Reef and Rainforest

Arrived at 10pm at night to 25 degrees and lots of humidity...much different to the 38 we left in Perth. Transfer to hotel - which is an appartment type on with kitchen, living area, etc. Have a free bottle of bubbly waiting for staying 4 nights so pop it in the fridge for New Year.

First day is exploring Cairns slowly in the heat and drizzle - lovely warm rain. Discovere the Cairns Central bandroom is right next to our hotel - pity they are on summer hols. Do some food shopping and potter about.

Today we are off to Kuranda in the rainforest. We take the train up which is amazing in it's self as it passes 15 tunnels and huge number of bridges and bends as it crawls up the mountains. Kuranda is pretty naff - typical tourist junk but we eat ice cream and stroll around before getting the Skyrail (cable car back). It is really raining now which inhibits our view of the rainforest a bit but we see a sulphur headed cockatoo and the trees are incredible. Do a boardwalk throough the trees in a break in the rain before heading down to teh Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Centre where we watch traditional dance, boomerang throwing and spear throwing. The rain restarts before By has time to knock me out with a boomerang.

Saturday is our trip o the Great Barrier Reef. We head out early n the pick up bus to Port Douglas, an hour up  the coast. Are pleased to spot a saltwater croc on one of the rivers from the safety of our bus. Get on the boat and drink our complimentary cuppa wth some cookies. Arrive at the pontoon on the reef and decide not to swim (you have to wear a blue suit to protct you from the jellyfish and there are too many people doing it for my liking). Instead we do the underwater bservatory and then take a ride on the underwater viewing submarine which is cool. The reef is beautiful and so many fish to see and photgraph, not sure if the photos will come out and certainly won't do it justice but was amazing. Back on the pontoon we have a buffet lunch and then  sit out of the rain on the boat watching everyone else in the water. All to soon we have to leave Agincourt Reef and head back to Port Douglas. Arrive back at our hotel tired but happy.

New Year's eve is spend relaxing and then watching Cairns fireworks on the beach. We see the 9pm family showing and then sit in our room drining bubbly and watch the midnight ones on the TV live from Sydney - makes yoou realise how naff London's are, at least the shows  on TV are as bad.

Happy New Year !

New  Year's  Day is spent doing mundane chores like packing and laundry.

Next day check out of the hotel and collect our campervan - imagine a long wheelbase transit van and then add  another long wheelbase extension to the end and you have the size. (The one in NZ Mum was tiny in comparision). I head gingerly out on to the roads to Mossman Gorge where we go hiking in the mega heat.Collapse in the van and By drives to our first night's stop near Port Douglas. The one benefit 'Big Sheila' (as we have affectionately named her) has is rear air con for the night time providing we are plugged in somewhere and what a joy it is.