Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Arrived in Cairns and we are staying at one of the best hostels ever - Travellers Oasis, its really small and the owner Gabe is very funny and helpful, only 3 in a dorm and you get a proper towel!! Funny how good it feels to have a proper towel and duvet!
Our first day was spent checking out the shops as we hadn't been
shopping for the past 5 days!
Spent the next day in Kuranda which is a small village in the hills near Cairns. Usually you can get there by train but because of the flooding the week before no trains were running so we had to go by bus, the train route looked amazing though. Whilst up in the village this is where Charlotte purchased a giant stuffed wombat called William and I opted for the small option- Wilbert (see
photos) - yes we are nearly 25 you wouldnt think so would you!!
The trip back from Kuranda is via Cable car where you go over the forest and its great views it takes about 45 minutes in total.
Finished the day off with quite a big night out going to PJ Obriens and The Woolshed, which are apparently the bars you have to go to when you are in Cairns. Spent the next day recovering by the pool in the rain and went to the cinema to perve at Hugh Grant - although we were disappointed.
Cape Tribulation was the next thing to tick off our site seeing list. We went on a 2 day 1 night trip with Emily to see the place where the rainforest meets the reef. Day started well until we came to a creek which had flooded and we could go no further- so unfortunately we had to sit in the pub for 2 hours until it was passable.
We eventually got to the Cape Trib beach house which seemed really nice right on the beach surrounded by the forest in little cabins- whilst checking in we noticed a sign explaining that there was a Cassowary bird in the area that was behaving quite violently as it was trying to protect its territory from another bird, it mentioned not to run and just make loud noises. (This will make sense later!)
Although the weather wasn't great we decided to make the most of it and headed along the beach to a lookout point which was great. Made our way back up the path from the beach totally engrossed in conversation we looked up to discover the Cassowary bird was stood right beside us and heading for us- let me tell you this is not a small bird - it was taller than me about 6foot (Lucy obviously not Charlotte!) Well we screamed and ran straight towards the beach, Emily was running doing the Dingo protection manouver (hands across chest) which we later found hilarious, Charlotte lost her flip flops and I ran past them both shouting don't run, don't run!!
The bird mustn't like the beach as it didn't come down that far- another girl from our trip after hearing our story decided we were being pathetic and she headed up the path taking photos and telling us it was safe to come up as it wasn't close to path as she was turning round the bird ran after her and she had to jump onto the bar decking to get away from it- the only thing we could describe it as was a bird from jurassic park- it is very bright coloured and looks like an emu type thing but also has a large horn thing coming out of its head which apparently it can head butt with and the birds in general have killed someone before.
We eventually got rescued and walked up the path- the manager was around the bar the rest of the afternoon with a long umbrella to attack it with if it came close!
The next day we headed back stopping for a boardwalk in the rainforest- we were told to go early in the morning to see wildlife but to be honest think we'd already seen more than our fair share up close! Also visited Mossmans Gorge. We got dropped at Port Douglas where we were staying for 2 nights whilst emily headed back to Cairns.
Chilled in Port Douglas for 2 days- very nice little resort- loads of posh hotels, however, the weather spoilt it really as it rained solidly for the 2 days. However, we were sharing room with two really nice girls, Sam and Claire so chatted with them quite a bit and the hostel food was gorgeous! Chicken Breast stuffed with prawns - cost 4quid!
Arrived back in Cairns and went to the woolshed for another cheap meal and met up with Becky and Emily- plus Sam who we'd met in Port Douglas.
After our adventure on the Whitsundays we thought we had to get to see the reef in the sunshine. We went on th Passions of Paradise boat for the day and it was sunny all day- the only fine day in about 2 weeks lucky us. The sea was so clear and we stopped at a small island that was just covered in birds- the sand was white and it was idylic-the snorkelling was great too. Think we had both really missed the sun. Went round to Stuarts for a bbq afterwards which was great.
Last day in Cairns was spent lounging round the pool, shopping and washing all our clothes ready for our next big adventure in New Zealand.
- comments