Just Back From

I went up and stayed in Cairns where the excellent bus service means that if you do not wish to hire a car you can travel up and down the coast with ease, and what a spectacular coastline it is... Ellis Beach is the view on all the postcards and the sea is as turquoise and the blue as green as the photos.

Palm Cove is where you can sit and watch a sunset with a cocktail at the many bars along the beach and finally Port Douglas with a laid back attitude and a feeling that time doesn't matter.

Or if you are feeling more energetic than just looking at scenery there is a 4 mile beach in Port Douglas to walk along or a jog along the Esplanade in Cairns.

Try Scuba Diving off Green Island or on one of the many pontoons and Cays visited by all sorts of size cruise,yachts and catamarans. Or if that is not your scene all sorts of boat trips are available for an array of Daytime, Lunch or Dinner cruises - together with glass bottom boats and submersibles to look at the Great Barrier Reef.

Then there is the Hinterland, up by the famous train to Kuranda Station. An amazing railway journey that is inspirational when you read how all the tunnels and gradients were dug by hand. Then back by the Skyrail which skims across the tops of the trees and hangs over the Barron Gorge and River so you feel that you are parachuting down the side of the mountain - again one of a kind .

Kuranda is a quaint town with the markets and the alternative lifestyle and great craft made by the locals, you can easily spend a day here, and do all your Christmas shopping early!

If you do decide to hire a car and want to look at the amazing rainforest for your break then the Mossman River and the Daintree is a must and for either a second honeymoon or a special occasion, then visit the Silky Oaks Resort and relax in the trees. Just enough activities to justify the great food you have to have and then relax in either the privacy of secluded cabins or the main lounge area.

Then back to the cold...rested, suntanned and making others jealous of your winter sun break.