Free day in Noosa today, so not much to report I’m afraid.
I caught up on some much needed sleep while Alison took a wander to the shops . A bit later, I did a washing and drying and did the dishes from last night. Took a walk out to get filled rolls for lunch. Read and finished my book in the afternoon while Alison took a walk to the beach.
Had a suitcase tidy this evening before heading out for some food.
Civilised start tomorrow – 09.30hrs rather than the middle of the night!
Walked along street to board feeder coach for Fraser Island tour. Drove out of town to a layby in the middle of nowhere. A few minutes later our 4wd coach turned up with driver/guide, Brock, at the wheel. Boarded with the warning that the further to the rear of the coach that you sit, the bouncier it will be! So, sitting in row 2, we headed off towards our first stop at Rainbow Beach shops. While we made use of the facilities and purchased breakfast, Brock deflated the tyres from 80 to 40psi in preparation for driving along the sand.
Bounced onward, as the road changed from tarmac to gravel and soon to two tracks in the dried mud. One of only two beaches in the world which is used as an airstrip- the other being on Barra! Eventually got to beach and drove on to the waiting ferry to take the 15min crossing to Fraser Island. Drove off ferry after 15mins ( it had got to the other side!), and hurtled along beach for a couple of km., before we had to turn off the beach on to the “road!”, due to the high tide. Back on to beach and we stopped at Freshwater Creek for morning coffee from the back of the coach, including lemon myrtle cake and Anzac biscuits.
More driving/bouncing to Wanggoolba Creek where we tasted some bush tucker in the form of midgim berries (small white berries) which we picked from the midgim bush. Then set off on a 2km trek through the rain forest,
picking up the coach at the far end. Onward to McKenzie Lake with it’s lovely sandy beaches 😝. One of our group and several of the other passengers decided to swim, while several decided to paddle, and the sensible ones just watched!
En route we discovered two young girl passengers were from Edinburgh! They had just graduated from Stirling and Newcastle and we’re doing a 6 month trip covering Vietnam, Cambodia, Eastern Australia, then going on to New Zealand and finally South America before returning to Edinburgh.
After the necessary paddle, we returned to the coach parking spot where Brock had laid out lunch. A bit of amusement when a kookeburra dived on to a neighbouring groups’ table, grabbed a sausage, and disappeared to a tree to consume.
Sorry, photo rushed before kookeburra flew off!
Choice of chicken with salad rolls, or the Australian version, salad with chicken. Choice of sauces. Fresh sliced pineapple and cake and Anzac biscuits left over from morning coffee. Eating area visited by a 1m long monitor lizard hoping for some vege leftovers
Lunch finished and it was back to the ferry, this time via a 50km dash down the beach, now that the tide was out.
Route reversed, stopping once again at Rainbow Beach stores to reinflate and back to feeder coach to transfer us back to the hotel.
Dinner was had in room with leftovers from yesterday! Out for walk to find ATM, and back to room.
That’s it for today! Just a couple of photos missed out from the last few days.
Not too early a start today to get to Cairns airport for 12.45 flight to Brisbane. Actually departed Cairns about 1pm and 2 hrs later we were in Brisbane airport (Not losing any minutes either!😁.)
Coach waiting to transport us on the 2hr journey to Noosa. Leaving Brisbane at the rush hour and at the start of the Easter holiday added a further 45mins to the journey.
In our hotel apartment now, with lounge, kitchen, bedroom, bath/shower room, and balcony.
Out for dinner and now back to do this blog, before an early night. 5.50am start tomorrow.
Good day today! Coach to Freshwater Station ( it being rather more picturesque than Cairns Station). 45 mins to wait for train so had a bit of an investigate of the station. Gift shop ok. Toilet walls lined with marble mined in Queensland! Train arrived on time!
Seats booked in Car 2 for 2hr journey to Kuranda on the Kuranda Scenic Railway. Negotiated a couple of 180 deg turns on the line, where we had a good view of the other end of the train!
Then followed the one stop on the journey – a photo stop to view Barron Falls
About to leave – wait for me!!!
Arrived shortly thereafter at Kuranda Station. Given a quick tour of the town centre by Marcus, then let loose on the town.
I decided to visit the marsupial enclosures while Alison visited the birdhouse.
