QLD Trip 2011: Our trip to Kuranda.

Hi all!

Today we took a trip to Kuranda. We travelled to Kuranda via the scenic railway. We kids thought this was really great! Maurice's and Felicity's first time on a train. We went through 15 tunnels and I can't remember how many bridge crossings, but there were a few of those also. We got to get off the train to look at the Barron Falls, which were nice. Trent and I have seen them much fuller just after the last of the wet season, but at least the kids could still see them with some water flowing through them. While we were waiting at the Freshwater Station for the train to arrive there were some Japanese Girls that I noticed trying to get a pic of the kids, esp Felicity. I told them it was okay to come and speak with us and they could take photo's if the kids let them. Of course the kids were fine with having their photo's taken!!!! They also spoke to the Japanese girls and I got to use some of the Japanese that I could remember so that we could all communicate. Pheobe ended up having Kimiko and Akiko do her hair before we left the station, they are both hairdressers and beauty therapists back at home in Japan! They though our kids were so cute and couldn't get enough of them.
Once at Kuranda, we went to the local Pub for lunch. As we were walking up into the town from the station there was a girl out the front of the pub trying to tell everyone what was on offer for lunch and it all sounded okay so we went in, it was lunch time after all. We then went up onto the town and had a look around at all the shops and markets. We went into the Butterfly house for a look, it was VERY expensive for what we saw and the amount of time we spent there, but the kids did like it, especially Pheobe and Felicity. I also came across a place that sells the Mango Wine that I brought when I was here on holidays for the first time with Rod and Rose. I of course purchased myself some wine and sparkling to share when we see the Nannie's in Noosa!
After spending 3 hours in the town it was time to go to the Skyrail (or Gondola ride). Felicity was sleeping in the pram at the time so they just let us drive the pram straight on into the gondola with us. Pheobe and Maurice were soooooo excited, especially Maurice, he loved every minute of it. We got off at one of the stops and did the walk around the boardwalk track in the rain forest. When it was time to get back on, they put the pram on one gondola and then us on the following one. We had our picture taken, it was pretty good so we purchased it. We will try and get it on the blog soon, not sure how it will turn out coz we will have to take a photo of a photo. Once back at Cairns we took a bus back to the train station where we left in the morning so that we could get our car.

Home via the supermarket to get a few items. Once back, unpacked and then we and got all the washing off the line that I had done before we left this morning. We went and collected our mail that GD had sent for us and went through all that - not too many bills so that was good. Cooked dinner over in the camp kitchen, so I didn't heat up the van too much. Had a chicken and rice dish with some garlic bread.
Everyone in bed a snoozing their heads off. Not sure of the plans for tomorrow, but if anything interesting I'll be sure to let you all know.

The Kuranda Train at the Freshwater Station.

A front view of the train as we crossed over the tracks to go to the station platform.

Pheobe with her new Japanese friends, Akiko & Kimiko. This was just after they had done her hair 'Japanese Style' they called it!

Maurice on the train.

A view out our carriage window of the train as we were going along.

The Guye Gang on the Train.

Another view out our window of the train going over one of the bridges.

One of the waterfalls we passed as we were going over the bridge.

A view of the other end of the train as it was going over the bridge. We were in about the middle of the train in our carriage, so it was good to be able to get photo's from both ends.