With the chilly months fast approaching, my wife Julie and I escaped north to Port Douglas to find the last glimmers of warmth.

After a three-hour flight, we found the sound as temperatures rose to 25 degrees, a much kinder experience than the blustering winds we’ve had back home.

We’re usually intrepid overseas travellers, but we still appreciate and enjoy the convenience of travelling in our own backyard.

On a previous trip up north, I was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a cassowary in the wild, but Julie was yet to spot the elusive create.

On this trip, magic happened.

A beautiful cassowary started crossing the road right in front of us, not alone either; it was trailed by its little chicks following close behind.

Next was a day trip to Mossman River for snorkelling, which produced the highlight of the trip: a turtle popped up from out of the water right in front of us.

It’s such an amazing experience when something so wild and free joins you, even if just for a moment.

That afternoon saw us drift down the Mossman River on a specially built inflatable air bed, where we could lay back and watch the rainforest’s ceiling pass us by.

We’re back home now and fully recharged, but still missing the wonderful tropical north each day.