Cairns & Atherton Tablelands (8 - 12 Feb)

The rain is holding off when we land in Cairns, but there are some very ominous clouds floating around the horizon. Cairns is a pretty small town, but there is a lot more going on than in Alice Springs! We spend our first day dodging the rain and pottering around the shops in the aircon-ed shopping mall and wandering along the esplanade. The beach isnt anything to write home about, so I wont, but there are lots of bars - mainly full of young Brits so its like a University campus with a union bar (cheap booze and food for all though!)

Peter & Marie in Perth recommended Agincourt reef to us, so we book a trip to head up there. The weather is a bit overcast, and the snorkelling at the first site isnt up to much - there's a strong current, and visibility is a bit poor. Apparently we're out at the reef at the worst time of the year. So thats good! Still the 2nd site is a lot better and there are tonnes of fish, and some coloured coral too. We're looking good in our stinger suits. Tuesday is cheap cinema day so we eventually get to see Slumdog Millionaire, which is great fun. The scenes in the call centre are completely lost on the Aussie audience, but Luce and I chuckle away.

Next morning, we pick up a hire car and head inland to the Atherton Tablelands - a huge area of rainforest and waterfalls that is mercifully a bit cooler than the coast as its higher. We're staying in an outback town called Yungaburra which is very cut off from any sort of society. There is a little wine tasting place that we spend part of the afternoon - they make wine from various fruits other than grapes as the climate prevents grape growth, We choose the apple and honey wine, and after having a taste of their port and liqueurs (including a delicious macadamia nut) as well, we're pretty sozzled and I throw a glass of coffee booze onto the floor splashing Luce on the way. The only thing for it is to go for a swim in the local lake.

Next day we tour the local area - there are lots of waterfalls and as its the middle of rainy season these are very full and fun to swim in. Its a good change to be up in the mountains driving ourselves, and swimming in freshwater lakes rather than the sea or swimming pools. The tap water up here though is more like a swimming pool - full of chlorine. Luce wont drink it with her delicate palate, and chooses the red wine from the Yungaburra pub instead. After a good session with the locals, we're not felling our best for the 400km drive to Townsville.