Monday 4th October 2021
A little early morning yoga, then we moved out of Bramston Beach and drove to Cairns again. We enjoyed another swim at Tobruk Memorial Swimming Pool followed by lunch at Cairns Foreshore. We are becoming regulars. Then we had a leisurely rest at the waterfront until about 4pm when we headed to Fishery Falls Holiday Park for another couple of nights beside the creek.

Tomorrow we have a big day out at Frankland Islands which departs from Deeral Jetty, just 5 minutes from our campground tonight.

Sunday 3rd October 2021
Today we enjoyed a beautiful morning. The weather was fine, the wind was low and it was very pleasant temperature early on. We went for a walk north along Bramston Beach, it was the first day the beach was inviting, with no wind and clean water. Alas, the potential for crocs is too high for me to risk it. It was a most enjoyable walk about 4km along the beach and then we headed inland and walked the road back to the camp. By the time we got back to camp at 10.30am it was very warm. We then headed on the scenic drive to Innisfail Memorial Baths where we enjoyed an exercise swim in the newly painted 50m outdoor pool. Once again the water temp was lovely and we had a lovely swim. Afterwards we did some groceries and then had lunch in the park. A little drive back to camp for a restful afternoon and then camp grand final football.

Saturday 2nd October 2021
What a lovely place to wake up, we are right on the beach and can see the ocean from our tent. It is a lovely day, we have had a quiet morning of rest and reading. Then this afternoon we went for a walk in the Eubanangee Wetlands National Park which was very pretty. We saw some egrets, black and pied cormorants and a royal spoonbill. We then drove south to Fishing Fly Point, Ella Bay and Innisfail. It was a lovely drive even though the coastline was still a little dirty but Fishing Fly Point was quite pretty. A couple of highlights were a cassowary and its chicks in a farmyard, coming across a sugar cane haul truck on a blind corner – lucky DB has fast reactions (the next 3 trucks were given warning as they were travelling slowly), lots of sugar cane farms and banana plantations, a couple of cassowaries in a suburban street at Innisfail, and home through Mirriwinni – the home of Brad Bevan.

Once again a nice day, a bit slower than we usually travel, which we are both starting to enjoy. We are staying here until Monday which is a public holiday and the last day of the school holidays, so we should then not have to worry about crowds so much. We are also taking our time waiting to see how things develop in Townsville as that is our next destination as we head south.

Thursday 30th September 2021
After packing up our hotel room and heading to the car, we decided to have another rest day in Cairns. So I headed back in and extended our stay at The Palm Royale. I had a good rest day, some reading, resting, TV watching, yoga and more rest. David managed a hair cut and a swim in the hotel’s 25m pool. And that was another day done.

Friday 1st October 2021
So we are in to another month. We have now been away for almost 15 weeks, it is hard to believe considering we only intended being away for 5 weeks.

Today after a swim session in the hotel pool we packed up and headed south. A couple of shopping stops along the way, we then had lunch at Babinda Boulders, enjoyed a walk to look at the boulders again and then continued along our way. Tonight’s stop is at Branston Beach. A little town of 177 people in a caravan park right on the beach. We went for a late afternoon walk along the beach to the river mouth and then back along the road as the tide was too high to walk back along the beach. We will stay here tomorrow night as well.

Wednesday 29th September 2021
Well , it has rained throughout the night and we are not sure whether we should do the hike up Walsh’s Pyramid summit as the track notes from hikers indicate it can be tricky, slippery and difficult in the wet. Our plan was to head off early around 7ish but we have decided to wait a bit to see if the fog lifts, the clouds dissipate and the ground dries out a bit. We teetered betwenn yes and no a dozen times and in the end at about 9am we decided to go and have a look.

On arrival at the Wooroonooran National Park we had a chat with some ranges there doing some maintenance who indicated it should be fine and that the cloud may burn off throughout the morning. So I made a quick couple of sandwiches, we packed our bags and off we went. Starting at about 9.45am.

Onward and upward, the hike was a consistent uphill climb for 3.5km. Up 900m in elevation, with rock scrambles, hand and foot crawls and lots of rocky steps. Up up, up and up some more. I had a couple of birthday calls as well as many chats with other hikers on their way back down and an extended chat with a hiker and his 10 year old son at the 1/2 way mark. After a tough climb for almost 3 hours we made it to the top, unfortunately the view was impeded by the low clouds and mist rolling in and out. We were grateful for the lower temperature, only about 29° and the cloud cover as we were both wet through by the time we reached the top

We enjoyed a gourmet birthday lunch of peanut butter and vegemite wraps, a couple of cookies and some hydralite. After lunch we spent some time out on the rocky cliffs and then started the descent. This was trickier on the way down, a continuous down, down, down for the next 1 hour 40 minutes. We made it to the bottom at about 3.15pm. So it took us the specified time 5.5 hours including stops and time at the top. I can now eat all I want for dinner tonight. I think I earned it.

