Cairns
Trip Start
Jun 10, 2010
1
6
13
Trip End
Jul 06, 2010
Where I stayed
What I did
Green Island
Wetherby Station
Kuranda Village
Flecker Botanic Gardens
Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
In the morning, after breakfast, we met the rest of the group and were oriented as to what was happening for this phase of the trip. Maree once again gave out a plethora of information on Cairns. We then set off for Hartley's Crocodile Adventures, see MAP, GPS(16 39 50.43S, 143 33 49.85E). We first got to meet and had a photo op with a Koala. We were taken on a guided tour of the facility which included a boat ride through the swamp. They had kangaroo's in a large penned area, which we went in, but the kangaroos were timid and would not get too close to us. They also showed us the crocodile breeding and raising area, as this was there prime business raising crocs for their skins and meat.
The ride then took us along the Coral Coast for a lunch and shopping break in Port Douglas, see MAP, GPS(16 29 03.25S, 145 27 57.02E).
The next, and last, stop for the day was Wetherby Station, near Julatten on the MAP, GPS(16 39 17.69S, 145 20.55.39E), an authentic working cattle station, with a lecture on horseback from one of the hands. He was on horseback, not us. He was an authentic singing cowboy and entertained us during an excellent dinner.
We got back hotel in the late evening and had the rest of the evening to ourselves.
In the morning, after breakfast, we took a short bus ride, about 1 km. to the Cairnes Pier see MAP, GPS(16 55 08.99S, 145 46.81E), which you could see from the hotel, to board the cruise to Green Island, see MAP, GPS(16 45 55,27S, 145.58.11.03E) about 16 miles, about 1 hour, in a large catamaran. The Day we went out, it was fairly rough. We saw no one get sick, but many looked uncomfortable. On the Island, there was snorkling, glass bottom boat rides, nature walks, a buffet restaurant, etc, For the most part you were on board walks, There was also an optional cruise out to the outer reef for more snorkeling After returning, we walked back to the hotel, and had the evening free.
The next morning was very early for many of us. There was a 4:15 departure for hot air ballooning, with Hot Air Cairns. Cairns is considered one of the premier balooning centers in the world, with consistent winds and plenty of open fields to land, as well as geat views coming down from the table lands. We were picked up by a minivan and driven up into the tableland south of Cairns. We we brought to a place to wait to find out where they would launch from. There was not much there, but there were bathrooms. As you can't steer a hot air balloon, you have to pick your targeted landing area, then determine, based on air currents, where to launch from. They picked a pasture very near their breakfast facility to land.When we got to the balloons in the pitch black, they we in the process of inflating them. The balloons were huge. They told us that they were the largest class of balloons in the world, There were about 20 of us in the basket, plus the pilot.
Watching the balloons inflating against the night sky was amazing and the lift off was very smooth. It gained altitude very quickly. The sun came up as we were rising. The pilot was constantly checking wind direction at different altitudes to chart his path to the landing area. We were all told to flex our knees to absorb the shock when we hit, but it was pretty smooth, with just a couple of bounces. The minibus was waiting for us there, with the passengers for the next flight. As the balloon was going up again, the pilot kept the burners going and had one person get off and their replacement get on, to balance the load vs. the lift, with ground crew holding the basket in place. After the balloon went up the bus took us a very short distance to a breakfast pavilion that Hot Air runs. There we had an excellent buffet breakfast with champagne.
Some of the group went back to the hotel, and some continued on to join those coming from the hotel at the Tjapukai Aboriginal Park, see MAP, GPS(16 50 55.91S, 145 41 41.85E). Here we started out with a movie about the first meetings of the white men and the aboriginals and the abuse that came about. Until fairly recently the aboringines were not even considered human under the law Then they gave us demonstrations and lessons on how to throw a boomerang and use spear throwers. There was then a aboriginal musical show. There was a good gift shop if you wnated to spend money.
When we were done there, we went next door to the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway,. This is a cablecar system up the side of the mountain through a tropical rainforest . You can get off at a couple of stations along the way. We walked up to Kuranda Village, see MAP, GPS(16 49 09.43S, 145 38 11.08E), where we had lunch at a street side stand. Our bus arrived and returned us to the hotel in the mid-afternoon,
In the late afternoon, there was a presentation and discussion in the hotel on modern aboriginal life, that was not very well attended, but was quite interesting. This had been a long and busy day.
In the morning, after "brekkie", we left for the airport with a 1 hour stop at the Flecker Botanic Gardens, see MAP, GPS(16 53 56.58, 145 44 51.98E). I am not a big fan of Botanic Gardens, but for a small garden this was very impressive, and a good break before getting on a plane.
Off to the airport for Sydney.
