We arrived in Cairns after a very scenic drive down the coast from Port Douglas, this can be seen in the barrier reef video. Cairns is the largest city in the far north of Qld with a population greater than 150,000 people and is in a basin surrounded by rainforest, the ranges and the sea with the barrier reef off shore.
We were here for two and half weeks, the time extended as John and I got colds and this prevented us from being out and along with the Covid lockdowns in 4 states and some rainy days.
The area in Cairns itself and surrounds were explored plus water activities enjoyed.
These include
1/ A scooter ride along the esplanade and marina areas with lunch near the marina and a swim in the towns foreshore lagoon, all very relaxing.
2/ A trip to the outer reef which included a brief stop at Green Island on the way out and back. At the reef platform we snorkeled, watched the fish swim by at the observation window under the platform, went out in the submarine vessel which was a 30 minute explore underwater on the reef. This was excellent and you can see the fish, coral and turtles we saw on our video footage. John went out on the helmet scooter experience but I wasn’t allowed to go because of my lungs. The whole day was great but we wished we had had more time for snorkeling.
Video on the scenic drive from Port Douglas and Barrier reef trip.
3/ The scenic historical railway to Kuranda and cable car skyrail return trip to Cairns.
The trip up on the train travels on a narrow gauge track and is considered a National Engineering Landmark and a tribute to all those who labored in its construction that started in 1887. It is 33 kilometres with a ascent of 327 m above sea level, 15 hand carved tunnels, 55 bridges and 98 curves. It pasted over Stony creek falls bridge and stopped at the Barron falls station for a photo. The views back to Cairns and into the rainforest also part of the amazing views we saw on our way to Kuranda. Kuranda is a small tourist spot with lots of shops which we cruised through and then had a nice walk along the Barron river
The cable car trip back down to Cairns allowed for similiar views but from a different prospective with two stops, one to the Barron falls lookout and the other a rainforest walk with views into the rainforest and gorges.
see our video on our Kuranda trip.
above views from the skyrail lookout, barron falls and the gorges
4/ Cattana Wetlands.
A beautiful wetlands which we scootered around, one of the pictures below shows some turtles. Our video shows much more.
5/ I did a fishing trip to the outer reef, unfortunately John had a cold and couldn’t come.
I hooked a heap of fish, a few to small, a lot to big to get in quick enough before they snapped me off on the reef, a small reef shark, however, three keepers were brought home, one a huge big mouthed Nannygai that has given us five dinners and two red spotted emperors which we didn’t really enjoy eating.
6/ Northern Beaches.
A drive to explore Yorkeys Knob (last two pictures), Trinity beach and Palm Cove area where we scooter amoug the people and palm trees in this very trendy and popular area, a bit like a mini Port Douglas.
Scooter video of three venues below, palm cove , cattana wetlands and freshwater creek.
7/ Goomboora park and freshwater creek
A lovely scooter ride for 14 kms that followed the creek. We would never have known this was here except we had been told about it by some cyclists we talked to at the wetlands. A really pretty ride and great cycleway. See the video for photos and footage. We are loving our scooter experiences, a chance to see so much more than walking as we would not do these distances on foot.
8/ Cooperlode Dam and Lake Morris.
A windy 26 kms out from Cairns up into the ranges we came to the Cairns water supply at Cooperlode dam and Lake Morris. The spillway goes into Freshwater creek which continues down into Cairns and we saw different parts of this creek in many areas like Stony creek, the Crystal cascades and when on the scooter ride behind Goomboora park. A pretty spot as was the view of Cairns from the lookout on the way up. The road though was narrow and windy making the drive up very unpleasant.
9/ Twilight at the aquarium
We chose the guided late afternoon tour of the Aquarium with dinner. Such a lovely aquarium that takes you from the rainforest environment and their creek , from fresh water to sea water and then onwards to the reef and beyond. Showing many types of fish and other creatures belonging to these habitats. Entrée and a drink were served looking at the huge Aquarium tank with gropers sharks and Stingrays, the tank holding 15 million litres of water. Dinner and Desert in the restaurant. All very nice.
!0/ Lake Placcid, Barron Gorge power Station and Stoney Creek.
Only a short drive from Cairns is a pretty picnic area at Lake placcid and further on the Barron Gorge power station and surprise creek waterfalls. We also visit stony creek which is part of freshwater creek that runs all the way from the mountains and we had seen the stony creek falls from the Kuranda train. Some people were swimming here but today was a bit too cool for us.
All very scenic areas and not far from Cairns, ill let the pictures tell the story and John will add some to his video at the end of this blog.
Barron gorge hyrdo station
Above Stoney creek
11/ Kuranda ,
We drove to Kuranda for more of a look around as their was not enough time the day we took the train up. We were going to do the rainforest walk but both of us didn’t feel up to it, my asthma bad and John cold still bothering him. We did a rainforest tour in the Army Duck , this was a different experience with the truck in 4 wd and then swapping over to boat mode as we crossed into a creek. The fauna was explained and the odd water lizard spotted. Most of this is on the video below.
While in Kuranda we shopped again finding some good guys rule t/shirts for john and another top for me.
then it was off to the butterfly place, some really pretty ones and some really large ones. Butterflies taste with their feet, with taste receptors that help find its host plant and locate their food. It was hard to get good photos as they constantly buzzed around everywhere. They are the second largest pollinators after bees and their biggest threat is loss of habitat. Their eyes perceive colour in the form of Tetrachromatic vision and they see a much greater spectrum of colour than humans .
12/ Botanical Gardens and Centennial Lakes
Lovely tropical gardens with a broadwalk through the wetlands and lakes as well. There was an inside area which was my favourite and some really pretty plants, orchids and butterflies.
13/ Crystal Cascades.
These are at the end of a 1.2 km walk along the freshwater creek ending with the water falls and cascades, a very popular swimming hole and a lovely walk and again not far from Cairns.
Video above had Barron Hydro station, Lake Placcid, Crystal cascades, Cairns foreshore and Botanical gardens on it.
We spent a lot of time in Cairns not doing much as either John or I were sick with a cold, me catching it from John and he caught his from someone on the outer reef trip. So we did the right thing and got a covid test which were negative and didn’t go into the public while sneezing and coughing. Some other days were shopping ,hair and drs appts. My asthma lung condition flair up so i spent one day sitting at Cairns emergency waiting hours to see the dr, seemed like i was forgotten as every one came in and went while i sat there for hours. back on Prednizone. ! hum seems an ongoing condition.
We had an unexpected catch up with some of my podiatry friends while here in Cairns. Alan and Bron Boys from Newcastle were here in Cairns in their caravan, so i met them for a drink one afternoon and then again to watch the state of Orgin at the pub opposite our caravan park.
Gary Brewin and his mate Coop (paul) had been fishing all around the gulf but turned up in Cairns on their way home to watch the football game, staying the night at our caravan park in their swags and joined us at the pub for dinner with Al and Bron to watch the game. Great catch up.
Now we turn south to catch up on the bits we missed on the way north between Cairns and Innesfail. Then we head west to the Atherton tablelands. Where to far this depends on how long we spend doing these areas. Further West or maybe just South. Stay Tuned.
