We woke up to a beautiful sunny day.

Adam took Max and Sam to see ‘How to Train your dragon 2’ at the cinemas while Holly and I strolled around Cairns shopping. Being a Saturday the market was on the foreshore which was great. We stopped for coffee and cake too. After the movie finished (boys loved it!) we headed up the mountain to Kuranda. When we went up last week it was really pretty but wet so there was still plenty to see and do.
We went into the butterfly sanctuary not expecting much but it was AMAZING!!! We particularly loved the laboratory which showed how they keep and feed the caterpillars in captivity and what caterpillar turns into what butterfly. Even the caterpillars are beautiful. Sam was totally fascinated. We were all very lucky to have the butterflies land on us. Max had 3 at once and Sam was very chuffed that they totally loved his blanky. Holly had a few land on the camera as she was trying to take photos.

Next we went into Bird World. And again this place was great. As we walked in a parrot had stolen a ladies earring straight out of her ear. We were laughing she was trying to get it back but the bird kept flying away.
We all had a turn hand feeding the birds. We finally saw a cassowary but we still want to see one in the wild.

Because these two sanctuaries were so good we couldn’t not go into the koala and wildlife sanctuary. This was the kids favorite. Max liked it particularly because there were water dragon’s running free. Kids hand feed wallabies and kangaroo’s. We didn’t cuddle a koala as this was an added extra $$ (of course).

We did some more shopping in the Kuranda markets and couldn’t resist not going back to the lolly shop to stock up on some more sweets. The lady winked at Holly and put 3 lollipops in the bag without me seeing. She was lovely. I think my large purchase warranted those added extras. 😉

It was a huge day but some big highlights for the kids. Let’s hope this nice weather stays around a little longer. So many photos today if only I could blog them all.

Xxxxxx

Thursday

Yesterday started off wet so out came the kids diaries and we caught up on some entries. (High five to all you teachers reading this blog – and there are a few of you, how do you have the patience 😩!!) It wasn’t a fun morning but we got the job done. By lunch time the rain stopped and the kids swam in the pool. In the afternoon we headed out on a Cassowary hunt….. NO cassowary, we did rainforest walks, beach walks and drives. If I hadn’t seen this bird previously in a zoo I would think it was just fictitious. There are signs on the road every 100 meters “warning Cassowary crossing” 😩😠 that made it even more frustrating. We did however see some beautiful rain forests and beaches. We walked along the Mission beach jetty while Adam and Max fished off it. A night swim and early to bed.

Friday

Today we decided to head back up to Cairns for a couple of days rather than follow this grey rain cloud down the coast to Airlie beach which is renowned for it wet windy weather. So much to do in Cairns and weather improving, that it was the better option than sitting out the storms for the next couple of days stuck in the van. On the way to Cairns we stopped at a little town called Flying Fish Creek just out of Innisfail. It was gorgeous not a breath of wind and no rain. We fished on the beach for a couple of hours. Max caught the only fish which we think was a Mangrove Jack. The pelicans were very friendly, they were more interested in our pilchards than the fish were. Holly totally killing her animal phobia on this holiday hand feeding these big birds.
We arrived in Cairns this afternoon the foreshore looked so different to how we remembered it at the end of last week. No wind it was lovely we walked along the harbor, Adam was drooling over the beautiful boats (cruisers) and we brought some fresh prawns for dinner. Yum!!…. Cross fingers the wind stays away. Still very warm and balmy.

Sam loved the slide into the deep pool today. Over and over again. Loving his water wings these holidays, he can stay afloat and I stay dry on the side of pool.

The morning starting off nice Adam went for an early run and said the beach looked beautiful. We went into Mission beach tourist centre which also was a information centre for the Cassowary. We learnt a few things about this fascinating bird. We just haven’t seen one yet!!
Mid morning the weather turned overcast and the winds came through so we headed inland to the town of Tully. We went to a National Park called Dujriu (we think). It had a beautiful camping ground and picnic area called Murray Falls. We ran into all the elderly couples sharing our caravan park. It must be the place to be !!! There was a swimming hole with a little water slide, the elderly all encouraging Adam to have a go. One old lady even had the iPad out filming him (pressure was one!) Holly always up for a dare. It was very funny but they did it.
Weather turning very nasty over next couple of days expecting 120mm of rain. So we will be staying put and maybe catching up on some neglected school work. Next weeks weather looking a lot more positive fingers crossed. We are missing that beautiful N.T sunshine and I forgot how windy the coast can get.!!!. ☁️⛅️

