First full day in Cairns.  After a leisurely start to the morning, we headed north.  First stop was Crystal Cascades, a lovely rainforest walk along the same creek that backs the caravan park.  The track climbs gently to a very pretty waterfall.  The creek gorge is lined with huge trees with twisted roots, all competing for light and space.  They cling to sheer rock faces.  There are swimming holes along the creek but it isn’t quite warm enough to tempt me to take a dip.

Next we headed to Trinity Beach, and lunch at the hotel overlooking the ocean.  The breeze was whipping up small whitecaps. We all had delicious pork bellies on a sweet potato mash.  After lunch a constitutional was called for, so we drove to nearby Palm Cove and strolled along the busy waterfront.  The beach is nice but wall to wall resorts and restaurants give a very touristy feel.

The final stop was Lake Placid, a complete contrast.  At the end of a road to nowhere, the lake is home to kayakers and hungry ducks.  The green expanse of water, fringed by rainforest, was serene.

The caravan park, also called Crystal Cascades, is immaculately kept.  It’s in a relatively new part of Cairns which is obviously home to the more well heeled.  There are lots of large Queenslander houses on properties that have horses – although interestingly everything is single storey, probably due to cyclone conditions.  Yesterday we went for an hour long walk along the creek.  It’s a 5km walking/cycling track, which would be perfect for a run, should I summon up the energy!  We are surrounded by mountains clad in thick vegetation – definitely not orienteering country.

The weather forecast is sun sun sun, 27 degrees every day.  Woohoo!  Hello to all my friends back home …