Ayr (!), Magnetic Island & Cairns

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From Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays we drove north stopping off at Ayr (!) for lunch where it was about 35c, so just a wee bit warmer than the original Ayr in Scotland! As Jen got out of the car she accidently stood on her watch that had fallen on the ground so that made 2 of us without a watch as Gordon lost his on the Lares Trek in Peru! (Och well, who needs to worry about the time anyway?!). Heading further North to Townsville we noticed a dramatic change in the scenery as we entered a lucious green tropical area. We drove up Castle Hill to catch a good view of Townsville, Magnetic Island (Maggie!) and the surrounding coast. Leaving the car in Townsville we got a passenger ferry over to Magnetic Island where we spent 3 nights. The YHA hostel in Horseshoe Bay was in a lovely quiet forest area and we stayed in a nice wee wooden bungalow with a veranda. There was lots of wildlife around our bungalow, including possums, rock wallabies, colourful birds and lots of ants that seemed to be everywhere, including our bed! The hostel has great facilities including a funky outdoor bar and restaurant with good food and a heavenly pool! We had a really relaxing day sitting under the trees at the neaby beach - a very pretty bay. Unfortunately it's jelly fish season so Jen decided to cool down in the lovely hostel pool while GG chilled on a hammock! Next day we went for a very hot walk on steep, uneven paths to Balding Bay then Radical Bay. Both gorgeous beaches but Radical Bay has a lot more shade available which we badly needed that day! We wish we'd had more time on the island as there were a few more places we would have liked to explore. We got an early boat back to the mainland the next day then drove to Cairns with a stop in Tully to get a photo of Jen at the top of an enormous welly boot! (The boot height represents the amount of rainfall that fell here at some point.....can't remember when!). In Cairns we said goodbye to our trusty hire car and spent quite a bit of time organising the next part of our trip. On a visit to the supermarket Jen's eyes lit up when she discovered they had Christmas mince pies! (She's now trying to figure out a way of fitting a supply into her rucksack for Christmas in SE Asia!!). From Cairns we visited Kuranda via a scenic railway line that winds it's way up through rainforest passing waterfalls and gorges. Kuranda is a pretty village with markets selling arts and crafts, clothes and jewellery. We spent a few hours wandering around then we returned to Cairns via a 7km long cable car. The cable car hovers over the roof of the rainforest and you can hear the sounds of the animals and insects echo all around. You get a great view looking down into the rainforest and out to Cairns and the surrounding coast. Next stop Alice Springs!

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Comments

[StevieBoy]

You two need tae....
.....WATCH whit yer doin !! - Ha -I kill me, I really do.....

[Juliet]

Kuranda
Funny seeing photos of Kuranda - we went there too when we stayed at Port Douglas (1 hour north of Cairns). We were lucky that it wasn't stinger season and could swim on the sea but did keep a lookout for sharks and salties! I'm guessing if you're going to Alice Springs you'll also head out to Ayers Rock. We loved it there although some people described it to us as a big rock in a desert and weren't impressed - guess it's very individual. We walked round the base at sunrise and Neil managed to get lost with Alex - don't know how he managed to get lost going in a circle but the guide told him off good and proper! I found Alice Springs a bit odd - they seem to bus loads of very poor Aborigines into the town in the morning and take them back to their housing in the evening and they just seemed to sit around - very sad. We also found a company who did morning camel rides along the (dry) riverbed followed by a cooked breakfast - would recommend it, Have fun. Juliet and co xx

[anonymous]

Just lovely, pics are fab. I love looking at them especially as we are freezing and floating here. Never seen so much rain. Bad news folks, you are missing the x factor. Jen, Gordon is not here taping it and sending it to you. Keep's us entertained on a Saturday night

[Laura]

lovely lorikeets
Hey it's great to see all the fab pictures (even though they make me jealous). I love the one with all the lorikeets, they're so pretty! Take care, Laura x

[Sylvia]

A few questions I have to ask
Sounds like you've had a lovely relaxing time. Lovely arty photos again but I want to know where you had to be, Jennifer, to take the one of Gordon on the train. I'd also like to know if you worked out a strategy for carrying the Christmas pies around with you for the next 7 weeks (as if they'd last that long). Next question - What did you buy at the arts and crafts shop in Kuranda that sells clothes and jewellery? Last question - Don't you think, Gordon, that you should cut down a bit on the spending? Did you really NEED a new T-shirt? Lots of love Auntie S xx

[Gordon and Jenny]

A few answers to your questions!!!
Important to get strategic shots so I strapped myself to the side of the train for that one!!! All Christmas pies eaten in Australia (2 packs!) - so yes you were right (!)and I didn't have the issue of trying to fit them into my rucksack!!! Tried very hard to restrain myself as they had some lovely things in Kuranda, but in the end I bought a wee silver bracelet and some sweets! Yes, Gordon has been splurging far too much and needs to control his shopping urges!!! ;-)