Kuranda Rain Forest, the "Tropical North" of Queensland, March 29

Golden Orb spider

The tropical rainforests of Far Northern Queensland are among the oldest on earth. They are home to an incredible array of plants and animals. Twelve hundred species of flowering plants, eight hundred different rainforest trees,spectacular orchids, Strangler figs, exotic palms and hundreds of unique creatures inhabit this lush green world. This is the largest remaining wet rain forest on the planet. The Kuranda rainforest is the only surviving wet rain forest in Australia and is dated at 120 million years of age. This panorama is similar to what our planet looked like long before the forerunners of man crept out the sea and while prehistoric creatures still roamed the earth.

We opted for a ride on the world’s longest tram, known as the “Skycar”, 4.7 miles in length and travelling high above the jungle floor below. The tram travels uphill to the village of Kuranda. The cars suspended by cable high above the rain forest and the rivers that we crossed below teemed with “Freshy” crocodile”. “Freshies”, as their name implies, inhabit fresh water and brackish rivers as opposed to “Salties” in the ocean. The town of Kuranda was replete with countless souvenir shops and small restaurants but there was nothing much else to see or do.  

The return trip offered a second option, a journey aboard a 100-year-old train. The trip took us down the mountain alongside the sheer rim of steep gorges that dropped away into thin air just three or four feet from the side of the train. The ride took us past steeply plunging waterfalls and through sections of the steamy rain forest filled with colorful tropical birds and giant blue butterflies.

Barron Falls

Completion of the railroad in 1886 required fifteen hundred workers, laboring daily throughout long hot, steamy days using only picks, shovels and dynamite as methods to break through the rocky surface.  The narrow gauge railroad travelled through fifteen hand-hewn tunnels, 58 bridges and 98 curves, some suspended high in the air. Gold had been discovered in the area in 1883, that was the impetus for the arduous three-year construction.  Numerous lives were lost due to dangerous work conditions and it is suspected that far more died as a result of snakebites and encounters with other predator species that continue to inhabit the region. 

At dusk in downtown Cairns we were surprised to find thousands of Lorikeets flocking to a single tree chirping loudly and continuously.  The picture is underexposed since this photo was taken at dusk but you can still see the beautiful bright colors of the birds.  It was a truly impressive display of nature. 

Just a small number of Lorikeets hanging out for happy hour