G'day Guys!

We arrived in Cairns, on Tuesday 17th, to bright blue skies and sunshine. After a trek across the city in the 30 degree heat we checked into Cairns Central YHA, our home for the next fortnight. We spent our first few days in Cairns walking around the city and chilling out at the lagoon. ??

We then decided to take ourselves off to explore Cairns' Northern Beaches. We caught a bus out of the city and headed 30km north to Palm Cove. This is a sleepy little suburb, with a great beach and relaxed atmosphere. Shortly after arriving in Palm Cove we walked out along the jetty, where we sat taking in the views across the water, over the beach and up into the lush rainforest. We then set off for a walk along the beach, watching out for jelly fish, sharks and crocodiles - and anything else that's lurking in these waters.

We finally arrived at Clifton Beach, very similar to Palm Cove, we decided to stop and have our picnic by the beach. After lunch we thought we'd take advantage of our day passes on the bus, and whipped back up to Palm Cove to treat ourselves to a coffee and mudcake offer we'd spotted earlier - Yummy! After an enjoyable day at the beach we?hopped on?a bus and made our way back to the city.

Later on that week we ventured out to Kuranda - known as 'The Village in the Rainforest'. We caught a bus from the city to Smithfield, arriving at the base of the Skyrail. This is a rainforest cableway that carries you in gondolas high above the rainforest, 7.5km to Kuranda. We boarded the Skyrail and were soon lifted high above the rainforest where we had spectacular views out to the Coral Sea.

After 2.7km the Skyrail stops at Red Peak Station. Here we got off for an informative walk through the rainforest. We soon reboarded the Skyrail and continued on to Barron Falls Station. We took a walk to the lookouts for amazing views of the flowing waterfalls. Then jumped back on the Skyrail for the last 1.7km to Kuranda.

Soon after arriving in Kuranda, we headed to the railway station for the "Special Scenic Railway". "Special" due to part of the track being wiped out in a massive landslide, earlier in the year, now instead of the train running to Cairns, it only runs to Barron Falls and back. This was still well worth it, as it's a brilliant old railway, and we got to see the forest and falls from a different angle.

We returned to Kuranda and took a short stroll into the village, where we spent a few hours looking around the markets and shops. As we walked past the Venom Zoo Emma got to hold a Thorny Leaf Insect - eeeehhhhhh!! We returned to the Skyrail Terminal and made the decent back to Cairns, taking in those amazing views once again.

As the dry season has definitely arrived in Cairns the weather is hot and sunny every day; so we couldn't resist spending another few days lazing by the lagoon, and our evenings strolling around the night markets.

Love Lee and Emma

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PS HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIG BRO SIMON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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