We decided to head back to Cairns to stay in a hotel tonight, then head to dinner at the Marina. We enjoyed a beautiful Italian meal at an authentic Italiaan Restaurant called Vitalia. I have had a very lovely birthday.

Walsh’s Pyramid. Situated at the northern end of Wooroonooran National Park, within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, Walsh’s Pyramid is a granite core left standing in the form of a pointed hill when older, less resistant metamorphic rocks were eroded away. Eucalypt woodlands cover the lower slopes while towards the summit, as soil becomes shallower, trees are more stunted and shrubs dominate along with grasses and rock ferns.

Tuesday 28th September 2021
Today we are moving on from Cairns, not too far but a little bit south. About 48km to be exact but a little progress none the less.

Firstly, we went for a quick drive up the road from us to see Barron Gorge. It was so wide but so empty except for a little trickle done the waterfall as we had some rain last night.

Next, time for a swim at the Tobruk Memorial Swimming Pool – such an amazing facility. Then some lunch at the Botanical Gardens and followed by some shopping – some new shorts and a belt for DB.

Then the little drive south to Fishery Falls and a walk to the waterhole. Hopefully we manage an early night as we are hoping to do a big hike tomorrow if we feel up for it and the weather plays ball, we will try to conquer Walsh’s Pyramid.

Monday 27th September 2021
Today we will have another recovery day, a little washing, a swim, some grocery shopping and a visit to the Botanic Gardens.

We arrived at the Botanic Gardens just in time for lunch, so we decided to do something a little out of the ordinary and enjoyed a café lunch. It was very nice indeed. Then we walked around the Botanic Gardens for the next few hours. There were many different plants with very vibrant mostly red flowers. We then walked through the butterfly enclosure which also had some beautiful flowers, in particular some gorgeous orchids. We then headed to the rainforest, walked passed the fresh water and salt water lakes, some some egrets but no crocodiles. We also visited the Tank Art Gallery No 4. It had a variety of artworks and was quite interesting, also a great idea for utilising what we think were the old water tanks in the city.

“Tanks Arts Centre art gallery is a distinctive and unique backdrop for presenting works. With its oil-stained concrete walls and interior poles, Tank 4 is far from a conventional, white-walled gallery and plays host to a variety of local and touring exhibitions, artists residencies and studio activity.

Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th September 2021
After a really big day yesterday on Green Island we had a quiet day at home in the caravan park. Just resting, a little housekeeping and resting ssome more.

Then on Sunday we had another early start as we headed to Fitzroy Island. A 45min ferry ride from Cairns Marina at 9am and then a whole day on the Island departing at 4pm. We were a little luckier today, the sky was blue with only a little cloud. It was windy again but we think Fitzroy Island will be a little bit more protected than Green Island.

On arrival at Fitzroy Island we decided to do the bush walk first. This was a 4km loop train via the summit and lighthouse with an elevation gain of 267m. So a pretty good walk. The first section to the summit was all uphill but along the way you enjoyed some beautiful views of Welcome Bay and the mainland. When we reached the summit you had 360° views which were quite spectacular. Looking out to sea and back to the mainland. The sea was a beautiful blue and quite still today, a little windier out to sea but reasonably calm. We enjoyed a chat with 2 families who live on their yachts and home school their 5 children. It sounds like quite an amazing life. They have been living on their yachts for over a year with another couple to go. The kids age range was between 5 and 14. We then headed to the lighthouse and then back to Welcome Bay. It was a pleasant walk.

We decided to snorkel at Nudey Beach first as this was the windier section and furthest from our return boat. It was very beautiful and we managed to find a section of beautiful coral and many many fish or varying sizes and colour. The clams were very vibrant in colour and so were the fish. We saw butterfly fish, many different varieties of parrotfish, angelfish, trumpetfish, a common reef  octopus which was very shy, white-banded triggerfish, bird wrasse, crown unicornfish, and many more. We lasted about an hour or so before David got too cold. So we then walked back to Welcome Bay where we spent another hour or so snorkelling. This time we got to swim with a sea turtle gain. It was unperturbed by our presence and just went about its business eating, swimming and surfacing for a gulp of air periodically. It was another wonderful time for me, I love swimming beside the turtles and am totally absorbed in the experience. I would have swum with the turtle for about half an hour. We saw many more fish at Welcome Bay as well but the coral seemed a little insipid and dirty. We think this may just be caused by the continual boat traffic. Anyway, we had another enjoyable day snorkelling, with much better weather today.

We headed back to the mainland at about 4pm. A pleasant boat ride with less wind than Friday. It was another long exhausting day.

