Far North Queensland

Our time is Far North Queensland is going quickly.  We've been kept busy looking after Rainforest Estate and also participating in the Mossman community.  There's never a dull moment, which is why I've been a bit slack in updating this blog.

 





The city of Cairns is about 70kms away and it takes about an hour to drive there along the Captain Cook Highway through the World Heritage Site "Where the Rainforest Meets the Reef".  We get to Cairns from time to time, although not too often.  The gardens next to the casino have war memorial walk with sculptures depicting branches of the Australian Defence Force.  Each branch has an etched granite pillar with bronze sculptures depicting the appropriate kit bag and hat.  Very tasteful.

The Tanks Markets are held in the Cairns Botanic Gardens each month from April to November.  We only discovered these markets in November, and they're on our list to revisit in 2017.  There are many stalls and performers.  We stayed for a few hours.  It could easily be a whole day affair.

The scenery around Mossman is everchanging with the nearby mountains and cloud formations.  Nearby Mossman Gorge is a popular tourist spot with rainforest walks, cooling swimming holes and a good cafe/coffee shop.  The Historic Church under the rain trees in Mossman has a history going back to 1899.  The current church with it beautiful stained glass windows was built in 1952.

The town of Port Douglas is our local "big smoke".  "Port" is about 15km from Mossman and is a tourist town with many resort and tourist activities.  There's more shopping than in Mossman and there are plenty  of places to eat and drink as well.  The weekly Sunday Market has plenty of variety and is always well patronised.