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When we arrived in Cairns it was the first day of spring. This was celebrated by a street carnival
with many decorated floats and followed by a massive firework display. We where then entertained by a variety of
different bands in the main square. What a wonderful start to a Holiday. The next day Sunday we went on
Skyrail (a cable car journey-15Km long)
up over the rainforest to visit Kuranda a aboriginal
village and large craft market (Maco was not in her element as “her miserable
husband” would not let her buy anything...) We both enjoyed the bush walks, before we came back down on the
vintage train (my
turn to be in my element )through some of the most spectacular scenery in the area. |
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On Monday we had a day boat trip on a high speed cat
along the coast then out to the Barrier
Reef Maco even
took a helicopter flight over the reef and came back absolutely thrilled at
the sight of it. Also a trip in a semi-submersible to see at close hand the
coral and fish. Being inside a
boundless, tropical fishbowl brought home the stunning beauty of the place . |
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Left Travelling above the rainforest in a gondolier
on our way up Right The train traversing one of the many bends on
it’s way down |
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Next day we hired a car for the rest of our stay and
travelled out each day to see a new place we managed to get up to Cape Tribulation and down as far as the Lava Tubes at Undara. This is where Maco
had her first real experience of the outback, with its mostly gravel or dust
roads and mile after mile of nothing but plains with a few gum trees. Also
the Roadtains, a truck with up to five
semi-trailers that keeps to the centre of the road and you HAVE to get out of
the way of as they take a lot of stopping, but worst of all leave a large
cloud of dust that means that you can’t see the road or anything else for
ages, till it starts to settle . |
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Left The Reef
from the Helicopter Right And from the semi-submersible A place you have to see at first hand to
really appreciate |
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Perth was the next stop with a flight that stopped at Ayres Rock. We had to arrive on
the coldest day they have had for many years, only just 4 degrees C at mid
day. Normally it’s in the top 30
degrees C, and with most of the passengers in only “T” shirt and shorts we all stayed in the
departure lounge. It was nice to
arrive in Perth and back into the sun again, but we only had 3 day’s so we
had to get a move on. |
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Left An outback dust track ? NO this IS the main road ! Right One of the many Roadtains we met This was a short one as it was carrying fuel |