The Australian Tilt Train

After the plane, the car, the 4WD, the bus and the boat we decided to try out also the good old train.

From Cairns to Whitsundays we took what the Australians call a tilt train. Now I mistook this to be a high speed train - and in all fairness it had parts where it went more than 100 km/h but it's no TGV.

But it's extremely comfortable, has LCD screens in the seats just like the planes do but with infinitely more leg room - all in all a good way to get some rest, watch some movies and travel all at the same time. 

Australian Nightsky

Now one of our greatest discoveries in this voyage was the richness of the Southern night sky.

I'm not sure how much you can see on these pictures, we tried our best, but it's a hundred times better in life.

You can really see the warm glow of the Milky Way as well as many other stars and constellations that we northeners can't really see.

It would seem that the southern hemisphere faces the centre of the galaxy while the northern one faces the outskirts ... that's why we see so little stars.
 

Rainforest in Cap Tribulation

Now the reason we took the trouble to drive all the way up to Cap Tribulation is because it is also a World Heritage Park for its rainforest.

This area got its name when Lieutenant James Cook shipwrecked on it.

The first two pictures are from a 'normal' rainforest - we were on the lookout for animals but none wanted its picture taken I guess.

The next two come from a mangrove rainforest. You can notice the intricate network of roots there. Mangroves are the scouts of rainforest - they slowly extend the soil into the sea by accumulating sediments into their roots.


 

Crocodiles on the Daintree River

On our way from Palm Cove to Cap Tribulation we had to pass the Daintree river by ferry.

Since there was quite a long queue we followed the advice of Lonely Planet and took a crocodile cruise - really worth it.

We got to know some of these beautiful beasts that the locals affectionately call Scarface (toothless in his old age but nevertheless dangerous) or Fat Albert (in the first 2 photos).

The 3rd one is a female while the last one is not a lizard as you might think but a healthy one year old croc.

Yep indeed they grow very slowly.

 

Palm Cove beach in Cairns

This fancy beach just outside Cairns is supposed to be the chouchou of the locals.

We tested it for you and we agree !

 

The World is Mine ... errr ... small, sorry

Yes ladies and gentlemen the world is small.

And Australia even smaller.

During our travels through this beautiful continent we had the extreme pleasure, the great joy, the unexpected surprise of meeting two of our old friends from Paris who are honeymoon-ing here.

Here's to Laure & Ferreol - Just Married !!!

Congratulations! 

Emus

 

Rainforest in the Atherton Table Lands

Our first day in Cairns was an opportunity to start exploring the Australian rainforest.

We headed up for the table lands - named like this since they are on a plateau at about 800 metres around Cairns.

Lots of great things to see - the Cathedral Fig tree in the first picture, myself :) and some nice waterfalls.


 

Flight from Alice Springs to Cairns

We hoped for a better weather in Cairns but it was a light drizzle when we got there.

However here are some nice aerial views of our flight ... and even one rainbow !!!

 

Reptile Center in Alice Springs

Nothing better to do on a nice afternoon than to visit the reptile center and enjoy playing with a python and a bearded dragon.

Last you can see a thorny devil, a type of lizard that is peculiar to Australia.

 

Alice Springs and the Macdonnell Ranges

We began our exploration of Alice Springs with a visit to the desert park, a really great way to experience all the various environments Australia has to offer, as well as an opportunity to hear some aborigens talk about their culture and tools.

You can see me here with a war boomerang and a shield made of heavy mulga wood.

We continued afterwards into the West Macdonnell ranges stopping at the various gorges Simpson Gap, the Standley Chasm and so on ... some great and impressive sights.

 

Yulara to Alice Springs

After the refreshing morning spent @ Uluru we hopped on our bus - yes, our bus, a true 12 seater one - that took us all the way to Alice Springs.

We found on the way, Mount Conner, the salty lake Amadeus and of course some lazy camels at Stuart's Well.