I love Cairns, especially in winter. The far north is tropical and warm and a nice contrast to the counter-side of the continent in Melbourne.
Cairns is like any big city and the year-long good weather attracts many backpackers and day-trippers. We’d seen the city before and we certainly hadn’t travelled all this way for sushi rolls and supermarkets.
We’d hired a Wicked camper, a tiny little Toyota Corolla, we nicknamed Ringo, that we can fold down the seats and make a bed to sleep in for the week - magic. After some fuss with the roof storage and paperwork we were on the road - first stop Palm Cove for a few well earned days of R&R.
Cindy and I took an easy pace. We drove up to Port Douglas for an open-air, moonlight cinema to see Disney Pixar’s Inside Out. Snuggled up on our beach towels for a beautiful evening under the stars and cicadas with the tropical rainforest all around, what a magical experience.
Continuing our relaxation we spent a day beach hoping Ellis Beach, Trinity Beach and Palm Cove. Coconut hunting.
And croc and jellyfish spotting.
We didn’t see any though.
Our last day around Palm Cove and we drive up towards Cape Tribulation and the Daintree rainforest.
A long winding road through beautiful countryside. Stopping at scenic lookouts, beaches, and hiking trails all throughout the day.
The next morning we’re out on the road, leaving our beach resorts behind we head into the wilderness. First night is at a free camp-ground somewhere outside of Mareeba. We arrive in the pitch of night, hungry. Somehow we manage to navigate the maze of cars with barely any sight and set up camp. We befriend some fellow travellers after we realise we haven’t bought any gas to cook with. The stresses of our first night were over, we slept okay and woke to a beautiful day.
Today we drove inland through the highest elevated town in Queensland past dairy farms and mountains and made our way to Mr Surprise and Undara Volcanic National Park.
We’re definitely in the outback now.
We stop for the night at Undara under trees and the most breathtaking sky-scape of the Milky Way.
The next day waking for tours of the lava tubes and meteor craters.
We leave the day behind us and make way back towards the coast and back into the Atherton Tablelands on the other side of the Great Dividing Range, we stop at some free natural hot-springs for our ‘shower’ before camping for the night at another roadside stop. It rains heavily all evening and we enjoy watching Jurassic Park - somehow it feels such a fitting location to watch it.
Next day a scenic drive passing lakes and waterfalls.
Recognise this next one? It’s from Peter Andre’s one-hit-wonder six-pack-tastic music video; Mysterious Girl. Not quite as inviting in the winter though, brrr…
A dusk visit to the abandoned Paronella Park, once home to a Spanish Sugar-cane entrepreneur who had a dream to recreate the majesty of European Castles in Queensland. Sadly, after his death the estate fell into disrepair and was left to the wild. However it’s now an amazing place to explore.
Stopping for the night in mission beach and a drive through Cane Country. Choo-choo, watch out for that Cane Train. We arrive later than planned and miss out on all the camp-grounds. It’s a Friday night and everywhere is either full or closed for the evening. After much stressing we find out we can camp in the YHA car park for $6, winner-winner!
Lastly, back to Cairns and the beautiful Great Barrier Reef. Rough seas make for a bit of an unpleasant, cold and wet ride - but still worth it for the beauty.
So long and thanks for all the fish. You can view my photos on Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/omgaz/albums/72157657631396580.