January 28 – February 1, 2024

Our Skyrail journey ended at the Kuranda station, where we disembarked and had to hike a short distance up to the town itself.  A cute little touristy destination with loads of the kinds of shops one finds in these locations, we stopped for a bit to grab a cold drink before heading to the Rainforest, managing to depart with all of our money still in our pockets. 

We entered the Rainforest property and were guided to the featured event, an hour or so long land and water adventure in an Army Duck (DUKW).  These are authentic six-wheel-drive amphibious modifications of the 2+1⁄2-ton CCKW trucks used by the U.S. military during World War II and the Korean War.  The name DUKW comes from General Motors Corporation model nomenclature:

• D: 1942 production series
• U:  Utility
• K:  all-wheel drive
• W: tandem rear axles, both driven

Ours had been retrofitted to accommodate passengers, but these are big lumbering beasts and not entirely comfortable to spend time in, the seats hard, the leg room limited.  That being said, it was an enjoyable time as we were entertained by a knowledgeable and funny guide.  We set out from the dock and crawled along on land for a while before descending into a small lake and then eventually heading back to dry land and the end of the journey. 

We unloaded and hit our next activity, a traditional Aboriginal dance performance.  Sitting in front of a stage, we first watched a couple of performers playing a form of the Digeridoo, an impressive thing to watch and hear.  Then four other guys came out and with the backing of the Digeridoo’s, performed a series of dances, similar and yet much different than those we witnessed back in New Zealand. 

Next up was the Dreamtime Walk, where we learned to throw a boomerang and watched a spear-throwing demonstration.  I’ve thrown a lot of things in my life, but this would be my first encounter with a real boomerang.  There is a technique to it but with only one chance to throw, the odds of getting it right were slim to none for most of us, me included.  Although, I did manage to launch the thing but without much in the return department. 

The last stop for the day was the Koala and Wildlife Park which given my reluctance to spend time standing up, I passed on, instead finding a comfortable bench to occupy while the others spent about thirty minutes looking at the animals in what was a smallish encampment.  Plus, it was pretty warm and as it was the end of a long day, enthusiasm was beginning to wane. 

We closed out the day at the snack bar enjoying ice cream and a beverage before climbing on the bus for the return ride to our pickup spot and then the Uber ride to the house.  We were still somewhat full from our BBQ lunch so dinner would be take out from In 2 Thai, which again was uniformly delicious and just the right thing for that time of day, washed down of course with liberal quantities of gin and tonics and a beer or two. 

With a cruise of the bay scheduled for the afternoon we had a quiet morning at the house before heading to Mama Coco for lunch.  They feature an eclectic menu that changes regularly, and we were all able to find something delicious to eat.  Joanna had a nice order of Avocado Toast while I enjoyed a Shaved Ham Ciabatta (Cheddar Cheese, Zucchini Pickles, mustard aioli, rocket and tomato).   Along with a couple of latte’s the tab came to 53.50Aus ($35.45) sending us out the door ready for our cruise. 

Marty had booked a Cairns: Sightseeing River Boat Safari with Soft Drinks for the afternoon, a low-key way to spend time with an entertaining guide.  We met at Wharf A, Marlin Marina and soon after boarding, captain Orion took us out of the dock and into the Trinity Inlet, an oceanic inlet which serves as the port for the city of Cairns. 

It is located in the original delta of the Mulgrave River, which enters the sea at Russell Heads, approximately 20 miles south of Trinity Inlet.  After heading up the inlet we veered off into Chinaman Creek and eventually into Seelee Creek, all of it lined with mangroves and mudflats.  Within the inlet a large mud island has been formed and was given the name Admiralty Island.

We passed several boats of varying sizes tied up for long periods of time in the creeks and on the way back to the dock more moored in the middle of the channel, including one that had recently sunk.  The inlet is often used to shelter against the vicious tropical storms that can hammer this part of the coast, a vivid reminder of how powerful Mother Nature can be. 

We arrived back at the dock and walked down a row of restaurants, landing at Ochre for a bit of happy hour Tapas and drinks.  We started with some fun and somewhat exotic drinks, a couple of Cairns Sunsets (Mt. Uncle Botanic Gin, Dunes & Greene Prosecco, Campari, house made hibiscus syrup, and strawberry) and for me the Classic Mojito (Mt. Uncle Platinum Rum, lime, sugar, and mint).

For food we went for the Coconut Prawns with mango Kimchi and desert mayo, Duck Spring Rolls with Vietnamese Pickles and sweet and sour plum sauce, and Crispy Fried Chicken with Garlic Mayo.  I’m not a big fan of duck but the spring rolls were mild and flavorful, particularly when seasoned by the plum sauce.  We thoroughly enjoyed our repast and settled our tab at 196AUS ($128), roughly $27 per person. 

Our last and final date in Cairns would be another day long adventure, this one a Full Day Reef Cruise and 10 Minute Helicopter Scenic Flight through Viator.  It would start out as another of our most expensive tours at $1,425 for the five of us ($285 per person), but it would end up costing much less by the end of the day.  When we arrived at check in, we were informed that we had mistakenly signed up for the scuba lesson add on to the tour and as none of us wanted to do this, we would get a credit.  Also, as there were high winds predicted, the helicopter portion of the cruise had been cancelled.  In total, we would receive a $593 dollar credit lowering our total cost $833 or $166 per person. 

Our ship was a large and nicely appointed craft and a perfectly comfortable way to spend most of the day out at sea.  We cruised out for a couple of hours before reaching the first spot where we would anchor, and all would have the opportunity to don protective suits (not quite a wet suit) to shield us from contact with stinging sea creatures.  I would spend about thirty minutes in the water snorkeling and enjoyed it to an extent but was troubled by the crowded conditions.  All of us in the water were contained in a small area leading to one having to constantly dodge other swimmers, all of us with our faces pointed down at the reef. 

I eventually called it a day and re-boarded the ship, a challenge given the small area devoted to boarding and my hip creating a limitation that made it difficult for me to leverage myself to a standing position.  I eventually got there and would enjoy the rest of the journey dry and comfortable.  The others meanwhile had an outstanding time and lamented that our second scheduled reef snorkel would be cut short due to time constraints.  During the transit time from snorkel spot one to snorkel spot two, lunch was served and an impressive spread it was, with four types of salad (Green, roasted vegetable, Quinoa, and Pasta), a tasty white fish, shrimp, steak, bread and a couple of types of dessert. 

We were also allotted one drink apiece and I went for a glass worth of Jacob’s Creek Sauvignon Blanc which led to the consumption of a few more during the return to port, their cost being remarkably low and sailing producing a powerful thirst.  After docking, we returned to the house and made a light dinner out of any leftover food and dutifully consumed whatever booze we couldn’t safely take with us.  Our time in Cairns, perhaps one day longer than it needed to be had been full and enjoyable.  I’d recommend this area to anyone who wants to get a taste of this tropical part of Australia. 

Links

DUKW: https://www.history.com/news/duck-boats-world-war-ii-d-day

Mama Coco: http://mamacoco.com.au/

Cairns: Sightseeing River Boat Safari with Soft Drinks: https://www.cairnsrivercruises.com.au/

Ochre Restaurant: https://ochrerestaurant.com.au/

Full Day Reef Cruise and 10 Minute Helicopter Scenic Flight: https://www.viator.com/tours/Cairns-and-the-Tropical-North/Get-High-Package-Full-Day-Reef-Cruise-10-Minute-Heli-Scenic-Flight/d754-3253P12