Tuesday 4th June... Back into a waking routine I got up early the next morning to go for a bird-watching tour and a walk around the Botanic Gardens. Feeling adventurous I followed this with a longish walk up nearby Lumley Hill. Another hard day's work called for another relaxing dinner and beer!
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| In front of Cairns Airport |
On Wednesday I walked the other direction to the Cairns pier. One boat dwarfed all the others - I later found out it belongs to Paul Allen, Microsoft co-founder, and is the 13th largest superyacht in the world! Even winter is hot in FNQ so I felt like a rest in the afternoon, going for a swim and playing some cards before again heading to the pub.
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| View from the Esplanade with prominent superyacht |
Thursday saw me spend some more time investigating Cairns in the morning before making my way over to the wharf to see Mark, from Brisbane but working in Cairns, for lunch. I followed this with a browse of Cairns shopping centre and some drinks at the hostel before another trip to the pub. It turned out to be a good and refreshingly cheap night after a friend from the hostel won a $250 voucher in a Deal or No Deal game!
Friday and Saturday saw more of the same - exploring town, revisiting the Botanic Gardens and local gallery, and relaxing in the winter afternoon once the heat/ humidity became a bit too uncomfortable to continue!
On Sunday there was an early start for a trip up to the highly recommended tablelands. Sadly the weather in the highlands was not quite up to high expectations - it rained most of the day and was rather grey - but was nonetheless very enjoyable, including the option to swim near a number of waterfalls. Being English I felt obliged to swim although some of the pools were rather fresh! Unfortunately we could not use a natural waterslide as intended due to danger of flooding :(
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| Under Millaa Millaa Waterfall - 'famous' from Herbal Essence adverts |
The following morning I decided to embark on a suggested journey up a local hill. Walsh's Pyramid is fairly steep as the name may suggest, and is the location of an annual race in August, when it is at its coolest. Having reached the base shortly before midday after struggling to get there given bank holiday (this was the long weekend celebrating the Queen's birthday in most of Australia) bus timetables, I was pleased to reach the top in 2 hours and glad for the cool relief of the breeze up there, although unfortunately clouds arrived at the same time as I did and obstructed what would've been an excellent view. By the time I made it back I was exhausted!
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| View of the hills and sea from Walsh's Pyramid |
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