Kuranda

This morning we are picked up for our day tour.  We are going to take the train up through the rainforest to Kuranda and then return by Skyride.

The station



Our route. This rail line was originally created due to the discovery of gold.  The train was essential for supplies and later used for logging.





Barron Gorge



Barron Falls in Barron Gorge National Park



The rainforest 



We’ve arrived in Kuranda and decide to go to the bird sanctuary.

The Australian Cassowary (prehistoric looking)



Black Swan (lovely white when they extend their wings)

Such a beautiful colour. 

Mr. and Mrs. ??

After a couple of hours in Kuranda and a lovely lunch we head back down via the Skyrail.

Quite different seeing the canopy from above.

We stop to do a short walk through the forest.  This tree is huge.  Very straight.  It constantly sheds its bark so vines cannot grown on the outside therefore winning the competition for light.

This is an Epiphyte. This means “upon plants”.  This is a plant growing on top of another plant.  In the rain forest it’s all about accessing the light.

We then head back to Cairns stopping at Palm Cove along the way. Beautiful beach but no one is swimming.  You should only swim where there are netted areas to keep any jelly fish out.  It’s not safe from November to May.  There is a new jelly fish that is very small.  It is the size of your thumb nail but packs a wallop equivalent to a big box jelly fish.  If you get stung you only have 30 minutes to get to hospital and be treated.  There isn’t any anti venom for a jelly fish sting and can land you in hospital for a month (if you survive)

Palm Cove is a lovely area.  Lots of restaurants and shops along the water.  Lots of people spend a few days in Palm Cove and a few in Port Douglas.  Maybe next time??

Out on the pier they have these handy rod holders.  Great idea for using more than one rod.

We stop at the lookout for Wangetti.  We then head back to Port Douglas for our last night.  Off to Cairns in the morning.

A senior tour guide told us we had to have dinner at the pub around the corner.  Said he’d been going there for 30 years!  It was a carnivore’s dream!  Kangaroo and crocodile steaks!  We had vegetarian lasagna 😂