Daintree.

There are new owners and a much bigger lunch time menu.

We had a pizza and a seafood basket.

The pizza was OK but the Spanish Mackerel and chips were excellent. Next time I would skip the seafood basket and just have the fish $8 and $3 chips = $11

I eat fish and chips a lot in Port Douglas and I would rate the Newell Beach Takeaway as better than the Port Douglas ones except for the Little Larder. Price is better as well.

Croc Expresso - Daintree Village

Denise with friends from Melbourne, Peter and Inez.

On a lovely winter's day we set off for the Daintree Village for lunch. It was a stunning 27 degree day with few clouds and light winds. Still being off season we could easily park in Stewart Street outside the Croc Expresso and just over the road from the Australiana Museum in the Riverview Caravan Park. The museums curator Sally, showed us around and we marvelled at the extent of this hidden treasure. We had seen it before years ago, thought it quaint and took a photo:

This photo was taken years ago - these days there is hardly any space especially on the wall you see here.

It was lunch time and the options at Daintree Village are:

Free electric BBQ in Pioneers Park, Big Barramundi Garden, Croc Expresso Cafe and the Daintree Village Hotel.

We chose the Croc Expresso Cafe. What we liked was that it was easily the most popular, it was BYO and you could buy wine at retail prices at the hotel next door if you hadn't brought any.

Readers of our blogs would know that we aim for BYO restaurants and are not keen on spending high prices for wine especially at lunch time. We came prepared and our wine comes from Dan Murphy's in Smithfield, between Cairns and Port Douglas - Daintree. 

Good table wines there are under $10 and many around the $5 mark if you by the case. 

Spanish Mackerel

On the menu in the seafood department was Barramundi and Spanish Mackerel. Mackerel is a good choice because it is healthy, reasonably priced and usually delicious. When dining in the far north avoid things like "Reef Fish" as it could be anything and fish like Coral Trout which is highly over rated. Barramundi is also good but more expensive. We were happy with our Mackerel with Rumours Sauvignon Blanc.

Beef Burger

Denise's Beef Burger was also good with a 19 Crimes Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Croc Expresso Cafe (featuring Segafredo coffee) is next to the Crocodile Express Booking Office at 3 Stewart Street Daintree Village and is open from7:30am to 3pm. The only other BYO in the Daintree Valley is Bec's Coffee House at Wonga Beach.


More on Daintree: www.daintree.info