Gidday peoples, Dave n Jo here from a mostly sunny north Qld

   and being here courtesy of an amazing prize donated by The White Cockatoo to an online nudist group

as sponsors of an essay writing competition which we won in June 2006.

The Competition Was : " Share Your Nudist / Naturist Story

    And Win An Absolutely Awesome Nude Holiday !!! "

    Our Nude Holiday Prize included : 7 nights Accommodation in a Superior Pool View Chalet, Breakfast Daily,

Tropical Barramundi BBQ Feast, Return flights Brisbane - Cairns - Brisbane,

Airport Transfers Cairns - The White Cockatoo - Cairns, Nude Tours including Great Barrier Reef Nude Snorkelling -

Nude Daintree River Cruise - Nude Rainforest 4WD Safari, Free Entry to Any White Cockatoo Nude Events

During Stay, Bar Tab with Free Drinks, and more...

All for 2 adults to enjoy an Absolutely Awesome Nude Holiday Valued at $2500 Plus !!!

We would again wish to thank all concerned for the chance of entering the comp, and Jo especially as I would not have had a decent winning story without her.

Anyway… We arrived in Cairns on the 6th October 06, from Brisbane by air, at 2.30ish after leaving home at 9.30am, and still an hours drive, courtesy of a very informative Tony, to Mossman & the resort with the leastest... clothing that is, Tony & Lenore’s The White Cockatoo. This was the 1st week of the resorts 5th nude season, and these guys have got it well sorted!

A quaint little entrance on the main road, almost in the middle of town,

and from the front it is just another motel one would think.

Well, you can stop thinking that right about there!

Once inside the reception, it is a warm welcome that stays with you throughout your visit,

  and after we quickly do the legals and rules bit, we enter the resort proper

to a pleasant games room, lounge bar, and entertainment area.

  Middle of the road music is playing continuously,

and looking forward a few paces outside we are greeted with the tropical pool setting.

        Large and deep, with waterfalls, a paddling pool, and a spa all surrounded by palms and gardens.

       Also within the pool fence are the outdoor / indoor bbq`s and get together function tables.

                         We are surrounded by more palms, and all through and in between are the chalets,

mostly facing the pool or rec area.

We are directed to near on the closest Chalet to the pool and waterfall,

and although maybe not what we had pictured in our minds,

   a very pleasant and functional home for next 9 days.

       What more could we want or need?

Unpacking was a breeze, simply undress and put our few things in the wardrobe.

A queen bed and 2 singles/bunks, a decent kitchen, and tv/dvd unit.

Shortly Lenore, smiling and graceful as always, showed us around and we did the meet and greet tour,

nude of course.

We did not have long to wait before it was our first happy hour, a near religious event,

  and we then tried our hardest to remember names we were given only 30 min ago.

OK, I failed badly, but there is always tomorrow.

We also needed to stock up the fridge, and even though the basics were supplied, I still bought a large jar of coffee, bag of sugar, 3 litres of moo, and other required staples from a very quick trip to Woolies only 200 yards away. Just enough for about 10 days of serious sunning and coffee drinking.

After having been at the resort only a few hours, we were made to feel so very welcome, prize or not,

and nothing is too much trouble for both Lenore & Tony with all guests. I believe this is an atmosphere one needs to sample first hand.

Unfortunately Far NQ proved that even in the holiday season, it has to bloody rain no matter who is in town.

Day 2 of our Northern Exposure

involved soaking up the morning warmth by the pool,

before a salad lunch amongst swaying palms in the gardens.

  

    Then we are advised, c’mon, we are heading for the rainforest

   so our afternoon becomes a scenic blast to the past, up into the country.

Tony and his 4x4 soon had us, and a lovely Welsh couple,

  meandering thru majestic ancient rain forest and beautiful creek crossings.

We backed into one little creek and relaxed a while with nude champers,

and pics, while absorbing the sounds of nature.

Back to the road, a quick flat tyre fix-TONY!!!

   And a country pub for a top up drink.

Back in time to quickly get nude for happy hour

   and ready for the Saturday night party with a theme.

“You can leave ya hat on, but bugger all else!”

       Live muzak, dancing

  and a range of zany hats and head-dress.

   A great night had by all!

Our 3rd day saw Tony have Bathurst showing on the big plasma screen in the bar, and simply put, I am motor man, a petrol head with sump oil in my veins, so naturally I watched Bathurst all day, and remembered Brockie, but in the end, FORDS RULE, and don’t u ever forget that!

Another lively happy hour to end a pleasant Sunday in paradise. Perhaps a statue to Craig with a FORD flag......????

Day 4 saw a pleasant, quiet, sun soaking day, with music, wandering, chatting, a seafood salad lunch with the odd drinkie or 2, hic they all went, and more sun till ...wait for it, yes, happy hour with more meeting and greeting as new couples join our tribe of sun lovers. But why does happy hour not finish till like near midnight ? I will never know! Should that not be “happy all bloody night”?

 

   Obviously Dave n Jo have not made a loud enough noise to the sun gods for a 30 deg plus day of pure sunlight,

  because early on Day 5 it is raining! Really, all I want is a warm pool for some pics, but still, our time will come.

