Our transporation to the Great Barrier Reef is Ocean Spirit I. A 118 ton schooner rig catamaran |
People hung out on the deck for the 1.5 hour trip to Michaelmas Cay. Numerous people unfortunately succumbed to seasickness |
The captain raises the sail as we hit 9 knots speed with a good 25 knot wind across the bow |
As we headed out of port there were some sprinkles but it soon gave way to mega sunshine |
As we approach Michaelmas Cay the government allows us to feed the fish once a day. They go crazy as we feed them |
Our Beach Buggy is already tied-up as our crew rides a tender to retrieve it |
A view from the shore of Michaelmas Cay. The Cay was mind bogglingly beautiful |
Our group gets ready to snorkel. Ocean Spirit is one of only 3 vessels permitted physical access to the Cay |
Chelle with her flippers and wet suit. The wind was 25 kts and the water was 70 F requiring a wet suit for comfort |
Chelle standing with the numerous birds in the background. |
Our Beach Buggy begins to take people to and from Ocean Spirit I |
Indigenous birds to Michaelmas Cay. There were about 5,000 birds that day and they were very loud |
The birds include a: Crested Tern, Common Noddy, Booby Bird, Sooty Tern, Lesser Crested Terns and Silver Gulls |
A view of Ocean Spirit anchored far from shore |
Michaelmas Cay took 5,000 years to form from the wind and water |
All of these birds are currently nesting and protecting their eggs from predators |
Because this is a protected area we were required to stay behind the white rope |
Michaelmas Cay info |
Michaelmas Cay info |
We are now onboard Ocean Spirit I as we finish snorkeling and head back to Cairns |
A few people from other cruise companies are left behind as we begin to head back to Cairns |
This is as close as other people can get to the Cay. Only three tourist operators are allowed to physically land on the Cay |
As we approach Cairns notice how muddy the water becomes |
We must stay within these channel markers which are dredged to 30 ft. Veer outside of this and risk running aground |
Our next stop is Kuranda the village in the rainforest. Here we wait to board our train |
Time to head outside and wait for our train. Gotta stay behind the yellow line |
A horse riding academy was right across from the train platform entertaining us while we waited |
Freshwater Pony Club |
A view of the obstacle course as the rider and horse cool down in the shade |
Large bush or small tree? This purple flowers had explosive color |
Closeup of the riders and their horses |
As we begin our train ride up to Kurunda we pass by numerous sugar cain fields which are very popular in Cairns |
This is new housing constructions in Cairns. Notice the solid sheet metal roofs. No shingles used here |
A small waterfall as we get close to Barron Falls |
A view from inside the packed train. We didn't get great seats but our view would improve once outside the train |
If you could get down there it would be a nice place to swim but the water is probably very cold |
A waterfall feeding a small reservoir |
Another view of the reservoir which is a very steep drop hundreds of feet below |
A train stop at Barron Falls. Gives us a chance to take some pictures and stretch our legs |
A view from inside the train. All of the seats are on the right side of the cabin |
As we finish the train ride we enter Kuranda Koala Gardens |
Crocodiles sunning themselves |
Closeup of a crocodile. He was small and nowhere near as big as those Steve Irwin-sized crocodiles |
Time to see more Koalas |
It's difficult to see here but this Koala has a newborn hiding in its pouch (same as a kangaroo) |
Chelle is briefed by the handler as she prepares to hold a Koala for the first time |
Picture of Chelle holding a Koala. Checkout those claws for climbing |
A mother with its 11-month old baby Koala. Their climbing skills are simply amazing |
A good view of a Koala's claws used for climbing and gripping. They have 3 fingers and 2 thumbs |
Opals are huge in Australia and this was one of many Opal dealers that we saw |
The sign to the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway as we approach the entrance (www.skyrail.com.au) |
Spanning 7.5km, Skyrail Rainforest Cableway traverses the McAlister Range, through the Barron Gorge National Park |
A view of the mighty Barron River as we pass over |
People can also take a boat ride on the Barron River for a more up close and personal tour of the river |
It's a long way down (over 100 ft) from where we are to the rainforest below |
The cable car in front of us is not really that close as I used zoom in this picture |
Only 1% of the sunlight reaches the very bottom of the rainforest below |
This is the highest point in the trip. Notice the anenometer (wind gauge) at the top of the tower (the wind was strong that day) |
We are over the top and now headed into our first stop |
We enter Barron Falls station |
Welcome to Barron Gorge National Park - part of the traditional lands of the Djabugay Aboriginal people |
This is not their wet season so Barron Falls is pretty weak right now |
The Falls are at their most spectacular during the green (wet) season, December through to March |
This is a picture of what Barron Falls looks like after an all-out rain event |
A view of Barron Gorge way down below. If you are afraid of heights this ride is not for you |
A zoomed-out view of Barron Falls and the hydroelectric dam |
This is a clearing in the rainforest. Sometimes a tree will fall causing new light to fall into formerly dark places |
This gives a good view of the cable structure of the Skyrail. The cables used are seriously think at around 2-3 inches of steel |
This gigantic tree is an anomaly in the rainforest. This is called an emergent towering up to 200 ft above the rainforest floor |
As we re-enter the Skyrail terminal we stop to listen to a guide talking about python snakes in the ferns in front of him |
As we exit the Caravonica Terminal we are treated to this jaw dropping scene of the city of Cairns and the ocean below |
Cairns is a growing city with a lot of new housing construction visibile in the lower center of this picture |
A view of Cairns and the coastline with a commercial plane on approach to Cairns airport (CNS) |
A wide angle view of rural Cairns from just below Caravonica Terminal |
A wide angle view of rural Cairns from just below Caravonica Terminal |
As we descend we discover this large blue pool and try to figure out what it is. A public pool perhaps? |
Upon closer inspection we start to see obstacles such as jumps in the water |
Closer yet we start to see people water skiing |
Check it out. People are water skiing by hanging onto an elevated rope above their heads. How fun would this be! |
A view of the device holding the automated rotating rope system for the skiers to use |
Skiers enjoying a beautiful afternoon. Notice the one dude who wiped out who swam to shore |
At the end of our Skyrail journey we come to the Aboriginal section of our tour to learn how to throw a boomerang |
Chelle walks out to the Aboriginal boomerang throwing master. This is much more difficult than it looks |
Chelle begins her throw and by far is the best throw of the day. The instructor asks if she's ever thrown a boomerang before |
Next after throwing boomerangs we were taught how to throw a spear which was impossible. Noone could do it properly |
The next day was a "free" day as we headed to the Cairns oceanfront to take some pictures. Sign reads 30 degrees C (86 F) |
A good portion of the beach area is muddy referred to as the Muddies or just plain mud beach. The birds love it though |
Kids playing in the sand near the Muddies |
A public pool in the heart of Cairns near the ocean |
This bird grabbed a huge fish and took a very long time to swallow it |
Pictures of our hotel in Cairns called the Cairns Tropical Bay Resort. This was our floor that opens directly to the outside |
Palms in the courtyard |
Some people sunned themselves during the day while others played cards outside on the available tables |
A small pool was available that some people took advantage of |
This reminded me a lot of hotels in Hawaii. Everything is open to the outside. The front lobby desk is to the left |
Last but certainly not least we were able to meet-up with some of Chelle's former residents who live in Australia! |