Well a quiet start today. And then we headed off into Cairns. Showed Maz how big it has grown in the 20 years since she was here… Stopped at the north end of the Esplanade for a stretch and to water the dog.
Had already decided the check out all the northern beaches (there are no southern beaches!!!) one by one as far as the initial target of this trip, Ellis Beach. So we headed up the Captain Cook Highway past the airport and into Machans Beach. Found a local fast food shop and sat at the waters edge (a rock quoin for most of the length) with fresh crumbed Mackeral and (the minimum) chips.
On exploring the place a bit found what looked like fair-game for parking (overnight) at the northern end of the strip. Machans is also home to some of the navigation aids and radar for Cairns airport, so I inspected them…
All the beaches are via a single road in and out, spread along the coast – but are not connected; all little islands. Next beach Holloways a bit bigger, and a bit more up market. Much better beach and pub, pretty nice actually – but also under the flightpath…
We skipped Yorkys Knob on advice that it was muddy from the river mouth just south. Next the more renowned Trinity Beach (the whole Cairns bay is Trinity) Like Machans most is rocky down to a narrow strip of sand.
Decided to head straight to Ellis and check out the others on the way back. So passed by the Skyrail cable car to Kuranda and continued, mostly, along the waters edge to Ellis Beach, parked and headed for the sand. Maz as usual in the sun and me in the shade. The newly shorn Honey came in for a paddle. Her paddle turned into a swim with each wave… ran around a while to dry, and sat looking out at double island… not bad at all!
Called into Palm Cove on the way south. That is definitely where the money is. No dogs allowed around there. Next Clifton Beach, a lot like Holloways, but nice beach and café.
Bored with beaches so skipped Kewarra… and headed for 'home' - via a Bunnings on the way for couple of hose bits. The Cairns Western Arterial (which has several other road names!!!) peels off at Smithfield so is a shortcut for us to Brinsmead.
After the big Mackeral lunch we did not feel really hungry so settled for a snack and Maz tried for the laundry. All machines already in action, so eventually gave up. A bit later we headed in to the big smoke to see Harry Potter - part last. Very satisfactory.
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