  The rain quickly cleared and we had a glorious sun drenched morning, on our veranda, (porch for you foreigners!),

brekky and coffee watching the pool waterfall, with nude bods slowly appearing everywhere.

In the reception are 2 all terrain mountain bikes for guests use, and today we toured thru a sleepy Mossman, taking in the sights and sounds of a quaint country town. It is not long before we are meandering back for, u guessed it, happy hour.

Tonight is a BBQ feast, as lotsa couples descend on the barbie for an evening cook up. Different flavours from different ideas of how to kill meat, and a filling meal

soon followed. An early night in for us, with quite sore legs, with DVD's to watch.

Still being a little overcast on morning of Day 6, and much too windy for our reef or river trip, we hitched a ride down to sun drenched Cairns for some serious shopping therapy. (Girl talk for `I have done wot u want, now it’s my turn!). I am enjoying the sights of a tropical town, that’s right, looking at the girls, while Jo gets serious by finding a huge central shopping complex. Coffee first, then a meander till we have our junk bag filled. A leisurely walk with milk shakes and Tony, with our limo, arrives exactly on time for trip back north to our temporary home at The White Cockatoo.

As usual, it is nearly happy 4 hour, and again we meet more great people. One thing stands out, no barriers, no limits, and it really is such a small world. "Hey, you live only 30min up the road". Damn, every night Lenore puts out these ripper nibbles plates and it’s really starting to spoil my dinner appetite!

Ahhh, good morning Day 7, oh bugger, it is raining and blowing a slight gale on and off. A perfect day to do nothing, with dvd's and nibbles, and behold with this weather I can actually get in the pool and it is warmer than outside. I am very NOT into the cold, especially cold water, but wet days are swim days. I even managed 2

swim nights, as the temps were in my favour there.

The day passes, we chat, we chase the sun and relax. Living nude, as nature intended. I believe everyone should get the opportunity to experience this lifestyle for a few days at least once, then there would be textiles in the minority, not us nude type-guys & gals.

Oh, it’s happy evening again, more names to try to remember, and those famous nibbles.

      Tonight, as we ponder existence, Tony, being our in house entertainment director,

sets the mood with an 8 Ball Pool competition.

Names into a hat, drawn into pairs, drinks all round and the bets are on.

It is obvious the game has not been to some overseas countries, but everyone had a go.

Some of us even beat `TONY` at his own game!!!

Jo was soon out, I won, then had a bye, and then next game I was out.

     We all wondered who was going up against the Welsh shark,

  and it ended up being a Kiwi All Black into the final against him.

   Sides bets flying everywhere, and a few $$$ changed hands

         when the Welsh shark took it out comfortably.

Many ooooh’s and aaaah’s, and the shark shouted the bar with champers

   with his winnings to finish off the evening.

     A brilliant, but simple, night of laughter with some interesting pics.

Friday nights are peculiar, and more so especially when the 13th day of the month falls on one, like this on our 8th day.

Shock, a theme party night for Friday the 13th! How unusual, but not here, as if Tony and Lenore need an excuse to throw another party!

The day started off presenting a sightly cooler, but mostly sunny, day so we zoomed off into the hills for some exploring. A short 15 minute drive South to Port Douglas to steal some wheels, courtesy of Tony, with some great sights of greenery and beaches along the way.

Further south to just shy of Cairns for a right hander up the range to Kuranda. A full day can be required here, as Kuranda is a full on tourist Mecca, but keep it simple and the attractions can be kept sparse and down to 3 hrs for a condensed but exciting visit. Some great pubs there, and yummo food to boot.

Zooming back down the range, up the highway and into Mossman and on to the spectacular Mossman Gorge. It is rocks, rainforest, water falls, and BLOODY COLD water if you are nuts enough to want to swim. I am not “that” nuts! It’s a very pretty drive into the gorge proper,  with a 2 km trek, great look-outs and the swing

bridge is a buzz to cross. Less than 7 km’s from The White Cockatoo to the views, so the 2 push bikes get used often with this journey.

Off heading north again to Daintree Village, the famous Daintree river and ferry to Cape Tribulation. We only skirted the area, as you really need a whole day here.

It’s near 4.30pm, so as the 5pm magnet calls, we head home. Happy hour is bustling already, and ...oh no… 3 more couples, more names, arghhhhhhh. A quickie happy hour tonight before dinner, then it’s the Friday the 13th party.

We danced and sang,

and most of us had more than a few goes playing in the band.

The masks, body paint and ghoulish costumes were fantastic.

Jo was a very cute black cat,

and I a Jason look a like.

In short, another bloody ripper night.

Congrats to a Noosa couple

on their gold

necklace prize x 2

for outstanding effort on costumes.

You know who are, xxx.

Day 9 had us resigned to hit the pool lounges til we get a "we leave with the boat in 30 min" yell

  from a beaming Lenore & Tony. At last, not our reef jaunt, but as the weather is our master,

the majestic Daintree River Eco tour.

Only a 20 minute drive North to the Daintree River boat ramp, launch the tinny, and all aboard.

