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

Bec's Coffee House

Friday Night Theme Night - Roast

Wonga Beach
Bec's Coffee House
Shop2, 1 Mossman Daintree Road, next to Wonga Beach Servo.
Phone 0459 192 508

Wonga Beach now has a BYO restaurant and for the third Friday night in a row Bec has been putting on themed menus and more are planned for the future. 

First night had a seafood theme followed by an Italian night last Friday and a roast night on Friday the 13th.

Local lady Denise

What a boost for the locals, a BYO within walking distance and a bottle shop next door.

Be sure and book ahead.

Phone Bec on 0459192508 to reserve a table

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Croc Xpresso Cafe - Daintree Village

Just opened and already getting rave reviews on Tripadvisor.

Croc Xpresso Cafe

5 Stewart Street

Daintree Village

Phone 0740986120

Next to the Croc Express

More on Daintree Dining: 

daintree.info/dining.html

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Wonga Beach Community Park - Part two

Hamburger Lunch 

See previous blog for details of Wonga Beach Community Park. This blog highlights the second and under utilised shelter shed.

This shelter shed is insulated and is a cooler and quieter option for a picnic. It tends to be overlooked in favour of the bigger shelter shed next to the electric BBQ.

Wonga Beach Community Park - Daintree Picnic Spot

Shelter Shed and BBQ

Where is it?

What is it like?

Bar B Q

In need of repair

Replaced

Unfortunately the new bbq does not work properly. It runs very hot.

 

Sausage Sandwich and Salad

The Wonga Beach Community Park is a popular spot with locals (weekends), Tradies (week days) and visitors in peak season. It is not a free camping ground but has many facilities for the day visitor:

Shady trees,

Children's play ground with shade cloth,

Skate Park with shade cloth,

Toilets,

2 Shelter Sheds,

Free electric Bar B Q - see comment above,

2 Fresh water taps,

Beach Access and

*Close to the Caltex Servo for take away and picnic supplies.

*The Caltex take away is considered the best for fish and chips in the Douglas Shire.

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Daintree picnic at the beach.

Thornton Beach - where is it?

Picnic ground at Thornton Beach

North of the Daintree River there are no electric BBQ's so we take out own single burner camp stove. (Available for under $30 at Woolworths in Mossman.)

One of our favourite picnic meals is deep sea fillets in beer batter available in the freezer section of Woolworths Mossman. (8 fillets for $7)

Cooks in 15 minutes turning 3 times at the 5 minutes mark. 

Serve with fresh leafy salad, $2.50 at Woolworths and chilled white wine. 

(Gossips Sauvignon Blanc, $3.99 at Dan Murphy's Smithfield.)

The picnic ground is a rustic setting behind the beach.

The picnic ground is somewhat rustic and the tables and seats are not very clean. Visiting in the wet season we took insect spray and were glad of it. The quaint shelter sheds are not insulated and there are holes in the roof. Insulation would be handy if for nothing else but reducing the sound of heavy rainfall in the wet season.
There are no toilets close-by. There are no rubbish bins either so you need to take your rubbish with you.

The nearest accommodation to this spot is Thornton Beach House and Thornton Beach Bungalows

Fish and Chips - Best in the Douglas Shire

There are lots of picnic spots in Daintree with some of the best at Wonga Beach. As it turns out the best fish and chips in the Douglas Shire can be found also at Wonga Beach.

A local couple have been testing fish and chips and have voted the Wonga Beach Servo as providing the best.

Battered Spanish Mackerel - $7.50

Serve of chips - $3

At the servo is also a bottle shop for a selection of white wines.

On your way to Daintree you can place phone orders (phone: 4098 7616) and pick up as you go through Wonga Beach.

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