Cairns

23rd Aug
A superb morning as we left to drive to Cairns & was 28. Quite a twisty road & narrow for a main hwy & wasn't the best drive ever for me. Beautiful views of the sea & coast & stopped for photos a couple of times.

We stopped here & were offered a site but not for me as free camping is not my scene at all.

We arrived at our Big 4 park which was very nice with the best amenities of the trip & a beautiful setting about 20 mins out of Cairns.
24thAug.
  John & Sue had done the Kuranda rail but offered to drive up & pick us up as I wasn't wrapped in the Skyrail to come back. John took us to the station & Allan told the girl in the ticket office that he had done the same journey 57 years ago. We were disappointed with our bench seats for 4 people as we didn't have a window & Allan's neighbour wouldn't stop talking. Just before we left a girl came rushing in & said to follow her & we got given perfect seats with a whole bench seat & a window, The girl in the ticket office decided we were very nice people & gave us an upgrade. What a difference it made to the ride.

The carriages are beautiful & we had a couple from Melbourne opposite who were really nice.

It certainly is a popular attraction & really excellent.

The tales that were told of how it was all built 125 years ago were interesting too.

It took 1& 3/4 hours & superb rain forest & magnificent views.

When Allan did it all those years ago the photos show beautiful flowering hanging baskets at the Kuranda station but now they are ferns although still look good.

We thought the main street was fantastic with trees & tropical plants.

We met up with John & Sue & wandered thru the markets & then found a place to have lunch.

The road back was quite twisty but better than I thought & we cooled off in the pool after another great day. John suggested a meeting place which was easy to find.

Allan really enjoyed his day which was certainly memorable. love Bev & Allan.