Was also a female grey kangaroo with a Joey in her pouch, but she wasn’t for coming within photo range! The Joey seemed interested though! After respective visits, had lunch at a French crepes cafe in the park. An obligatory ice cream followed before making our way down to the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway for the journey back to Smithfield.
Stopped for a short photo opportunity on the other side of Barron Falls from where we halted on the outward journey. Carried on to a stop at Red Peak, where we were given a 20min tour by one of the Park Rangers – very interesting – pointing out various epicytes and parasites in the rain forest tree population.
On we go to Smithfield Terminal where our coach was waiting. Got to say, Alison did not see much of the journey down – but did very well!
Back to hotel for a quick rest then out for dinner, not before watching the “Crystal Symphony” depart Cairns, kindly sailing past the end of our road.
Decided against doing 2hr crossing to reef in view of the fact that the crossing was going to be very rough today! Heard later that a couple of our group had second viewing of their breakfast on the way over!. Also after a half hour snorkeling (for competent users) a couple of hours were to be spent at a beach bbq, the thought of which did not endear itself to Alison!
Instead, we took a wander through Cairns, stopping at St Monica’s Cathedral. 24 amazing stained glass windows in this very modern church.
Arrived in time for Palm Sunday Mass. Then listened to a very detailed prerecorded descriptive of the glass. Passed several museums and art galleries, including the City Library.
Cruise liner “Crystal Symphony” arrived at Cairns Terminal overnight, and was easily spotted not far from our hotel.
Back to room for a bit of relaxation then out again this evening for dinner at Dundee’s Restaurant I know we’re in Australia, but do the passion fruit sorbets have to be upside down?!
Bit of a wasted day really! Not picked up till 2pm to head to Ayer’s Rock Airport. Flight about 45 mins late in departing, so didn’t get to Cairns unyil 7pm. Coach picked us up and delivered us to the Cairns Pullman Hotel, just a stone’s throw from the waterfront. Found dinner at one if the many nearby eateries.
Depart by coach to the sun rise viewpoint near the Rock. Had to return 10mins out to rescue a group of 11 Americans heading to the same location. Unfortunately, their coach, from the same company as ours, had broken down st the hotel. Having done our bit for international relations, we reached the viewpoint at 6.45, in time for sunrise at 7.03am.
Not nearly as impressive as sunset! Drove on to get up, close and personal, to the Rock. Following a geological explanation in the sand, by Gary our driver/guide:
we had a couple of hours walk round part of the base of the Rock, looking at the faults in the Rock and at various geological phenomena which gave rise to the Aboriginal understanding of this special location. Interesting, also, tapping the hard surface of the Rock and hearing it sound hollow. Apparently, the Rock rolled over into it’s current position several million years ago.
Wire/post guide line for climbers can just be seen on upper ridge
One more photo from last night, pre-sunset.
Our tour group from Grand Australian Tour April 2019. Marcus our Tour Director, kneeling. Gary our driver/guide, for this leg, on left.
Back at hotel for some souvenir hunting and laundry day!
Rest of the day free. Long lie tomorrow. Don’t leave for the airport till 2pm to catch our flight to Cairns.
7am departure from Alice Springs this morning for the 450km drive to Ayers Rock – or Uluru to give it it’s correct Aboriginal name.
The above was the scenery on both sides of the coach for the majority of the journey! Sand, sand and more red sand!
Snack lunch at Ayer’s Rock Resort before heading back out to the desert to a viewpoint where we had good shots of the Rock and Kata Tjuta (or site of 36 Heads) another site, sacred to ths Aboriginals.
Back to hotel after visiting the Aboriginal Cultural Centre.
Back out by coach to a viewing area close to the Rock to watch sunset on the Rock. Sun did a relatively fast fade to blackout over about 25mins. The next series of photos gives an idea of the changing colours of the Rock over this time!
