Cairns

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Hi everyone, we have finally arrived in Queensland and guess this is where the real travelling begins. We intend to take the next 3 months to travel down the east coast of Australia, all the way to Melbourne. We have spent a few days in Cairns now, got our bearings and after much deliberation have decided not to buy a car but hire a campervan instead. We got a really good rate and will hopefully save loads on accommodation costs; the downside is that we will probably be sick to death of each other and shall be very glad of a proper bed for a couple of nights at John & Pats and Aunty Maureens!! I can't wait as some of you know I have hankered after another camper for years so this will maybe get it out of my system!! It will certainly give us lots of freedom to go where we like, when we like and become a load of chilled hippies!
We are really enjoying Cairns and they have apparently really improved it over the last 3 years. They have ripped out all the mangrove swamps which used to cover the shoreline and have built a 3 km long esplanade complete with huge lagoon swimming area and enormous kids playpark so that has been fantastic. Add the smart hotels, marina and restaurants etc and it looks lovely. Haven't been doing too much what with sorting the van out etc but we managed a trip out to Fitzroy Island which was really lovely. Unfortunately they have had strong winds for the past few weeks (used to be called the Trade Winds in the olden days) so it was a very choppy crossing to say the least - I clung on and was very proud of myself, Rik & Kiera just thought it was very funny!! The island was lovely although everything is about to be knocked down and they are building yet another exclusive resort which they seem to be doing with a lot of their islands; expensive to get to already, I expect they will get more so. We walked along the track to Nudey Beach where clothing was optional, although it wasn't pushed as a nudist beach. Everything great until two blokes decided to sit 5 yards away from us (the whole beach being empty at this time), and proceeded to take photos of each other full frontal!! Kiera not fazed at all, Me & Rik didn't know where to look! Luckily it was time for some lunch so we beat a hasty retreat.....
Rik did some snorkelling but visibility was not that good due to the wind churning up the water so we lounged around the pool all afternoon until it was time to get back on the boat.
We spent the day yesterday up in Kuranda which we got to on the scenic railway; spectacular journey up through the mountains and rainforest and then a return journey in the afternoon on the Skyrail. This is one of the worlds longest cable cars (7.5km) over the top and through the rainforest and was great with fantastic views. I still can't stand cable cars and can't believe I actually put myself through it in Bavaria/Austria as well as here!!!! Kuranda is also famous for its markets but there were so many even I got bored after a while and some of you will know just how bad it must have been then....
Well, we pick up the campervan this morning and then tomorrow will be heading north to the Daintree Rainforest, Port Douglas and Cape Tribulation for a few days. I have added some photos now (what a time consuming nightmare!) and sorry they're not brilliant but hope you get the gist of what its like. Thanks for all the emails and I will get around the answering them, it just takes time and money!
Till next time, lots of love Nicchi, Rik & Kiera xxxx

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Photos

Fitzroy Island/Cairns
Kiera sunning herself on Nudey beach!

Fitzroy Island/Cairns
A Damp Mossman Gorge.

Tjapukai
Didgeridoo playing - especially for the Kellys!

Boomerang Lessons.
Kiera learning how to throw a boomerang.

Comments

[Mandy Kelly]

Cable Cars Oh No!
Hi ya peeps! Sounds great. And you are far braver than me Nicchi, I cry going over bridges these days!!! You are very nearly gypo's with camper van eh! You'll come back with long blond hair (Rick) tattoos, braids, surfers tan and an aussie twang! I've just been looking at another friends piccies of Miami just before he goes to Belize. I'm feeling quite envious stuck in sunny Shropshire! Anyway, keep living the dream, enjoy, look after yourselves and all our love. The Kelly's X X X