Today a coach and Skyrail ride to Kuranda and a scenic train trip back.
A half hour coach trip took us to the Tjapukai Cultural ParkThere, our Aboriginal guide Weeku demonstrated traditional weapons, their uses and origins. He was amusing and interesting. He played the Didgeridoo impressively, demonstrating the technique of playing while breathing. Where to keep your mobile in traditional aboriginal dress!
Breaking tribal law was a bad idea. Punishments included a barbed spear through the thigh. The offender had to push the whole spear through his leg to remove it and thus show he was “man enough” to take his punishment. 3strikes and it was death!
The aborigines who performed their dances for us were from the Djabugandji tribe. These are people of the tropical rainforest on the north east coast of Australia. The map shows the hundreds of tribes, each with their own language but able to understand the surrounding tribes. Spear throwing practice. I didn’t do too badly. That’s me in the pink. We also did boomerang throwing; mine came halfway back.I managed to catch one of Patricia’s efforts. This woman was part of a theatre performance telling the tribe’s dream stories. They used all round wall screens and the floor to project images while they spoke and acted. Most effective.The centre was in a beautiful setting in the rain forest. Fiona leant over the bridge rail to see the turtles and lost her hat. We walked to the Skyrail terminal next door to get in a gondola for a 7km ride above the beautiful tropical rain forest. It was a wonderful quiet and smooth ride.All forest life is in the canopy, as every living thing fights for light. There is little nourishment to be found on the forest floor; the soil is poor. Our guide, Alex was in our gondola. He is very green and well informed. He was able to point out more interesting things than I can remember now. Approaching Red Peak Skyrail station, where we made a 10 minute stop for a guided boardwalk into the rain forest. Red PeakAn example of an epiphyte: an organism that grows on the surface of a plant getting moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water and debris around it. We saw orchids growing this way. See the barbs on these young, juicy rattan leaves. When the leaves mature and are no longer appetising the barbs disappear. The top half of a huge Kauri tree, probably around 400 years old. The biodiversity of the surrounding tropical rainforest is dependent on this tree. Back on our gondola to continue our journey to the rainforest village of Kuranda.Although temperatures were very high, there was enough airflow to remain comfortable for the remainder of the calming ride. We passed over the Barron River, held back by the Barron Dam. This walkway to Kuranda was well shaded: essential as the temperature was in the high 30s by this time. We chose a restaurant on the basis of its air conditioning. We had hardly sat down when the power to the village went off. The proprietress rapidly encouraged us to the terrace and manhandled the doors away to give us a breeze. The view as we enjoyed our beers.Life size model of a cassowary bird in the Kuranda visitor centre. There were large live forest spiders and stick insects there as well There wasn’t a lot for us to do in Kuranda as we weren’t interest in paying for the butterfly or Koala centres. Someone didn’t want his garage blocked!
There were a few really good shops in the street markets and we had a happy wander through them. We finished off with delicious mango sorbets in the shade. We were so hot by this time that we never gave a thought to taking photos.
Time to join the Scenic train back towards Cairns
The Cairns-Kuranda Railway was a huge fear of engineering. The gold rush of the 1870s and extreme wet weather in the 1880s causes near starvation. A reliable supply route was needed. So the railway was built.
The Barron Gorge from the train.Stoney Creek FallsA quick stop to see the gorge. The train entering one of the many short tunnels. The two diesel locomotives pulling us along were built in the 1960s, replacing the steam locomotives. Passing Stoney Creek Falls. The carriages however date from the early 1900s. This was obvious from the levels of comfort and noise we endured.
The scenery and the experience were fantastic but I have never seen our whole group totally overheated and exhausted before.
We disembarked and headed to bay 11 for our air conditioned coach. Patricia and I were among the first to board.
As we climbed aboard the coach we uttered involuntary, heartfelt oohs, as the air conditioning hit. Every single member of the group found themselves doing the same. It became very funny for those already on board. Eventually there was a chorus of oohs as each boarded. It was definitely hysteria resulting from the extreme heat we had experienced all day. Everyone returned to sanity a bit later.
After refreshing swims and showers back at the hotel we chose Dundee’s for our evening meal. A lovely end to another great day. It was steak and chips for us both: we didn’t share this time. We both fall asleep very quickly each night.
Australia and New Zealand 2020 