Welcome to Cindy and David's 2013 Adventures
Note 08 - Cairns
Mount Bartle-Frere - Queensland's highest mountain. This road which goes from Innisfail to Cairns is one of the most attractive drives on our trip so far.
Had dinner with Margaret and John at their home. Met Lani (granddaughter) and Cameron who were off to a party. Good night reminiscing about our trip around Australia where we first met.
Extremely quiet caravan park, spent first night in spot with a couple of others but were kept awake by bats. Moved up the road next day and spent the whole 2 weeks in splendid isolation but quiet site with hardly any insects.
Cairns beach-front at low tide
Went into Cairns waterfront for a walk and look around. Cairns is very different out of season – plenty of people around but nowhere near as busy of course. A very pretty city mainly because the mountains, covered in rain forest, are close and all around.
Up early and off to Port Douglas for breakfast at the Sheraton Mirage. What a treat! Spent a few hours there, firstly over the meal (of several courses!) and then walking around the resort which is quite stunning. (Christopher Skase had it built originally). Spent time walking the town’s main street.
Margaret and John came around to us for the evening. Had dinner up by the pool.
A new house is being built up near the lighthouse lookout in Port Douglas with a view of the entire beach-front.
A Palm flower at the Mirage
Yellow bellied sunbird
Drove on to Mossman Gorge and did the entire beautiful walk. They have built a lovely centre there run by the local Aboriginal community and they were most friendly and helpful. A little bus service takes tourists along to the gorge proper and collects them later. It is thick rain forest and a rushing river (Mossman) – extremely pretty. David paddled in one area as it was so inviting. Board walks have been constructed in some areas and the actual part on which you walk is made of recycled plastic (plastic milk bottles mostly). Looks like metal. Very strong and very smart. Drove on towards Daintree but turned back because it was late and a bit too far just for a cuppa.
This silly dog jumped up onto the awning, made the owner extremely angry and we believe he ended up at the doggy-home
Margaret and John joined us for an afternoon cruise up Trinity Inlet (further up Cairns harbour). It extends for kilometers and is where all boats and yaghts go when a cyclone approaches. They simply find a sheltered place to hide and tie up to the mangroves until it passes
Yellow Bellied Sunbird was collecting dried stuff for a nest
Recognise this boat...
It's the "Sydney" a ferry that used to go from circular quay to Manley. Now privately owned and up on dry land... supposedly to be restored and used as a convention place --yeah right
It's the "Sydney" a ferry that used to go from circular quay to Manley. Now privately owned and up on dry land... supposedly to be restored and used as a convention place --yeah right
Crystal Cascades
The Mangroves in Trinity Inlet, almost impenetrable
Crystal Cascades is a park providing us with a walk in the rain, some tables for picnics and swimming holes in crystal clear water. The water is harvested further up the creek and used for Cairns fresh water supply. Guess that's why it is called Freshwater creek
Cairns water front from the Casino
We went for a walk along the front past the casino and around to the berths inside the harbor, took some photos of the beachfront from out along the jetty wall. When we got to where the boats are berthed, we could not believe the incredible value of these boats.
The tall one is “Ethereal” out of George Town in the Caman Islands and is 47 meters long, with no expense spared. It is controlled by touch pads similar to Ipad technowlogy and can be chartered.
The tall one is “Ethereal” out of George Town in the Caman Islands and is 47 meters long, with no expense spared. It is controlled by touch pads similar to Ipad technowlogy and can be chartered.
The Casino from across the water
