On Track

A free bus from the Skyrail terminal takes visitors to the Kuranda market with its local arts and crafts, Koala Garden and Birdworld. The latter is well worth a visit.

This is the largest single collection of free-flying birds in Australia – some 500 birds embracing 75 species. Some are quite friendly and will obligingly perch on your shoulders – or head – and pose for the camera. There are brilliantly coloured birds, little birds, big birds all in a nicely landscaped area.

Back in the market there seemed to be a demand for didgeridoos, judging from the number I saw being carried about by tourists. I resisted. But I did take time our for a back massage having developed an acute case of sciatica.

There’s a range of restaurants in the village though I can’t say our dining was particularly memorable - more filleted prawns in my sandwich.

It was time to head to the railway station. I am a sucker for trains, specially old ones. The Kuranda Scenic Railway wends its way down from Kuranda to Freshwater station near Cairns. The spectacular route offers grand views of the rainforest, steep ravines and picturesque waterfalls within the Barron Gorge National Park.

Constructed between 1882 and 1891 it is considered an engineering feat of tremendous magnitude. Hundreds of men were employed to build the 15 hand-made tunnels and 37 bridges that stand as a monument to the pioneers of tropical North Queensland. It’s a comfortable journey and certainly offers a ringside seat for viewing some spectacular scenery. And there are more photo opportunities along the way. A bus collected us at our destination and ferried us back to the Skyrail terminal where our rental car was parked. Our outing took several hours and it was certainly very interesting.

Hot and spicy was the consensus for that night’s dinner so we went Mexican, complete with some grand Margaritas. Filling and inexpensive. At the Cocina Mexicana we saw something we hadn’t seen at a restaurant in years – a middle-aged couple sitting at a pavement table, pouring enthusiastically from a cask of wine. Wonder if they had to pay corkage on their cardonnay?

Next – time to smell the coffee >>