canadian_turtle: (Zach || NYE)
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Scenic train ride through the mountains to Kuranda National Park






March 19: Arrived in Cairns at around 6am after a nearly 10 hour bus ride. In Cairns I stay at the company Sleeping With the Enemy again and since I'd been staying with them for nearly 6 months in Sydney they consider me a "loyal" customer which means I don't have to pay for my week accommodation here and the manager from offered to pick me up from the Greyhound station which was awfully nice considering he's in the middle of exams. He was a little late but I still made it in time to the accommodation to check it out before he dropped me off at a nearby hotel where I would be picked up for my daytrip to Kuranda.

At first there was a problem with my booking as I got my itinerary and all it pretty much said was coach transfer to and from the city and a koala wildlife park, but I knew I had a lot more stuff included. They couldn't figure it out so fast so I had to pay on the spot to upgrade to the package I wanted and now I am emailing with my travel agency because obviously I want them to pay for the upgrade (they guaranteed me beforehand all the other stuff was included, even after I asked for confirmation so it was definitely a fault on their end). Let's see what happens.

Anyway, my daytrip: It started with a scenic train ride in a very awesome looking train from Cairns to Kuranda. The tour lasted about an hour and a half with inclusion of a ten minute stop at the Barron Falls. We went high up in the mountains, deep into the rainforest and through 15 handmade tunnels while listening to interesting commentary over the intercom and witnessing amazing views below and around us.


View from the train




The front of our train. It was a very long traing and we were sitting in the back so every time we had a turn we could see the other half of the train



When we arrived in Kuranda our bus driver was waiting for us to take us to the center of the little city in the rainforest. It wasn't a very interesting village, very touristy, so I am glad we only had about an hour to kill there. I did bought a few cool souvenirs so the time wasn't entirely wasted.

Lunch was included in the day trip and it was a buffet, yay! I love buffets and just being able to grab whatever I like even if it doesn't fit together. I had chicken with a salad, loads of crackers with cheese and passion fruit (ever since I had my first taste of that from the backyard where I was staying in Brisbane I have been addicted to this fruit!).

After lunch we got into an Army Duck (a military vehicle from the Second World War that can drive both on the road and float in the water) for a guided tour through the rainforest. I was one of the last people to get in which meant I got appointed the prime spot in the front passenger's seat which was awesome. The tour was really interesting and it was very cool when we went into the water.


Trip in an Army Duck


Our guide talking about the different types of plants and trees in the rainforest


Going through the water!

Next up was the Pamagirri aboriginal village. First we saw a dance presentation and after that they showed us how to play the didgeridoo, how to throw a spear and how to throw a boomerang. All that in like 30 minutes so that left very little time to actually try it ourselves. I did have a go at boomerang throwing but I unfortunately didn't succeed.









After the aboriginal village we went to the Koala and Wildlife park, which was... ok. I've seen so many koalas, kangaroos and crocodiles (in captivation) already that I am not all that interested in it anymore. We did see an adorable joey (little kangaroo) that I spent a little time with because it seemed to love my bracelets.






Dingo



Last stop of the day was the Skyrail, a 7.5km long cable car over the canopy of the rainforest. As you can imagine the views were spectacular! I had an amazing view on the rainforest, the gorge, waterfalls and near the end Cairns and the coast line. Absolutely stunning.















More pictures can be found HERE.




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