Beach Walk

Last weekend (21st Jan), we headed off for a Sunday drive.

Mr Sparky suggested a drive down to Kurrimine Beach, just for the fun of it.

So off we headed, avoiding housework, for a morning drive.

Despite how often I've driven between Cairns and Townsville and around the ridges at this end, I've never stopped off at any of the beaches. 

It was nice to do a bit of exploring.

Kurrimine beach will be forever etched in my head at the place where everyone has a tractor to go with their boat.

We had a quick wander out on the sand but the sun was burning and that didn't last long.

It was a gorgeous day for it, so we decided to dip in and out along the coast on our way back north and visit a few more of the beaches.

Next we stopped in at Cowley Beach.

What a pretty beach that is.

Kurimine had nets up for swimming but there was nowhere for swimming here.

It is also a turtle nesting ground. I wonder if you can come watch them hatch, that would be cool and probably something you have to fluke seeing.

Mr Sparky did a bit of beach combing, looking for shell while I tagged along behind taking photos.

We did one more beach stop after that, it being about lunch time, Etty Bay.

Now Etty Bay is one that has been on my list to visit, the list I keep forgetting.

The beach was pretty picturesque with the forest meeting the sea.

I'd love to spend more time exploring around the rocks, when it isn't so hot and the middle of summer.

But as pretty as the beach was, that wasn't the reason I had wanted to visit.

This was the reason I wanted to visit, the resident Cassowaries.

I kind of figured, knowing my luck, we wouldn't see them.

I was so wrong with one turning up for lunch time, to see what it could find.

Now Cassowaries are one of those animals you give a wide berth to. Check out those feet! They are known to go on the attack and do some pretty major damage when the mood strikes them, or when they have chicks (yet another Aussie animal where daddy does the child rearing).

This one however was happy to wander among the cars and people, probably a little too happy to.

After trying to convince some people eating near the beach that they should share their food, they didn't, it wandered off down onto the sand to find some more bird friendly snacks.

Now I have no idea whether this is a male of female. It turns out they look pretty much the same except the female is bigger and possibly brighter coloured.

After reading up a bit I am going to make a guess that is is either a female or a younger Cassowary. Breeding season is May to October and the male sits on the eggs for 2 months and then rears the chicks.

I put up a couple of photos on instagram of the Cassowary hanging out on the beach. Most exciting was that I made a repost 'Explore Tropical North Queensland' and their facebook for 'best of the week' as well. Woohoo! Although nothing tops actually getting to see the Cassowary. A few people on the repost wanted to know if it was for real, especially that it was down on the beach. Definitely 'for real' and definitely made my day.

I did a little Cassowary stalking as it wandered along the beach and out of sight.

Then we went off to find some tucker of our own.

We had fish and chips at the shop right there, opposite the beach. They were pretty good too.

Just as we were finishing up, we spotted that Cassowary heading back along the beach, checking out what it could see through the windows of peoples' cars and undoubtedly being hopeful about offerings of human food.

I think I'll be heading back to Etty Bay again, that is for sure.

It made a good 'birthday' drive for my birthday during that week.

It also made for a great pre Australia Day drive. You can't get much more Australian than an iconic Aussie animal wandering around one of our gorgeous beaches.

The 26th of January, Australia Day, looked a lot less beach weather like and a lot more typical wet season. Funnily enough, the public holiday, was the only day in the week where it was cloudy and rainy. The one day when people want to get out, spend some time around the BBQ and just generally celebrate the awesome things about this country.

We spent ours at home, doing nothing much, enjoying the air con and snoozing. Exciting bunch that we are.

Getting my Tourist on

I've been playing the tourist again.

This means you get a bit of a bloggy guided tour.

There is so much around here that I haven't done. 

Unfortunately $$$$ are never available or I just can't justify parting with them.

You know how a little while ago I decided it would be awesome to be on holiday forever? Well I've decided that if someone paid me to go touring, well that would be just awesome. There are just a few places I would just LOVE to visit still.

A family friend and her sister are staying in town for a few days and wanted to go on the Skyrail. So I thought it was an excellent excuse to go too.

It is pretty pathetic that I have lived here for about 2 and a 1/2 years and never been on the Skyrail. Actually there are a tonne of things I haven't done.

It was definitely worth it. 

It was decided just to use the Skyrail rather than doing the Kuranda train and Skyrail combo.

It was a lovely clear day (amazing considering how rainy it has been and what the prediction was).

We got to share with a couple and baby part of the way up who turned out to be really familiar with where the family friend grew up.

We got out at Red Peak Station and decided to take to walking tour.

The ranger we had was full of information.

Our little walking tour didn't take the whole time because by the time we got to the lookout we had caught up with the line to get back on the Skyrail.

So after enjoying the view we crept forward with the seemingly endless line.

Ugh school holidays and peak tourist season, of cause I should have figured it would be like this.

We didn't really mind though as we filled in the time chatting in the cool shade. I honestly have no idea how long we were lined up for but my guess is well over 1/2 and hour, possibly more like and hour.

It was super busy but the staff were nice and everyone was patient and relaxed.

We got on with a different couple, from Victoria I think, who we got to know a bit. It was great for socialising.

We didn't get off at the next station as it was after lunch time, we voted instead to go straight to Kuranda, get some lunch and do the Barron Falls station on the way back.

Barron Falls

Barron River

When we arrived in Kuranda we wandered through the village to find some lunch.

We ended up going to the Barron Falls Hotel. It was a good choice with nice food although again we had a long wait. In fact we had to wait so long that by the time we finished lunch it was time to head back to the Skyrail. It was okay though, we had a relaxing time sitting outside and enjoying the conversation and chilled pub vibe.

On the way back we scored the company of two Danish backpackers who we enjoyed a chat with before we deserted, getting out at the Barron Falls lookout.

I've posted about the Barron Falls before here.

This is from the other side of the waterfall and with a lot less water.

Kuranda Scenic Rail - where I took photos from last time.

Then it was back to line up again. This time it was a short one.

This time we got a father and son duo from Sydney who were a bit of fun.

We had to swap lines at the Red Peak station so out we got again and onto another line. We ended up with the same people again (secretly we just ganged up as a group of 5 and they can only fit 6 in each gondola). 

We all enjoyed our cruise back down, watching everything get closer and picking out places from the scenery.

I wanted to go up and check it all out again but it was time to head back to the city and for me to rush to work (why is it that when you are running late you get every red light and even stuck in a line of traffic where one doesn't normally happen?).

We loved it and it was a relaxing day. I highly recommend it, especially on a clear day, if you are in the area and have the time (and finances).

Tour Info:

Kuranda Skyrail - Rainforest Cableway (Cairns, Australia)

Where: leaves from the Skyrail station at Caravonica (north of the city)

Transport: self drive, the public bus does go near there or use the Skyrail transfers. We did self drive.

Times: We booked the 11am from Caravonica and returned on the 3:15 but due to the line up left well after that. Many people combine it with the Kuranda Scenic Railway.

Costs: check out the website and you get a 5% discount if you book online.