Said goodbye to mum and dad this morning and started our way back home south 😢😔.
We stopped at a gorgeous waterfall/swimming hole called Josephine’s falls near Innisfail. We didn’t take our Bathers which probably was a good thing as the current looked quite strong. The water was a beautiful aqua green. We also stopped at a place called Golden Hole. It was a beautiful spot along the river but swimming wasn’t allowed due to crocodiles roaming the area.
Our caravan park at Mission beach is right on the beach the weather has been much nicer today blue skies and very warm the wind is starting to ease. Staying here for 3 nights as there seems to be plenty to do and see.

Max caught 4 fish on the jetty this morning and a big crab. Whiting, Sargent Baker and 2 Pearl Perch’s. Adam feed a sea eagle with some bait some were feeding them out of their hand. Adam panicked and threw it into the air.
Today was the first day that the kids, Adam and nana went swimming in the beach. The weather is on the improve. They say that the water was warm. (Not warm enough for me and pa).
The beach got evacuated because life guards thought there was a croc but it was a massive floating tree log which eventually washed ashore. We had a lovely dinner at the Surf Club over looking the water. It had a kids area with play stations games (perfect) we ate lots of seafood yumo !!
Found Sam playing pokies next to an elderly women. He got lost on the way to the kids room found the music and lights and thought he was in the right place oops !! Those elderly women have no sense of humor 😉😀.

Today was a relaxing day, Adam and kids went fishing on the jetty. We meet an elderly man riding a green machine (yes! A green machine) with a parrot on his shoulder called Aussie. He was an American man who came to Palm Cove on a holiday loved it so much he sold his limousine business in US and moved here. Very eccentric and rich we are guessing.
In the afternoon we went to AJ Hackett bungi jumping. It was awesome. It was in the hills/rainforest and they had live music and a bar/cafe we stayed there for most of the day it was thrilling watching people jump from so high!!!! Holly was begging us to let her do the giant swing at $129 a go!!! Told her with her pocket money but she wasn’t impressed with that. Kids and Adam climbed to the top of the tower to see the view. Great place letting everyone enjoy the facilities without having to actually jump.Excellent atmosphere.

Had a BBQ with mum and dad for dinner. Me and Holly made a sweet skittles slice for dessert (thanks Melinda for the recipe). Yum!!

Decided to stay a little longer up north with mum and dad. Arrived at Palm Cove this morning. We are at the caravan park, it’s a simple, tidy park with very friendly staff, can’t believe we got the last site. They were knocking back people all day, and said they were fully booked until September. Its in an excellent location right on the beach opposite the jetty. Mum and dad are at a really nice apartment 100 meters down the road. We had yummy ice creams and strolled up the beach and down the esplanade it is a gorgeous place particularly at night. It’s all lit up with lights and candles so many restaurants and little bars. Some very expensive looking luxurious resorts. Tonight the kids watched the Lego movie on the parks big screen they also provided the popcorn. Highlight for today was the huge Lace Monitor lizard that was in our caravan park. Max has been searching for that lizard for the past 7 weeks. He grabbed out his lizard encyclopedia and ticked it off. Booked in here for two nights but might try and extend. It’s a little hidden paradise and a local said to us tonight that the secrets out and it’s getting more popular. We said a sad goodbye to the Fothergill’s tonight, safe flight home guys thanks for visiting we will miss you.

Today we drove through the Daintree National Park to Cape Tribulation. The weather is being unkind this week windy and wet. The scenery still beautiful though and still balmy and warm. Typical tropical weather.
Kids loved the barge across the river. The beach was really nice the water much warmer than good old Cape Woollamai.
We did a gorgeous walk along the boardwalk with some amazing rain forests, the tree roots are so unusual and huge tree vines everywhere. A lot of the tropical rainforest and huge tree’s with multiply root systems remind us of the scenery in Avatar. Like being in a fantasy world.
We went into a souvenir shop that had a snake display and there was one very active carpet python.
Worth the 2 hour drive to the Daintree a very pretty place.