Choo Choo Time - Up to Kuranda - Down by Sky Rail

It's now the 10th and to the train station at Freshwater for a trip on the Kuranda RR. The journey on the Kuranda Train was delightful. Went thru Red Lynch and Jungara (the largest WW 11 field hospital was located here), then after a 180 degree horseshoe bend, we climbed up to the Stony Creek Falls, sometimes seeing both the front and back of the train on tight curves, with views all the way to the Coral Sea. We stopped for short time at Barron Falls, then went into Kuranda. We ate at German Tuckers, had sausage and beer, did a bird exhibit, a wrecked plane and walked the village. Our return trip was by Sky Rail, a 7.5 km gondola ride above and thru the rainforest. At about a 1/4 of the way down, you stop at Barron Falls overlook (same falls - other side of the valley). Resuming, you go over the rainforest, stopping at Red Peak Station, do a boardwalk atop the rainforest of about 500 ft. Reboard and continue on down through the rainforest to the bottom. At the highest point you're 133 ft off the ground. At the bottom you go next door to the 'Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park' for a lunch buffet and participate in several aboriginal cultural exhibits, including History,Dance & Creation theatres, a cultural village (learned about the Didgeridoo, bush foods and their medicines), spear throwing (guess they didn't need that guide) and boomerang throwing (Ouch). We returned to our hotel to find that our train trip on the 'Sunlander' had been canceled due to a freight wreck earlier in the day. After a panic session, the railroad booked us on a plane the next day into Brisbane. Cleaned up, relaxed and went to dinner on the wharf at Pesci's, another very good meal. Walked about Cairns CBD and retired.

Lets head up the Barron Valley to Kuranda

Freshwater Station - Morning Tea - Cappuccinos & Scones.

This view makes waiting for the train worthwhile.

Ya don't see trains painted like this very often.

On one of the horseshoe curves.

Stony Creek Falls - from the trestle.

From the trestle - the rear end just came out of a cut.

Barron Falls from overlook on south side of valley.

Kuranda Station - well done

Remains of an crashed plane near the village.

4 of the 78 different birds at 'Birdworld Kuranda'.

Do the Sky Rail down

Boarded a Sky Rail car and started down.

Crossing the Barron River.

Approaching the stop at Barron Falls.



Barron Falls from north side of valley.

Looking down on the Rainforest.

Towards Cairns -on the bay behind Airport and Mt. Whitfield.

Port Douglas on coast.

Approaching the base - next door is the red roofed 'Tjapukai Cultural Park'.


Tjapukai Cultural Park

Aboriginal Canoe

At Dance Theatre

Didgeridoo Demo

Babe Checking out the boomerang

To Cairns – too K`aaarns – too Canes – too Cans – lets just go do a Lava Tube and Barrier Reef

Sooo much to do – Sooo little time - run out of bband and in time we will catch up in sequence.

On 7th did a fly out, an in and out at Sydney and on to to Cairns.

Right off the bat our first scheduled thingy in Cairns was canceled due to a road washout. The 'Flames in the Forrest' dinner and show. That's OK, had a great Curry dinner at the Banana Leaf on the Esplanade. On the 8th we did a 'Undara Lava Tubes' trip into the out back, where you travel about 4 hrs in each direction in a van. You do pass thru some special countryside from sugar plantations thru the Atherton Tablelands, rainforest and over the Great Dividing Range and onto the dry outback of the Gulf Savannah, with termite mounds and all. Had a good lunch out there. The Undara Natl. Park, they had a great guide, Levi, who toured us through the lava tubes. The return ride was long- but offset by a great meal of Bay Bugs and Fettuccine at the 'Red Ochre' in Cairns. Out to the 'Great Outer Barrier Reef' on the 9th, an all day affair, which should be done by everyone. A great experience starting on the Quicksilver a smooth trip out to a special docking platform at the reef at the edge of the continental shelf. Just call me the snorkel king. I enjoyed this very much in spite of the monkey suit and life jacket. It is quite beautiful. What you miss snorkeling you get on the semi-sub, a boat with ample glass area below the water that goes around some of the reef area. Top that off Christmas caroling in the park across from our hotel, then a pizza and a beer at 'La Pizza' to finish off the evening in Cairns. You couldn't ask for a better day. Now for some Pict's for these two days

Lets go Lava Tube exploring

One of the many Sugar Cane Plantations along the way

Easterly view from atop the 'Great Dividing Range"


Kangamoos at a wind farm - ya need to stay upwind

Not all the trees are green

The king inspecting his termite mounds - one of many

A renegade Mango tree growing in the Outback - unusual


Typical outback scene - What can I Say?


Wally - The Rock Wallaby- staying out of the heat


Looking down thru one of the many segments of a giant

and lengthy lava tube. Some found in excess of 30 km.


Looking up and out of another tube. Note the rainforrest

type trees found in the Undara Natl. Park in the Outback.

Great Barrier Reef Day

Cool blue water on way out to Edge of Continental Shelf.


King Snorkel in a monkey suit.

Ready or not - Here we go


Like a frog- it's not easy being blue

Below is six of the beautiful corall and fish in the reef shots from

the glass sided boat.It is much better than what these pictures show.

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Now back to Port Douglas on very placid water.


Doing Chrismas carols by candlelight in the park.