If you’ve ever wondered how local retirees keep their social calendars full and their spirits high, look no further than the Port Douglas and District Probus Club.

The social club - built around fellowship and connection, provides local retirees and semi-retirees with regular opportunities to get out and about, exploring the region in good company.

That focus was in action on August 12, when a group of local members boarded a bus for a day trip up the Great Dividing Range to the Atherton Tablelands.

Following a morning coffee stop at Coffee Works in Mareeba, the group headed into Crater Lakes National Park to spend the day at Lake Barrine, a freshwater crater lake formed by a volcanic explosion roughly 17,000 years ago.

Members gathered for an early lunch at the historic 1900s teahouse on the water’s edge, catching up over a meal framed by rainforest and lake views.

Attendees spent the afternoon exploring the national park at their own pace, whether walking to the ancient Twin Kauri trees, trekking the full lake circuit, or taking a scenic boat cruise.

The cruise offered plenty of local wildlife sightings along the shoreline. A giant longfinned eel appeared near the jetty before departure, while Rainbow Bee-eaters and a pair of black cormorants were spotted along the tree line. 

The Port Douglas and District Probus Club meets regularly and hosts ongoing social outings and trips for local retirees throughout the year.