I remember being blown away as I walked onto the beach at Cow Bay. Incredible golden sand stretching out ahead of me, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site on either side of it – Daintree Rainforest on the left, Great Barrier Reef on the right. Best of all, I had the place to myself, not a single human being in sight.

I spent a few hours exploring Cow Bay. At low tide you can climb over the rocks and discover two even more deserted beaches further to the north – just be sure to get back before the tide turns, you wouldn’t want to be going for a swim here (on account of the giant chompy dinosaurs in the water).

I’d taken dozens of quintessential tropical beach photos – but was left feeling a little disappointed. I’d brought my telephoto lens in the hope of spotting a croc, or even a cassowary, but had found nothing, not even an orange-footed scrub fowl.

I decided to give up on photography for the day and just enjoy the incredible surroundings. Exhausted, I sat down on a rock and pulled out a book.

I’d only been sitting there for ten minutes or so when I looked up to discover that the beach had come to life…

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Cow Bay Beach, Australia