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Coming from the deeply impressive Uluru area we were looking forward to explore the northern part of Queensland.
On April 17th, 1994 we flew into Cairns, received our rental car and found a nice appartment where we stayed for 6 days.
How different Queensland was! From the deck of our room we had a pretty view to the pacific ocean and to the exotic landscape. The rich green surroundings were a feast for our eyes. We couldn't take our eyes off of it.Read about the history of Queensland
Cairns
Brisbane
- Trinity Beach
- Port Douglas
- Mowbray Valley
- Kurranda Railway
- Atherton Tableland
- Daintree River
- Cape Tribulation/Rainforrest
- Great Barrier Reef
Cairns, city on the northeastern coast of the state of Queensland, Australia, on Trinity Bay, about 1800 km (about 1120 mi) north of Brisbane. Cairns is one of Australia's fastest-growing cities. In addition to its role as a regional center for dairy, lumber, and sugar production, Cairns is an important tourist destination, receiving about 800,000 visitors each year. The city is the southern gateway to the wild, sparsely inhabited Cape York Peninsula. The Wet Tropics of Queensland and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park - two sites on the World Heritage Convention's listing of the world's unique and precious places - are near the city. Forests cover the mountains surrounding Cairns, supporting a timber industry. Cairns is a major port, handling bulk sugar, timber, and agricultural exports. Barron River Gorge, an important hydroelectric facility, is nearby. The city is also an important center for big-game fishing. In 1984 an international airport opened in Cairns.
The British explorer and navigator James Cook named Trinity Bay on Trinity Sunday in 1770. The area that is now Cairns was surveyed and settled by Europeans in 1876. The settlement was named after William Wellington Cairns, who was the governor of Queensland in the mid-1870s. Cairns was incorporated as a town in 1885 and as a city in 1923.
The next morning we drove up the coast and found Trinity Beach. After knowing busy beaches in other countries I couldn't believe what I saw. This beach was a dream. Empty, with the surf calmly rolling in, lieing in front of the rainforest. Barfeet we strolled along the shore glancing at the horizon. It was comfortably warm and we enjoyed ourselfs.
To the left black rocks rise up which we couldn't resist to ascend. They are not very high but the view was even better from up there. Further away little rocky islands jut out of the water.
In the background the shrieks of the kookaburra birds could be heard. We were just sitting there taking stock of ourselfs. Once again we agreed that something is different on the Southern Hemisphere.
The Spirit of Australia could be sensed wherever we went to.Click to listen
We continued our trip driving along the coast, passing sugar cane fields, up to Port Douglas. What we found was a cute little town with wooden houses and stores where all kinds of art was sold. Port Douglas is such a snuggly town, it's a delight sitting on the porch of one of the cafes enjoying the sun and the sounds of parrots.
While strolling about town we discovered an offive where we booked a horse back riding tour for the next day.
On the way back to our hotel we stopped at Wangetti Beach where we once again were the only people there. We searched for sea shells and saw a breath-taking sunset. It was like paradise. A little river, coming out of the rainforest, flow into the ocean. In such moments we had no intention of ever going back home.
Deeply satisfied we headed back for our hotel and dinner.
We woke up early this morning and had plenty of time for breakfast and spending some time on a beach near Port Douglas. The water was shallow there so I laid down in the surf and had myself washed by the waves. What a refreshing feeling.
Now it was about time to leave for Mowbray Valley. The ranch where we met Kevin our tour guide, lie idyllicly in the rainforest. After changing into jeans and boots we were introduced to our horses. Mine was called Dakota.
From the corner of my eyes I watched my friend Sigrid cause she's never been sitting on the back of a horse so I hoped she wouldn't be scared and able to enjoy the ride. But after a little nervousness she did really good an tried to relax.
The group consited of 5 people including Kevin. The other couple came from Brisbane. Our trail lead along sugar cane fields deeper into the rainforest. The forest became more and more dense, the paths became narrow so that we had to push ourselfs away from the trees in order not to hit them with our knees.
After a while a big spider's web came into sight and we had to pass it. Of course I saw the huge spider sitting in the center of the web. It was approximately 6 cm big. I felt a sudden chill, cause I don't like spiders at all, especially not those in Australia where you never know whether they're poisonous or not. After that we had to cross a little river and the yellow water snake in there didn't give me more delight than the spider. But, oooops, my horse stopped right in the middle of the river to look at the snake. I was just hoping not to fall down right now.Click to listen
The rainforest is magnificent, the branches deeply rooted and the lianas hanging from above. It was a hazardous ride. In the deepest jungle we got off the horses and tied them to the trees.
After a little refreshment we hiked up to the Mowbray Falls. Climbing over rocks and boulders, wading through water, crawling under fallen trees, eventually we arrived at a pond in which a waterfall poured with glorious beauty form black rocks above. I could've stayed there forever.
