Cairns, Kuranda and Great Barrier Reef

Thursday, 05.03.2020: We meet early in the morning at Cairns Station and board the nostalgic train to Kuranda. The train route winds over 37 bridges and through 15 tunnels to the location 350 meters high in the rainforest. We pass by Freshwater Station, Stoney Creek Falls and Barron Falls. In Kuranda, we have 3 hours to explore the place, eat a German bratwurst and enjoy a delicious fruit ice cream. After that, we take the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, a 7.5 km long cable car that runs directly above the treetops. The route takes us over the Barron River to Smithfield Terminal. The first stop is Barron Falls on the opposite side of the train route. We then continue to the 545 m high Red Peak Station, where we also get off and participate in a ranger tour. Here we learn that this tropical rainforest is 120 million years old and therefore the oldest in the world.

Friday, 06.03.2020: Today we take the ship to the Great Barrier Reef. We are very excited. After checking in and having a coffee on board, we are informed about the course of the day. Then we have to choose and try on fins, snorkel masks and a wetsuit. The journey to the first reef, Saxon Reef, takes about an hour and a half. Now the first stop. Put on snorkeling equipment and off we go into the water. Hans-Werner was already in the water, then came back super excited and encouraged Rotraut to snorkel too. She then took a guided snorkeling tour. After this effort, everyone deserves a lunch. Then we continue to Hastings Reef. This reef is much bigger. Here you could also take a glass bottom boat ride over the reef or book a helicopter flight. We snorkeled. Beautiful to see the different corals and fish. The reef here was very shallow, so sometimes you touched the corals. After a very eventful day, the return journey to Cairns started with fruit, wine and crackers with cheese.