Tropical Cairns

Looking south from Port Douglas

The mighty Barron Falls

A Brush Turkey

Russ getting to know Eric

Eric the Blue Macaw

Maeve with an Indian Ringneck

A Cassowary

A Mandarin Duck

Nellie and a Sun Conure

A Scarlet Macaw

Listening to the sounds of the "surf" gently roll up against the white sands, fruit bats arguing in the trees and bush stone curlews crying mournfully. We are camped beside the beach at Palm Cove just north of Cairns. Million dollar address in a low budget camping ground. Thanks to Cairns council for not giving in to developers pressure, and still providing such a fabulous place to stop and enjoy the tropics. We have been swimming every day, in the stinger nets, which are still in place. Apparently the cyclone some how extended the threat from marine stingers! Avocados are $2 for a bag of six and bananas are only $4 a kilo! Heaven. The place has changed in the last 20 odd years...they even have traffic lights! Had a great lunch today at the pub in Port Douglas and had a peep at Christopher Skase's folly...the Sheraton Mirage. Prefer our camping ground any day. We have visited the Botanic Gardens, the markets and Bird World. The Botanic Gardens are amazing and have improved incredibly since I worked there in 1985. Great fresh produce at Rusty's and sad imported rubbish at Kuranda. The girls just loved Bird World. Arieh arrives this week and we are very excited.The road to Cape York has opened and all reports are that it is in good shape. We are starting to plan for that leg of our trip, getting enough provisions for 3 weeks, and making sure the Trakshak and car are in good working order. Right now we are relaxing, being beach bums, swimming and even trying for afternoon naps..it's a hard life! The nights have been cool (for Cairns) requiring jumpers and socks! Off for a swim...bye!