Visit to Australia in January 2006 

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Page 4 of 4

 


Cairns, Queensland

Kuranda Scenic Train and Skyrail

We took the Kuranda Scenic Train from the Cairns Train Station to Kuranda and spent the day visiting the Rainforest Station, the Bird World, and walking in the rainforest.  We then took the Skyrail cable car back down to a small town near Cairns from where we took a bus to get back to the hotel.  I thought that the Rainforest Station was just a tourist trap, but we did get to see interesting animals.  The Bird World was much better.

 

 

Train Ride up to Kuranda

 

Sugarcane Fields

 

Coast

 

Small Town

 

Stoney Creek

Falls

Around

the Bend

Barron Falls

Station

Barron Falls

 

Spathoglottis

 

Crocodile

Pizza

 

 

Rainforest Station, Bird World, and Rainforest

 

Rainforest

Station

 

Jack the Ripper

 

 

Koala

 

Kangaroo

 

Wombat

 

Australian

Cassowary

 

Tiny Frogs

 

 

Mabolo

 

Alpina

 

What is this?

 

Electus Parrot

 

Galah

 

Imperial Pigeon

 

Lewins

Honeyeater

Pied Heron

 

Rainbow Lorikeet

 

Spotted Turtledove

 

Rainforest

Canopy

Ferns

 

Stream

 

Kauri Pine

 

Wild Flowers

 

Barron River

 

 

 

 

Skyrail down to Caravonica Terminal near Cairns

 

Kuranda Terminal

 

Barron River

 

Barron Falls

 

Barron Gorge

 

Rain Forest

 


Snorkeling in Great Barrier Reef

Although our original plan to go snorkeling was canceled by the boat operators, we were able to go with an alternate company called Calypso. They picked us up at 7:10 a.m. at the hotel in Cairns and drove us to Port Douglas.  It was an overcast day, but it actually made it a much more pleasant day to snorkel. 

The boat took us out to a part of the Great Barrier Reef called Opal Reef, and we snorkeled at 3 different sites.  Since Calypso did not have any underwater digital cameras for rent, I had to buy an inexpensive underwater camera (analog, of course), and I shared it with my traveling companion.  I'm glad that I shared the camera with her because most of the good photos were taken by her.

 

 

Port Douglas

 

Heading to

the Reef

Reef

 

Fellow

Snorkelers

Another Boat

nearby

Corals

 

Corals

 

Fish

 

Fish

 

Fish

 

Fish

 

Fish

 

Fish

 

Fish

 

Fish

 


 

City of Cairns

We didn't spend much time in the city other than having dinner every night and a few hours of walk on the last day before we left for Christchurch, New Zealand.  The scenery reminded me very much of Hawaii.

 

 

Hotel Grounds

 

Flowering Tree

 

Esplanade

 

Birds

Banyan Tree

Wading Pool

 

The Bay

 

Casino

 

 

 


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 Flags courtesy of ITA's Flags of All Countries used with permission.