Innisfail

26th aug.
  We said goodbye to John & Sue this morning after just over three months of travel together on an amazing trip. We need to slow up as are meeting everyone in Maroochydore in a month's time.This was the very nice park at Cairns.

Shortly after leaving Cairns we saw these unusual ranges.

The caravan park at Innisfail gave us a site right on the bank overlooking the river which Allan was pleased with. However there was a resident croc who had just left after sunning himself on a sandbank while the tide was out! Here we were able to walk into town so set off to enjoy the Art Deco buildings.

A cyclone destroyed the town back in the 1930's so all the buildings rebuilt then were of a similar style.

Two rivers meet to form a huge waterway along the back of the town.

An interesting place to wander around & a stall selling very cheap bananas almost opposite the park was worth the visit too. love Bev& Allan.

Innisfail

26th Aug
       We said goodbye to John & Sue this morning as they headed to Cardwell on their way home after being in each others company for just over 3 months.This was the park we stayed at in Cairns.

I had a quick shot out the window soon after we left of the unusual shaped range.

Only single lane hwy with very short passing lanes but not too much traffic. The park in Innisfail was walking distance to town & Allan loved our site with river views. After settling in we were told the resident croc had been sunning himself on a sandbank earlier when the tide was out! The neighbour commented that the croc only came up the bank to our site & didn't bother the rest of the campers! Ha Ha!

We did a walk to town & really nice art deco buildings after the town was rebuilt following a cyclone in the 1930's.

Quite a busy town with both major supermarkets

Two rivers meet & become a very wide one which follows thru the town.An interesting town. Love Bev & Allan.

 

Innisfail

26th Aug
       We said goodbye to John & Sue this morning as they headed to Cardwell on their way home after being in each others company for just over 3 months.This was the park we stayed at in Cairns.

I had a quick shot out the window soon after we left of the unusual shaped range.

Only single lane hwy with very short passing lanes but not too much traffic. The park in Innisfail was walking distance to town & Allan loved our site with river views. After settling in we were told the resident croc had been sunning himself on a sandbank earlier when the tide was out! The neighbour commented that the croc only came up the bank to our site & didn't bother the rest of the campers! Ha Ha!

We did a walk to town & really nice art deco buildings after the town was rebuilt following a cyclone in the 1930's.

Quite a busy town with both major supermarkets

Two rivers meet & become a very wide one which follows thru the town.

27th Aug
  Decided to pack a picnic lunch & visit a couple of the bays. We drove to Etty Bay first which was quite a climb up & then down to find not much parking as a group were having a school reunion. We had a coffee at the only shop & then walked along the beach. Allan spotted something Sue had been hoping for but the phone had a dirty lens so photos not as clear as they should be.

It was a Cassowary trying to get into someones lunch which they had left while going down to the water.

Allan went to get closer & the bird chased him around a treeso  we decided to picnic elsewhere as didn't want company!

We drove to Mourilyan Harbour which is the main loading port for exported sugar in this region.No picnic spots here so drove to Coquette Pt. No parking at all but a nursery called Lavender & Lace had a drive in so went to investigate. We were heading into the nursery when a lady came up from behind us & we explained we weren't coming to purchase but wanted somewhere to eat our lunch. She offered us her boathouse & took us thru to their private property.A nice walk!

We decided to take our own chairs & not sit in the boathouse & were told not to sit under the coconut trees as they were laden. The house was something else & a magic spot where the husband fished with success.

We felt very spoilt to be offered such a unique picnic spot & later wandered around the huge nursery which was showing signs of neglect.

Amazing how a simple plan can turn into a magical day finished by the croc splashing below around 8pm catching fish for his dinner. I cooked outside & was worried he might come to visit as we could see his outline even though it was dark. Scary. Love Bev & Allan.

Innisfail

26th Aug
       We said goodbye to John & Sue this morning as they headed to Cardwell on their way home after being in each others company for just over 3 months.This was the park we stayed at in Cairns.

I had a quick shot out the window soon after we left of the unusual shaped range.

Only single lane hwy with very short passing lanes but not too much traffic. The park in Innisfail was walking distance to town & Allan loved our site with river views. After settling in we were told the resident croc had been sunning himself on a sandbank earlier when the tide was out! The neighbour commented that the croc only came up the bank to our site & didn't bother the rest of the campers! Ha Ha!

We did a walk to town & really nice art deco buildings after the town was rebuilt following a cyclone in the 1930's.

Quite a busy town with both major supermarkets

Two rivers meet & become a very wide one which follows thru the town.

27th Aug
  Decided to pack a picnic lunch & visit a couple of the bays. We drove to Etty Bay first which was quite a climb up & then down to find not much parking as a group were having a school reunion. We had a coffee at the only shop & then walked along the beach. Allan spotted something Sue had been hoping for but the phone had a dirty lens so photos not as clear as they should be.

It was a Cassowary trying to get into someones lunch which they had left while going down to the water.

Allan went to get closer & the bird chased him around a treeso  we decided to picnic elsewhere as didn't want company!

We drove to Mourilyan Harbour which is the main loading port for exported sugar in this region.No picnic spots here so drove to Coquette Pt. No parking at all but a nursery called Lavender & Lace had a drive in so went to investigate. We were heading into the nursery when a lady came up from behind us & we explained we weren't coming to purchase but wanted somewhere to eat our lunch. She offered us her boathouse & took us thru to their private property.A nice walk!

We decided to take our own chairs & not sit in the boathouse & were told not to sit under the coconut trees as they were laden. The house was something else & a magic spot where the husband fished with success.

We felt very spoilt to be offered such a unique picnic spot & later wandered around the huge nursery which was showing signs of neglect.

Amazing how a simple plan can turn into a magical day finished by the croc splashing below around 8pm catching fish for his dinner. I cooked outside & was worried he might come to visit as we could see his outline even though it was dark. Scary. Love Bev & Allan.

Cairns Part Two

25th Aug
  A cloudy humid morning of 27 degrees when we left to drive into Cairns. A much bigger shopping area than we expected & some great buildings. The actual shopping mall was quite old & covered a whole block but a superb building & quite updated inside.

We didn't have much time & thought we'd struck gold at a huge fruit market but they were preparing for markets the next day & wouldn't sell us anything! We decided to do a quick drive to the waterfront & have a coffee but the tide was out so not pretty!

There were some better sights though.

A huge pool complex that was all for free & a really great spot for a picnic & swim.

We had a short time left so headed to the Botanical Gardens & the little we saw was magnificent.

It was a huge place & certainly would love to spend a few hours wandering around .

We went back to the park to pick up John & Sue & drove to Yorkeys Nob Boating Club for a farewell lunch. Very pleasant on a big deck overlooking the water & could watch boats going in & out.We really loved our brief time in Cairns & will certainly try to come back on hopefully another trip. Love Bev & Allan

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.