3 happy couples, and a smiling as normal Tony at the helm.

   A short upstream textile lookie, after a safety briefing,

  then a shorter dash down stream to start 3 hours of nude sailing.

Lotsa info on history, bugs n bities, shrubbery and wildlife throughout,

and some searching with supplied binoculars to find lizardous extremous, the crocodiles.

  We spot a lil fellow, sunning on a sand bank,

but he was a tad shy and after a minute or two hit the drink to hide.

We kept heading towards the mouth of the river, and all I could think of was

     why didn’t we throw in a few crab pots.

Mile after mile of glorious mud banks and mangroves,

43 species I now know to be in this area alone, and all great muddie country.

Out of the mouth, we see the ocean,

and the weather ripping some white caps all over, hence no reef visits.

   We turn into a wind-protected cove to step ashore

on an unspoilt deserted beach with the most spectacular collection

           of driftwood we have ever seen.

     Warm white sand, palms and natural,

but somehow pretty, mangroves and other...err flora,

      (I don’t know, I’m a darn mechanic)! 

   Drinkies, softies & champers supplied,

  and time to explore and play in the soft clean sand.

  A few piccy moments, the usual info bit on findings,

  and crocs or not, and I hit the now refreshing water.

The hottest day so far I’d say, and getting a lil crispy,

more sun screen needed here.

A few of us are showing red tinges where the hands don’t reach,

but we were warned!

All aboard, we head back into time forgotten

thru a maze of sandbanks

via a winding river system.

I was making the pointy end-bow look pretty with my nude bod,

and with my up high viewing

I spot the 2nd croc of the “Minnows” voyage.

Alas again only a quick view before he sank hidden away.

All too soon it seems

we gotta get dressed

and haul our ride back onto the trailer.

Off home to, wait for it, happy hour. Bugger me, but Lenore has let even more peoples in. "Gidday", "where are you from" and the nibblies are shared around. Not a big night for us, our last night, but was in great company.

Our holiday seemed to pass so slowly, and then all of a sudden, we are going home tomorrow. 

Here I usually have my first coffee about 7ish, but 8 am today, Day 10. A big day on the water does that to ya, but then again watching the last of the dvd's till 2am doesn’t help. Jo just loves sleeping till about smoko, but today, cuppa, pack, cuppa, pack a bit more.

We have enjoyed normal hotel/motel service each day with clean and fresh linen, general cleaning, tidying, kitchen top ups as you would expect, but we still swept, washed dishes, stove and bench tops. We did not treat our hosts as slaves to our mess. We farewelled Lenore and smile as Tony gives us a few White Cockatoo parting name sake gifts, and we’re off to Cairns to catch our return flight home.

We farewell, and thank Tony, as he drops us off in Cairns, once more, and a sense of “it is all over” creeps in. As we drove back to Cairns, to catch our flight home, we talked solid the 50 min trip, yet there is so much more to say.

There are many thoughts and ideas floating around about this resort and our hosts. I could say lots about our trip being a prize, one sided views, negativity based on misconceptions, expecting more or less based on "what I have heard" and rumours. Every man to their own, I am me, Dave (and Jo as you know of us), humble little guys in this big wide scheme of things. I have simply stated exactly what has been the norm of our experience of a holiday at The White Cockatoo, which was no different than the paying guests staying there at the same time.

A travel writer I am NOT, but I do like to make my words entertaining. Leave out the glossy bits, if you choose, and reread the details then, and I do not aim this at anyone specific, just to the rumourmongers, if you get the chance, and if you want to see North QLD, and if you want some nude trips, and if you can bare it living nude, with other nudes in a nude hotel/motel/resort style accommodation setting, then I, just little ole me, recommend The White Cockatoo Resort in Mossman Far North Queensland as your first choice.

Not everybody will be happy everywhere all of the time at every venue they choose to stay in/at, but that is life as we know it, however there were 20 – 30 people staying every day we were there and all without exception seemed to be loving their nude holiday.

We met some wonderful people from all over the world during our 10 days there, with one thing above all else in common.......think about it.....!

We do some last minute shopping in Cairns for my 3 horrors, grab lunch, and check in, just so we can check out... go figure!

Got some great reef pics at 35000ft

and 2 hrs later we are trying to find where our car had been left for us at Brisbane airport.

     One would think valet parking was when the valet goes and finds it for you, but all is good.

An hour up the highway to home and we are, u guessed it, drinking coffee.

A quick unpack, nude of course, check my fleet of cars, and grab tea and showers.

  Jo grabs a book; I start on 4 zillion emails and junk to read/delete. Life goes on...

  I hope we’ve informed, and entertained a little too, with this article.

Now forward thinking to some overnighters at our local venues, till our next trip away to The White Cockatoo, as long as it’s nude. 

Stay nude, stay free.

Dave’n’Jo.

Dave n Jo's Holiday at The White Cockatoo as Winners of The White Cockatoo Absolutely Awesome Nude Holiday Competition.

The White Cockatoo recently sponsored an online story competition for nudists / naturists.

The very worthy winners were Dave & Jo for their great story,