Friday 24th September 2021
Hi everyone, we are still enjoying our freedom in Far North Queensland. Love and big hugs to all our family and friends in lockdown. Hope you are trying to stay sane and keeping safe.

We had an amazing day today even though the weather wasn’t particularly kind for our big day. We chose the best forecast over this week to book our trip to Green Island and unfortunately the weather Gods didn’t read the memo. They changed their mind and threw us a curve ball of wet, wild and wooly (well almost). It was very windy, overcast with a few sunny glimpses and showers for about an hour. This unfortunately put a dampener on our snorkelling activities as the water was choppy, cloudy and cool.

We left Cairns Marina at 9am with about another 100 or so people, not quite sure of the number. It was very windy on the way to the island, the water started out grey and dirty but cleared as we got closer to the Island which is about 27km from the mainland. On arrival at Green Island just for good measure it started raining so we decided first activity would be a walk through the rainforest in the centre of the island and then a walk around its circumference. This was a pleasant walk and the time for our first wildlife encounter. We were walking along the edge of the beach and about a metre from us about a 2m black-tip reef shark, we think, came right to the edge to check us out. It was an amazing moment, we watched and followed it along the shoreline for about 10 minutes and then it swam away. Not a good thing for me to see before we head out snorkelling in the same ocean. Oh well, I am sure there are more than one shark out in the ocean everyday, so fingers crossed no nasties around. By the time we finished our walk the rain had stopped and there was the occasional glimpses of sun, although momentary it did show the island in a different light for the short minutes it was out.

We decided to have a snorkel at the flagged area on the beach which had a very small reef. It was quite foggy but we were able to see a variety of fish including the parrotfish. After about 30 minutes here we decided to head to the left side of the main wharf before David got too cold (water temp about 24°C) as the water isn’t quite warm enough. David was wearing a stinger suit and I had my long-john and a thermal log sleeve rash vest. So I was definitely going to last longer. We headed out near the piers of the jetty where we saw a few fish and then a 1.5-2m black-tipped reef shark swam right past me within about a metre. It was a magnificent creature with another long thin fish nibbling near its gills. It was a fleeting moment but one that will be an amazing highlight for me. Both David and I were amazed at how lucky that was and can also see how you don’t always see what is coming near you until it is there as I wouldn’t have even seen it if David didn’t get my attention. It was soooooo cool. Our next awesome moment was as we headed back in towards the shore as DB was shivering and very cold and we couldn’t stay in the small arm pockets of water. David had just got out of the water and was huddled by the wall protected by the wind when I saw a big sea turtle just on the shore’s edge. I called David and swam towards it, it was not at all perturbed by my presence and we swam with it for about 10 minutes. It was the most amazing experience. I just flippered beside it backwards and forwards between the wharf and the windbreak wall. Wow was I lucky. Another awesome time snorkelling, you couldn’t wipe the smile off my face – a black-tipped reef shark and a green sea turtle. Woohoo!!

We then went back to the flagged area to sit in the not sunny beach to warm up. David got dressed but I was able to stay warm in my wetsuit and rashee. After a little while whilst DB was having a snooze, I headed back out t snorkel some more. I saw many more fish this time – Angelfish, butterflyfish, parrotfish, longnose unicornfish, triggerfish, leopardfish, and many many more. It was another great time in the water that I am so thankful for my not so new learned comfort. What a great day. Imagine how cool it would have been with the sun shining warmly on our backs as we snorkelled the magnificent blue waters of Green Island. Lucky I have rose-coloured glasses. as I am still smiling now as I write this blog. David snuck in for a quick 10 minute snorkel to see the new fish to the area before we rushed back to the boat at 3.30pm. We then had a very windy trip back to Cairns as both times we sat upstairs in the open air to be Covid safer just in case.

We Arrived back at the Marina at 5pm, exhausted and happy. Thanks again to my gorgeous husband for planning another great adventure on this extended tour of a lifetime.

Take care and stay safe everyone. Love Fiona and David xxx

Thursday 23rd September 2021
We are doing a little sightseeing today.

First stop – Kuranda Birdworld ($20 each). This could have been a 15-30 minute whirlwind if we didn’t try to get some good photos. As always DB doesn’t count these photos or sightings as they are served on a platter (in an aviary) so to speak. We enjoyed ourselves all the same. We saw many birds – macaw, egrets, parrots of many kinds, black cockatoo, mandarin ducks, cassowary, and many more. Hopefully you enjoy the pictures,

We then headed to the Crystal Cascades which we had been trying to get to for a couple of days. A rock scramble, a waterfall (Fairy Falls) but the water was a little too cold to swim, we then walked to the Crystal Cascades waterfall. Along the path we saw a black snake.

Then home for a rest as we have a big day tomorrow,