Part 1 Hello Cairns & Palm Cove

We spent a lot of time discussing and deciding where to go on a special holiday this year. We wanted to a place where the girls could experience wildlife and nature because that is what Sean and I enjoy as well. We wanted to go to a place where our tourist dollar would truly benefit the local people and their economy. Most the places we wanted to go to involved vaccinations so we want to wait 'til the girls are older to really get the most of out of it....In the end we couldn't go past beloved queensland especially after all queensland has been through in the last few months. We did our bit for the queensland economy!

Here is Gisele on the train on the way to the airport. Just a bit excited with her crayons and notepad ready for the plane trip (she wanted to take them everywhere with her!)

It was bliss to arrive to glorious warm weather and put our summer clothes on again. Palm Cove was soo gorgeous. The girls splashed in the pool many times a day and sometimes into the night!

One of our 1st trips was to Crystal Cascades then Muddys Playground in Cairns.
L. Elise likes to take some pictures
R. Here is the Esplanade at Cairns - a balmy 28 degrees- and a giant pool for all.

We took a trip to Green Island...


You can see why it is called Green Island.

R. "Look I see fish, I see a turtle!"

Next day we had a day trip to Kuranda in the mountains.
The girls and I caught the scenic railway past waterfalls and rainforest.




Sean drove up and met us there. Here is a picture he took at a look out on the way.

Kuranda had lots of interesting shops. The girls loved the scottish display!

The Butterfly Sanctuary was fantastic. Largest display of butterflies in Australia. We saw them also in the cocoon stages behind the scenes.
If we were quiet and still (bit of a challenge) they came to land on us.


L. The Ulysees Butterfly was stunning and so bright in colour but the poor thing is rarely still because it has to flutter hard to get away from all that wish to eat it!!

Sean caught the cablecar back to the bottom with the girls, where I met them. Not for the faint hearted - down steep hills and over rivers for a 1.15 hr trip. The girls loved it.

We got a great deal on a privately owned courtyard apartment at the Sea Temple Resort. The toddlers splashing pool was just outside our gate. It was gorgeous. The restaurants and bars there looked sooo incredibly luscious and flash but not for the likes of us with 2 little girls. Great for a couple or group of friends!

Part 2 Port Douglas

One of Miss Gisele's favourite words is "super". Something is "super great", "super duper" or "super super yummy". Port Douglas was Super Duper!
We stayed 1 block from the beach and 1 block from the main street so we could walk from beach to town to the marina easily.
The Wildlife Habitat Sanctuary was a BIG hit and we got our monies worth by going back again the next day!
The girls loved feeding the wallabies and the kangaroos.

On the right this wallaby has a joey so she was a very hungry mummy.



We got to pat a 3 yr old crocodiles and a python snake.

We had breakfast with the birds (Aunty Meggy would HATE this) The birds were on their perches while you ate breakfast and then the trainers bring the birds to you to meet.


L. The owls sat quietly next to us the whole time during breakfast.
R. The Cassowaries were not at breakfast of course! We did see some at the sanctuary but as hard as we tried we did not find any in the wild...

On the Saturday we were there they had the family fun day of the Port Douglas Carnivale. A gorgeous sunny day with lots of activity. Elise was in her element!



L. Classic Gisele with attitude "Alright, take your photo if you must!"
R. Elise holds Tyson the salt water crocodile.

They had lots of fun activties for kids. Here is Elise joining in the hokey pokey on the beach.

There was a sandcastle competition
L. Seahorse R. Dr Suess

L. Butterfly R The theme was Wonderland - amazing artistic talent here!


The sunsets near the marina with the playground was a favourite hangout each evening. One mum approached me and introduced herself as my future in-law as she adored Elise and wanted her to marry her 4.5 year old son. Her two sons were the same age as our girls and they all had a blast that afternoon sharing their food and playing bakeries.