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!