The Atherton tablelands Part 1 (7th)

It's proving to be a full on week so far. After a days diving I'm invariably shattered, it's not just the swimming for this is at a leisurely pace assisted by fins it must also the physiological strain of the depth.



Today promised to be a little more relaxed with a trip from Cairns on the Skyrail to Kuranda. A small touristy market town Kuranda is the edge of the Atherton tablelands -but more about those later. This trip was not about the destination but the journey. I think I read that Skyrail is Australia's only cable car, it's one of the few I've been in that haven't been over somewhere snowy whilst skiing. I wasn't really expecting to be impressed although after 4 days in the shadow of the Great dividing range I was keen to see what was up there! Fantastic aerial views, beautiful rainforest canopies stretching far out in front as we left the coast behind. With a gondola to myself I sat and marvelled at the scenery, then it was sliced by a gorge with a waterfall and finally across a river to arrive.

I had a few hours before getting the train back and wandered around the butterfly zoo and markets very pleasantly.

The train which hugged a cliff edge was impressive yet outshone by the earlier journey and somehow more worrying than the precarious gondola!

Back in Cairns I met with Colleen, mother of Cassie, a Vet I'd worked with in Victoria for 2 months, who had kindly agreed to show me some True Blue hospitality and take me up to the Atherton tablelands where the family home was. So we wound our way up the mountains for yet more views stopping at Lake Barina and then at their 100 year old local pub for a drink- a promising start!