Photos could be better, but restricted to taking them with my tablet, to avoid having to transfer for the purposes of this blog. Deny absolutely, that the quality had anything to do with several glasses of bubbly offered by our host on arrival, accompanied by canapes. – They know how to look at a bit of rock over here in Oz! This afternoon when we passed by, we could see quite a number of people climbing the Rock- climb was via one of the ridges and assisted by a guide wire all the way. All climbing of the Rock will cease from the 26th October this year in recognition of the meaning it has for the Aboriginals. The monolith is currently 1042ft in height but is sinking in to the sand – very slowly! It is 6mls round the base, of which we will be walking part tomorrow, and according to a study completed by Darwin University, it weighs apx 145 billion tons – a useful piece of information for the next pub quiz! Temperature was a pleasant 36deg today, but both this area and Alice suffer from vast numbers of flies. Like small house flies which don’t bite, but due to the lack of moisture in the soil, they seek out any human moisture, especially around the eyes, ears and mouth! Extremely annoying! Hence the reason for us modelling the rather natty, 2019 fly net creation.
Maybe looks a bit daft, but it does the job!
5am departure tomorrow to see the sun rise on the other side of the rock. Were warned it might be a bit chilly at that time of the morning. 17degC apparently!
A full, but interesting day. 7am flight from Darwin to Alice Springs. Arrived 2hrs later in 28degC – later to climb to 38deg but only 35% humidity which made it bearable.
First stop in Alice was at the School of the Air,
School for pupils living up to 1000+km away, all accessed via radio. Lucky to be able to watch a lesson in progress in one of three studios. Photo shows a screenshot of what the pupil would see, as we watched the teacher live in the studio.
Pupil in the top left corner of the screen.
Moved on to Anzac Hill. Excellent viewpoint at war memorial- starting to get hot!
Next stop was the central HQ of the Flying Doctor Service. Tour and educational video presentation about the Service from inception to present day. 47 Aircraft in use all over Oz.
Brief stop at a supermarket to stock up for evening and the next day.
Final visit of the morning was to the Bush Telegraph Station and Museum. Located here in Alice as the mid point between Adelaide and Darwin, from where it spread out to the rest of the word . School class dressed in period costume taking over the Station for the day . Teachers also in period costume, gained pupils attention by cracking a bullwhip! Interesting young guide who spends his time between the Telegraph Station and flying hot air balloons.
Off to get checked in at hotel, however en route, our new driver/guide, Gary, mentioned that he had been to see a son et lumiere at Desert Park the previus night, so, not to be outdone, 8 of us decided to get the free shuttle bus out to the Park this evening. Good display considering it was all free and paid for by the township.
Only slight problem today was, my suitcase was trashed when it arrived at baggage reclaim this morning. Did think about trying a temporary repair with the aid of some timber and screws from maintenance at the hotel, but decided it was beyond repair. Advice saught from reception as to luggage shops in town. Apparently there was one such store, so taxi ordered and eventually got to said shop, and believe it or not, they had a 40%&60% off sale at the moment. Got replacement case and taxi back to hotel. That was just before we left for the Desert Park, so off now to pack my new case, before moving on to Uluru tomorrow. Good night from a hot Oz!
Left Katherine today for our last day exploring apx 700mls in the Northern Territory. Made our way to the Katherine Gorges where we boarded our flat bottomed boat for a trip through the first two of 13 Gorges.
Lots and lots of sandstone! At the end of the first gorge we took to walking to reach the second – viewing some more stone paintings en route. 2nd gorge slightly smaller, but still spectacular. Returned to coach and set off to return to Darwin for tonight. Lunch at Mayse’s cafe in the tiny gold mining town of Pine Creek. Mayse’s is probably most famous for her mango smoothies, made with locally grown mangos.
Noticed celebrations happening on the town green. Duly explained by a friendly Aborigine lady, Lizzie, who told us that today was celebrating the hand back of the surrounding land to the clan, by the mayor of Pine Creek. A big day in the life of the Aboriginals.
Stopped a bit further on to take a close up look at termite mounds. These particular ones were Cathedral Termites named after the style of their mounds.
Some 140 species of termite exist, all with their own style of mounds. The mound represents about one third of the termite nest – the other two thirds underground.
Further on to a small, but popular pub in the middle of nowhere, with a famous film star as it’s main attraction.
Back about 5pm to the Novotel in Darwin. Managed to lock ourselves out of our bathroom! However some judicious use of a Leatherman soon sorted that out. Out to a Vietnamese restaurant tonight – celebrating the birthday of one of the ladies in our group!
M & A in Oz 