A map of the Cairns area
The city of Cairns [Click here] is the obvious business centre in this part of Australia, spread out over a fairly large area, modern roads and a number of shopping malls at various locations. Apart from its location between the sea and the Table lands that rise to over 800m above sea level it looks like a fast growing modern metropolis.
The local "Swimming hole" at the Esplanade at Cairns
What is usually forgotten by visitors to the idyllic part of the world, is the fact that Northern Queensland is also home to the giant Saltwater Crocodiles that are equally at home in Saltwater as in Freshwater, their preferred habitat being rivers flowing into the ocean.
As a consequence swimming in the ocean can be dangerous, but if you think that to be the only threat, think again. From about November to May small stingers inhabit the warm waters, to name just two, one is the so called "Box Jellyfish" the other "Irikandji", another small jellyfish, both able to inflict stings to the skin that look like burns and cause such pain that people have died, their body unable to cope with such intense pain. [more info] All beaches usually have bottles of vinegar deposited at many different locations, as a liberal dousing with vinegar seems to help in the short term. Medical treatment and injection of anti venom is definitely required and necessary. Many of the popular beaches also have so called "Stinger Nets" that are usually setup during the stinger season. No, they do not guarantee that the water will be free of stingers but they reduce the likelyhood of their presence significantly.
The whole area by the highway is covered in sugar cane as far as I can see, the harvest in full swing with harvesting machines at work, filling trailers that take the harvest to waiting rail carriages to be taken to the many sugarmills on countless narrow gauge railroads which seem to criss-cross the countryside wherever I drive.
With temperatures constantly in the 30s all vegetation grows at an amazing rate and in great abundance in the rain forest itself.
From Cairns I take the Skyrail, [more about Skyrail] a gondola that rides like a ski lift over the top of the rain forest in 3 sections, ending at the town of Kuranda [more about Kuranda] in the Table lands with a nice market stalls and lots of shops and eating places catering to the Tourist trade.
Part of a display of fired glass at Kuranda Markets
The way back into Cairns is via an old railway that zig-zags its way back into the low-lands below. Quite an experience to also view Barron Falls which must be in gigantic display during the wet season.[more about Kuranda Scenic Railway]
The road north from Cairns follows the coastline most of the time but veers a little away from the ocean before I need to turn toward the ocean again to go into Port Douglas, a well known destination for people from Sydney or Melbourne who may just fly up for a long weekend. Lots of shops and Resorts. The campground crowded with small allocated lots for each vehicle, but, not too far from the beach and in walking distance to Restaurants in the evening.
The following morning I am on the road north again to go to Cape Tribulation where I get a lovely spot for my motorhome in the shade of some big trees. Just 50m to the beachfront to laze the day away doing lots of Sudoku games in the shade.
The next morning I am off to "Jungle Surfing" [more about Jungle Surfing] on steel cables connecting a number of tall tree giants. It turns out a lot of fun, if a bit too short.
Fellow Traveler 'surfing' the Rain Forest
The following morning I head south again along the coast where I stop at Ellis Beach to relax for another two days before driving on to Kuranda again, pick up two bits I forgot to buy when I came up with Skyrail, then on to Lake Tinaroo, also in the Tablelands for another lovely cool night.
The following morning I follow the highway back through Millaa Millaa and also visit some of the lovely waterfalls in the area.
One of the many Waterfalls near Millaa Millaa
Then its back to the coast, through the town of Innisfail, then to the little hide-away of Etty Bay where I spend three nights by the beach, a lone Cassowary criss crossing the campground, raiding my neighbor's banana supply. These large birds weigh about 60kg, can be aggressive and with its sharp claws quite dangerous. I stay out of its way, a large lizzard also zig-zagging its way past my motorhome, looking for scraps.
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