Kevin showed us those famous ants with greenish bodies. He grabed 'em right from a tree-trunk where they're crawling on. After he caught one I happened to see something what I've seen on TV before but haven't believed it. He squeezed the ants' body a little and and licked the fluid which was coming out of it. Guess what, I felt the next chill. The other two people tried it, too, and told me it would taste like lime. They all wanted me and Sigird to try it, too, but I said "no way". It was just disgusting to me.
The next surprise was a grass-green frog which Kevin picked up and placed it on his shirt. Now it was Sigrid's turn to feel disgusted cause she can't even look at frogs or talk about them. Well, that all was a pretty funny experience.
By now it was time for the descent to see our horses which were patiently waiting for us. On the way back to the ranch we stopped at a big clearing where we had the option to gallop. Sigrid didn't dare so she had to get off her horse and had to wait for us.
Elizabeth, Tony, Kevin and I took off for a fast gallop. It was so much fun to feel the speed of the horse, the wind in my face and to hear the sounds of the hoofs. After a few minutes we turned and rode back to Sigrid. All together we set out on the ride back to the ranch where we got some snacks. After that we thanked Kevin for that nice day, said Good Bye to everybody and went to the hotel.
Taking a shower I noticed what head happened to my thighs. There were huge bruises on the insides of my legs. Well, it's been a while since I've ridden a horse. In a few days I was going to wear a swimsuit cause we'd booked a boat trip to the Great Barrier Reef and I hoped the bruises would be gone by then. Yahooooooooo! (They weren't).
In the morning of April 21st, we're brought to the railway station. The train slowly climed up through the rain forest. The line drags along over 40 bridges and through 15 tunnels up to Kurranda Village.
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On the way up we had beautiful views down to the ocean and to several waterfalls.
Kurranda village lie on top of the hill. We walked through the market where, in innumerable stalls, all kinds of art, jewelry, didgeridoos, candles and bricbrac were sold.
After that we went on a bus tour to the Atherton Tableland.
The Atherton Plateau, an isolated highland area, lies at the northern end of the Great Dividing Range.
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Image belongs to
Virtual AustraliaThe tour led over Mareeba and Tolga through green, softly curved grasshills. At Lake Barreine we happened to join a boat ride where we saw turtles and pelicans. What an idyllic place!
Over Malanda we continued to drive to the Millaa, Millaa Falls.
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Right then and there I decided to live in Queensland. It's the most beautiful part to live in peace. It looks kind of like Toscany. Well, I happenend not to live in Queensland but it's still a dream having a house there surrounded by grassland........
Read more about Daintree National Park
Friday, April 22nd.
Today we found ourselfs on a boat on Daintree river. We really happened to see a crocodile there. The river is surrounded by tropical rainforest and we listend to the strange noises around us. The lunch at a jungle lodge was fascinating except that I was always aware of spiders.
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Image belongs to
Virtual AustraliaWe went on a hike through the rainforest and the wide variety of plants was enchantingly beautiful.
We're looking forward to visit Cape Tribulation right after a little snack.
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Cape Tribulation (where rainforest meets the stream)
The dominant forest type is complex mesophyll vine forest which reaches its pinnacle of complexity in Australia in this region. Forest over 100 metres in altitude is untouched primary forest. However, the area contains a diversity of habitats, from mangrove forests (with over 30 species recorded), littoral rainforest (the station is less than one kilometre from the coast), to relict sclerophyll woodlands on the dryer slopes.
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It was Saturday, April 23rd. I will never forget that day either and so won't my friend.
For us there's not much to tell about the Great Barrier Reef. We really wanted to go on that boat tour.............but we never will again. I just say one word: "SEASICKNESS"Read more about Great Barrier Reef
Sunday, April 24th.
We are landing in Brisbane and driving up north to Hervey Bay where we find a Hotel room right away. Not much to explore on that day so we're looking forward to go to Fraser Island the next day.
Fraser Island is absolutely cool. We had to go by ferry and spent the whole day on the island. I just loved that huge beach and the giant sand dunes which are in contrast with the rainforest on the island. The sandy road there is an oneway road. We had to saw up a fallen tree first to get around.
Driving a Jeep on the miles and miles long beach was pure fun and we stopped wherever we wanted to hang out there. Too bad we couldn't go into the ocean. There were warning signs about the deadly jelly fish everywhere. Well, it was also nice to watch the thunderous surf.
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The most beautiful lake I've ever seen is one of the 40 lakes on Fraser Island and is called Lake McKenzie. On the sparkling white beach we looked at the nuances of color of the water which reached from crystal clear blue to emerald green and it's shores are framed by rainforest. Incredibly beautiful.
Read more about Fraser Island
Well, there was a reason why we wanted to go to the bush lands. We had a phone number from Germans who's relatives live in our hometown. These Germans emigrated about 20 years ago to Australia.
We just new the story not the people so it was pretty funny to call them. But what a surprise it was for them (and for us). They were so friendly and asked us to come and stay for a few days.
When we later thought about these 5 days we agreed that this was a profound event for us. Well, but first we had to find the house where they lived. That turned out harder than it sounded.To be continued!
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To be continued!
