Our first Aussie "Holiday" . . .

and by "holiday" we aren't talking about Christmas - we went on our first major vacation (or "holiday" as the Australian's would say.) The first week Bryan's parents were here we all boarded a plane (with a TON of luggage - mainly for the boys) and headed to Cains (pronounced "Canz") in nothern Queensland. This area is referred to as the Great Tropical North. It was dreadfully hot and humid while we were there but we enjoyed or time and the adventures we had. This post will cover the first two days of our five day trip. Also, I just had to add the snowflakes to our pictures. It has been difficult getting into the Christmas spirit when trying to celebrate Christmas in the SUMMER here (not WINTER) and when it's 90+ degrees outside!!

On the first day of the trip we rented a minivan and drove up the coast (literally right next to the Coral Sea) to see the Port Douglas area, including Mossman Gorge and the Daintree Rainforest. We ate lunch at the Daintree Inn. Many good restaurants in AUS have "Inn" or "Hotel" in their name but aren't actually a lodging facility at all.

It was very hot and humid on this day so everyone put on their swimming suits before heading down the rainforest path to Mossman Gorge. Mossman Gorge is a valley located in the rainforest with crystal clear water cascades amongst large granite boulders which have been washed down from the hills during times of heavy flood. Everyone was quickly refreshed after taking a dip in the waters of the Mossman Gorge. On our return home we stopped in the Port Douglas and Palm Cove areas so that John and Patricia could get their first ever "hands-on" view and feel of an ocean from the shoreline. It is currently stinger season in Cairns so you are only allowed to swim in ocean areas blocked with stinger nets or if you wear a stinger suit. Bryan and Evan ventured out into the ocean (within the appropriate area) while the rest of us observed from the shore.

On the second (hot and humid) day of our trip we rode the Kuranda Scenic Railway Train through the rainforest up to the small mountain village of Kuranda. We spent several hours in Kuranda and also visited the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary. This sanctuary is one of the largest butterfly farms in the world in terms of enclosed flight space. There were beautiful butterflies everywhere! If you stood very still they would even land on you for a short time. To get back down the mountain we road the SkyRail Rainforest Cableway and the views were phenomenal! The Skyrail cableway consists of 114 gondolas that carry you along a 4.7 mile route above the Wet Tropics World Heritage Rainforest. (We learned that all of the towers used to hold the cableway were lifted into place by helicopters to avoid disturbance of the rainforest.) We were then all exhausted from our day long adventure and spent the evening at the resort pool relaxing.

Stay tuned for more pictures and information about the rest of our trip to the tropical north, including pictures of The Great Barrier Reef!

Australian Education: DID YOU KNOW?

The Koala is not really a bear (even though most of us call it a "koala bear"), but is related to the wombat family.
- When fully grown the koala is 60cm long.
- The koala lives in gum(eucalyptus) trees, dozing by day and foraging for the oily leaves by night. It rarely drinks.
- Koalas breed every other year. The offspring is born in an immature state and is harbored and suckled in the mother pouch.
- After the baby is six months old it learns to leave the pouch and is carried on the mothers back until about a year old.