Here’s the next blogpost as stated about my vacation in Cairns.
Passions of Paradise. This was our only opportunity to see the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns and we were not dissapointed. The boat takes about 40 travellers and that was about the right number for us. Big enough to have a bar and toilet facilities, but small enough that you didn’t feel you were on a cattle truck either. The crew were friendly and attentive. Your enjoyment was their first concern and they also endevoured to make sure you got your money’s worth out of your once in a lifetime experience. They stopped at Whitsunday Island and their own coral cay for bird watching and reef snorkelling and scuba diving. While we were in the water, they kept a sharp outlook for anyone in trouble. Nobody on this trip even got seasick so we did all right. They feed you a BBQ luncheon and they have a bar you can buy water, soft drinks and beer from. On the way back to Cairns they put up the sail but still motor in. I can’t think of a better day trip to the reef. At the end of the day each crew member thanked you getting off the boat. It’s touches like that that make me want to recommend them to other travellsers.
Jaques Coffee is just about an hour drive from Cairns, near Mareeba. You can do tours on the coffee plantation here, which they extremely recommend – although I can’t say anything about it, as I didn’t do the tour.
The Centre’s café is a very calm, beautiful place which a large outside area, where you can sit and relish the view of eucalypt woodland. It’s a bit expensive, but I think it’s worth it, as the atmosphere is so nice and relaxing. Everything is made of wood and there is also a gift shop where you can buy coffee and everything to do with it. They also care for some injured wallabies , so you can go and have a look at them, and maybe feed them if you ask.
Just close to the Flecker Botanic Gardens you find the rain forest boardwalk that leads to the Centenary Lakes and Saltwater Creek. The walking trail goes directly through the forest, so you can really feel like being in the wild
So just enjoy the lush, green forest and also seeing some animals, like bush turkeys.
Centenary Lakes and Saltwater Creek look very idyllic – but don’t go too close to the water, as there have been crocodiles reportedly in the lakes!