Travel Guides and Stories

Day 1: Kuranda Tropical Rainforest. We took the historic train from Cairns to Kuranda, buying return tickets. Along the way, they played introductions to passing attractions, which we followed along with the guide provided with our tickets. The train would stop briefly at scenic spots for tourists to visit and take photos. How long was it? We arrived at our destination. Kuranda Rainforest Park is a 40-hectare tropical rainforest tourism center in North Queensland, with the entire rainforest listed as a World Heritage site. Although it's a tropical rainforest, it felt quite similar to the temperate rainforest we visited at Mount Field in Tasmania. Later we returned to Cairns and visited the local night market, haha! We also booked a day trip to Green Island and the Outer Reef for the next day. Many local travel agencies offer this day trip, but from our research, the Great Adventures boat seemed pretty good. However, after paying and returning to our hostel, we discovered we could have gotten a discount by booking directly through the hostel - painful to think about the extra money spent!!

Day 2: Green Island and Norman Reef    Great Adventures departed at 8:30, reaching Green Island Great Barrier Reef in 45 minutes. Green Island reef formed 6,000 years ago and is the only island on the Great Barrier Reef where coral reefs coexist with tropical rainforest. Activities on Green Island are mostly free-form - you can walk through the rainforest or rent snorkeling equipment, though there's not much to see underwater, it's mainly for practice. Many people choose to stay overnight and take the boat back the next day. After a 2-hour stay, we continued to Norman Reef. The Great Barrier Reef is one of the world's seven natural wonders. According to the introduction: "Norman Reef is the most beautiful part of the Great Barrier Reef in the Cairns region, having hosted numerous heads of state. The reef formations here are continuous, like underwater forests stretching one after another. Not only vast in area, but also clearly layered and colorfully vibrant, with various tropical fish swimming among them, forming a complete biological chain with larger fish and marine life - like a grand underwater family that opens one's eyes and refreshes the spirit." Unfortunately, I didn't go diving, only viewing the coral reef from the semi-submersible. I got terribly seasick, threw up many times, and couldn't even settle down for lunch, just kept getting sick. My companion went diving but said there wasn't much to see - it was more about the experience. The coral reefs we could see from the semi-submersible had mostly lost their vibrant colors, though there were plenty of big and small fish.

Day 3: Port Douglas    From Cairns, we took a 70-kilometer drive north along the scenic Captain Cook Highway to reach Port Douglas. The views along the way were absolutely stunning. In Australia, I've come to love sightseeing by car because all the scenery is along the road!    Cairns may be a small city, but it has a big reputation

Such creative street benches

Clean street shops - we went out too early, hardly anyone on the streets

The small train to Kuranda - so few people on the platform

First stop - Freshwater Station

The train crossing the railway bridge

Small waterfalls along the way

Barron Gorge

We still had to pass through 15 tunnels

A memorial stone for the railway workers of that era

Overlooking Cairns city along the way

The two girls sitting opposite us were listening to music the whole way, having such a great time

Arrived at Kuranda Station - please take all your belongings and exit in order, haha

Most of our rainforest photos are of people, surprisingly can't find any decent landscape shots. What a pity - here are two photos to make do.

Visited the night market in the evening, passed by a music school with a piano right on the street - couldn't miss that opportunity

Cairns Night Market

A hub for souvenirs - aren't they all pretty much the same everywhere?

Cairns Night Market

We also stopped by the Cairns Fleet Wharf to check out the Great Adventures boat we'd be taking tomorrow

I kept an eye on the Australian dollar's trend along the way - it kept rising. Looking back now, if I had saved more then, I would have made a fortune!! Ah ah!!

Day one's itinerary ends, to be continued... Continuing with Day Two, Green Island and Great Barrier Reef! Let's go! Departing from Cairns Wharf on the Great Adventures boat

This is our super cool Great Adventures captain!

And the lovely tourists - these Korean girls were either chattering away or sleeping wrapped in towels the whole boat ride

First stop, Green Island

Good-looking guys and girls relaxing on the beach

Green Island

It would have been nice to stay overnight on Green Island, but unfortunately we only had two hours before leaving. Of course, we were quite excited about Norman Reef! Here's the observation platform at Norman Reef

The sun deck on the observation platform - quickly took a photo when no one was around

The semi-submersible - I didn't go in the water, just viewed the coral from here

Green Island

Bird nests on the navigation light

I regret not going in the water - look at these snorkelers, though actually they probably couldn't see as clearly as I did from the submarine

Haha, a mermaid!

To be continued... Our hostel njoy, small but cozy

Crazy Monkey Backpackers Village

Crazy Monkey Backpackers Village

Crazy Monkey Backpackers Village

The tranquil town of Port Douglas, welcoming visitors from all around

We happened to catch the town's market day - they even had crocodiles!

And some dominating advertisements from car rental companies

Goodbye, Port Douglas