Cairns

Cairns August 2011

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The Butcher's have flown to Cairns for a holiday, we figured it was silly that we were only down the road (so to speak) and not catch up. So we jumped in the car and headed to Cairns. Almost 9 hours drive from Bowen and we arrived. We are staying at the Cool Waters Caravan Park which is very nice. Our site backs onto a freshwater river along which there is a walking track leading through a pretty forest.

We spent the first day just hanging about and having a look around. We met the Butchers at the Esplanade pool and the kids all had a swim, after a coffee and a walk around we headed to Muddies playground. A really great playground with lots of water play incorporated, we were able to sit at the cafe and chat while we watched the mist roll down off the mountains and the kids played. It rained on and off through the day but in between the sun came out and we would have had a top of about 26.

Sunday; we caught the Kuranda railway up to the hippy town of Kuranda. The railway was built 130 years ago, by hand. It weaves its way up the mountains, through Barron Gorge, passing some beautiful waterfalls along the way. We spend the day in town looking at the markets and went to the butterfly farm.
At the end of the day we caught the skyrail down the mountain. Riding in cable car/gondolas above the rainforest for a total of 8kms. We had unsurpassed views of the rainforest, the falls and then as we neared the end, Cairns itself. It was a real highlight and the kids loved it.

Kuranda photos, https://picasaweb.google.com/100249554386212106658/KurandaRailwaySkyrail?authkey=Gv1sRgCKimucnfz7eaPQ

Monday; Today we had a relaxing day soaking up the sun and swimming at the Esplanade. After lunch we all headed to the Cairns Botanic Gardens. These would have to be the most beautiful botanic gardens i have ever visited. Full of so many beautiful plants, and so many plants and trees we see in Southern QLD, only here they seem to be supersized. Well worth the visit if you are ever in Cairns. It covers a massive 38 hectares.

Click on link to see all the pics
https://picasaweb.google.com/100249554386212106658/CairnsPart1?authkey=Gv1sRgCMnE5K_VsrWzSg