Australia: Ocean one day, rainforest the next

It’s Sunday evening here in Cairns. Since yesterday was such a big day (and one that started early, at that), we took things a little slower today. For the first time since we got here, I was able to sleep later than 4:30, which was wonderful. I decided to pop out for a short run along the beach.

This part of Australia is more tropical and the seasons are more wet/dry than they are winter/summer. During the dry/winter (now), the highs are usually in the upper 70s and the lows are in the 60s.

After a leisurely breakfast, we picked up a rental car and drove inland and up into the hills to a village called Kuranda. There, we got tickets for a skyrail that stretches nearly five miles over the rainforest.

There were a few stops along the way where we were able to get out and explore the rainforest on boardwalks.

This is the top of a 400 year old kauri tree. And here’s the bottom:

There are absolutely no roads up there, as all of the skyrail’s towers were helicoptered in, as were all the other supplies. In fact, even the employees have to take the skyrail in and out.

The skyrail went up and up and up. Then, there was a station at the top and then the skyrail started going down the other side. On the far side of the mountain, we were able to get some gorgeous views back toward the ocean.

After we were done with our rainforest explorations, we walked through the village of Kuranda and ended up having our second koala encounter of our trip.

This wee animal park is owned by a family and has just eight koalas, plus an assortment of wallabies, crocs, and even two wombats.

It was a great day.

Right now, we’re hanging out in our apartment and preparing for our next adventure. Tomorrow morning, we’re getting up at oh-my-god o’clock and hopping on an airplane that will take us to Australia’s red center, where we’ll get a taste of the Outback and see Uluru (a.k.a. Ayres Rock.)

Until later…