Brisbane, QLD


Monday, August 12, 2013

BACK TO CIVILISATION

 Our wonderful tour of Cape York was over. We flew back from Horn Island to Cairns, where we had two nights before catching the train home to Brisbane 1700k/1000m away. Cairns is the biggest city in Far North Queensland. It has a cosmopolitan population of 150,000. It is a very popular tourist town as it is near the Great Barrier Reef, heritage tropical rainforest and the Atherton Tablelands. They have the best seafood restaurants too. There are heaps of attractions, activities and site seeing for tourists. The best time to go to Cairns is in the cooler dry season between May and November, the other months are too wet and hot.
 On our free day in Cairns we set off for a walk along the esplanade to the man made lagoon for safe swimming. However, the weather was showery and windy so we turned back.

 We passed the council chambers and headed towards the Casino Dome.

The Casino was opposite our hotel. You can see the dome. Inside the dome is a zoo, rope courses and a zipline over the animals. As it was raining we thought this would be a good place to visit. My camera was getting worse at getting the exposure right so I used my phone.

 The main attraction was Goliath a huge 4 metre salt water crocodile. Part of the dome had to lifted off to get Goliath inside. He had to be lifted into the Dome by two cranes it took 1.5 hours. He has his own pool.




 There are many different birds all free flying around the 300 tropical plants.

Sorry that I can't remember the names of the birds. Bird bloggers Carol or Eileen might help out here.
There were many other Australian reptiles, birds and mammals there too.

Photo from wildlife dome website
  If you are crazy adventurous you can chose to balance, swing, crawl and climb over a ropes course way up near the roof of the dome

photo from wildlife dome website
For the very crazy  brave you can fly over Goliath on a zipline. ( I wished that I was 20 years younger, I would have been crazy enough to do it.)

We returned to our hotel for a rest and to say goodbye to Far North Queensland and we were looking forward to our 2 day train trip home..

We watched the boats returning to the harbour loaded with excited tourists who had spent the day snorkelling, diving and sightseeing on the reef.
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27 comments:

  1. biebkriebelsAugust 12, 2013 at 9:36 PM

    It was a great tour to watch with you. But everything comes to an end sometime...

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  2. JeanneAugust 12, 2013 at 10:06 PM

    Wow! That dome looks like a pretty amazing place to visit! So glad that you have had an awesome trip, and imaging now you are back at home safely!

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  3. yevishaAugust 12, 2013 at 10:17 PM

    it's a shame that your fabulous trip is over. i've enjoyed it so much. my dil went over the croc on the harness thingy. she and her sister have a photo. i don't think i could do it but you never know :)

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  4. PerthDailyPhotoAugust 12, 2013 at 10:33 PM

    What a trip Diane, thank you so much for sharing it with us. I'm curious to know if that's rain or fire on the horizon in a couple of the shots.

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  5. diane bAugust 12, 2013 at 10:35 PM

    Its rain and the sun setting .

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  6. MadSnapperAugust 12, 2013 at 10:42 PM

    i like that lagoon in the first photo and i am thinking Goliath and his family members are why you have to swim in a man made lagoon. he is one big fella... the dome is beautiful inside.

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  7. RoeHAugust 12, 2013 at 11:42 PM

    I so want to walk into that lagoon. Nice.

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  8. LindaAugust 13, 2013 at 12:37 AM

    How wonderful, Diane. Lovely photos. Thanks so much for your comment on my post "Auschwitz Cat". I am pretty certain the employees feed the cat, as she certainly is well fed and looks happy. I think she feels that she is a source of comfort to people who visit there, which is why she wants to stay.

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  9. TexWisGirlAugust 13, 2013 at 12:56 AM

    that sky looked amazing!

    poor goliath, probably doesn't get a lot of peace and quiet.

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  10. CraigAugust 13, 2013 at 2:35 AM

    I love the photo of the sun setting with showers Diane - lovely. The zoo dome looks very interesting.
    Will we get to share your train journey home too?

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  11. GardenOfDaisiesAugust 13, 2013 at 4:23 AM

    That does look like an amazing zipline ride. No wonder that Mr. Croc has his own pool... I bet he isn't very good at sharing.

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  12. Sallie (FullTime-Life)August 13, 2013 at 4:54 AM

    That wonderful zoo probably kept you from getting the bends, from being introduced too quickly back to civilization!

    I'm fairly game for a great-grandmother, but definitely I'd have passed on the zip line over a croc cage! (I'm actually surprised the zoo isn't afraid of liability -- but I think that's good. We have probably too many restrictions on stuff like that.)

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  13. Betsy Banks AdamsAugust 13, 2013 at 7:06 AM

    Were you tired by now--and ready to get home? Vacations are wonderful --but it's nice to get home! You'll have to share what your favorite part was, what you didn't like, how you would change things, etc.... We always do that after a trip...

    That is one huge croc... Yipes.... Ziplines are all over the place in this country... Not sure I'd do it --but my grandchildren have.

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  14. Fun60August 13, 2013 at 7:11 AM

    It has been a great trip to follow Diane.

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  15. DeniseinVAAugust 13, 2013 at 7:32 AM

    Thank you for this wonderful tour Diane. Loved every post and with all those great photos, felt I was right alongside.

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  16. Carole M.August 13, 2013 at 9:55 AM

    such an enjoyable journey; and I loved travelling in cyberspace with you. What's next on your travel agenda?

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  17. eileeninmdAugust 13, 2013 at 9:56 AM

    Diane, the zoo looks neat! Great shots from your stay in Cairns. I think Carole would be a better help with the birds, they may be native birds of Australia. I enjoyed this trip, what fun you have had! Enjoy your week ahead!

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  18. GeorgeAugust 13, 2013 at 12:25 PM

    That casino looks like quite a place. I'm afraid I wouldn't be brave enough to ride the zipline over Goliath, even 20 years ago. You get good pictures with your phone.

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  19. AnonymousAugust 13, 2013 at 1:01 PM

    In the mid to late nineties we visited the Cairns Casino and it was the most boring and stultifying place, like a silent church for gamblers. Clearly that has changed for the better and it must be high on the list of Cairns places to visit.

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  20. Jo-Anne's RamblingsAugust 13, 2013 at 1:05 PM

    Love the photos of course, I would love the train ride back to Brisbane but I love train rides and unlike Tim I don't get bored on them

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  21. diane bAugust 13, 2013 at 8:18 PM

    Carole: LA next stop.

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  22. Joan ElizabethAugust 13, 2013 at 8:24 PM

    I didn't know about this place, but woudn't have had time to go to it anyway. Looks very interesting.

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  23. Margaret DAugust 13, 2013 at 10:41 PM

    Well! What fun you have had. Cairns is nice but those hills get to me for some reason.

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  24. CynthiaAugust 14, 2013 at 9:11 AM

    Aw, shucks! I'm a little sad "our" journey is almost over. I've learned a lot about Australia, following you to the northernmost tip.

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  25. Come Away With MeAugust 15, 2013 at 1:34 AM

    Love the view from the hotel!

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  26. Marsha YoungAugust 17, 2013 at 2:39 AM

    diane, As always, just amazing photos. What an adventure you live - pretty much everyday!!! Good for you and TOH!

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  27. Betty ManousosAugust 19, 2013 at 1:25 AM

    dear diane, that sky looked gorgeous!
    what a trip! thank you for taking us along with you.

    big hugs~

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