Tuesday 26th February

Yesterday we sailed passed lots of islands as we entered the Great Barrier Reef marine park. Today we are anchored just off the northern coast of Queensland. It is very, very hot and sunny today - the temperature is about 37 degrees. We took the ship's tender over to a place called Yorkeys k*** and then went by coach through Kuranda village to the Rainforestation Park. We got on a WW I I army duck for a trip in the rainforest both on land and in the water. We saw lots of Ulysses butterflies these were very large and a beautiful iridescent blue. We then went into their wildlife section and saw lots of native Australian creatures - kangaroos, koalas and some enormous crocodiles! After a cooling ice cream we were back on the coach to go to Kuranda Station to catch the Kuranda Scenic Railway. The first section of the track was opened in 1887 but the whole length of the railway wasn't finished until 1910. The coaches are original ones that have been restored. Our journey started high up in Kuranda and gradually descended to Freshwater Station where we got out (the train went a little further to Cairns). On the way down we stopped at the Barron Falls - there wasn't as much water coming over the falls as usual as they haven't had a lot of rain recently even though it is supposed to be the wet season. In the picture you see the train going over the bridge at Stoney Creek Falls - it is an amazing bridge that is high up and curves around the gorge. The picture is of the train that we were on, taken from the window of our carriage - so you can see how long the curve is! It was a wonderful trip on the train with lovely scenery and a bit of breeze coming in through the open windows.