🦩 The Hidden Australian Getaway You Didn't Know About 🏝️

Blessed are the curious for they shall have adventures. – Lovelle Drachman

Hey globetrotters!  Remember how I was whispering about this secret Aussie gem I stumbled upon? Well, the cat's out of the bag – it's CAIRNS!

Forget tourist traps and crowded beaches. Cairns is like Australia's hidden playground, where the Great Barrier Reef shimmers at your doorstep, rainforests whisper ancient secrets, and adventure lurks around every corner.

Intrigued? Buckle up, because I'm spilling the beans (or should I say, the mango smoothies) on all the off-the-beaten-path wonders I discovered. From swimming with colorful fish to spotting crocs (safely, of course!), I'm gonna share my insider tips to make your own Cairns escape truly unforgettable. So grab your virtual boarding pass, and let's dive into paradise! ✈️️

Speaking of unforgettable experiences, you’ll probably never guess the end of Guillaume story’s of the hidden cats (in the story of the day).

CAIRNS: WHERE RAINFORESTS MEET REEFS AND ADVENTURE AWAITS! 🦜

Forget the usual tourist traps! Cairns is Australia's secret playground, where the Great Barrier Reef shimmers like a turquoise dream and ancient rainforests whisper tales of lost worlds. Think diving with technicolor fish, spotting crocs (safely, of course!), and chugging through lush landscapes on a historic train – all in one epic adventure.

Intrigued? Buckle up, because I'm spilling the beans on all the off-the-beaten-path wonders I discovered. From swimming with majestic manta rays to spotting elusive cassowaries in the rainforest, this guide will turn your Cairns escape into an unforgettable Aussie adventure. So grab your virtual boarding pass, and let's dive into paradise!

Where Reef Meets Rainforest

Cairns is nestled between the world's largest coral reef, the Great Barrier Reef, and the Daintree Rainforest, the oldest rainforest on Earth. Talk about epic neighbors! This unique location makes it the perfect base for exploring the wonders of Northern Queensland.

Dive Into the Great Barrier Reef

Just a boat ride away, this underwater wonderland is teeming with vibrant coral, playful dolphins, and even majestic sharks. Snorkel alongside dazzling fish, or go scuba diving for an even closer look at this underwater kingdom. Feeling adventurous? Spend the night on a pontoon under a sky ablaze with stars – an experience you won't soon forget!

Explore the Daintree Rainforest

Walk through a living museum millions of years old! Hike through emerald valleys, spot colorful birds flitting through the canopy, and maybe even catch a glimpse of a shy cassowary. Hire a local guide to unlock the secrets of this ancient ecosystem, or take a boat trip up the Daintree River for a unique perspective.

Ride the Kuranda Scenic Railway

Embark on a journey through time aboard this historic train. Wind your way through breathtaking gorges, past cascading waterfalls, and lush rainforest. Your destination? The charming village of Kuranda, nestled amidst the mountains. Explore its quirky shops and markets, or soak in the views from the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, a glass-bottomed gondola that glides above the treetops.

Beyond the Reef and Rainforest

Cairns offers more than just underwater and jungle adventures. Hike to the top of Michaelangelo Castle for panoramic views, learn about Aboriginal culture at the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, or take a scenic helicopter flight over the city and reef.

Ready for Your Cairns Adventure?

So ditch the tourist traps and pack your sense of adventure! Cairns is waiting to whisk you away on an unforgettable journey. With its stunning natural beauty, unique experiences, and laid-back vibes, Cairns is the perfect escape for nature lovers, adventure seekers, and anyone looking for a taste of the real Australia.

P.S. Don't forget your swimsuit, your camera, and an open mind!

TRAVEL DIARIES

The hidden cats. You’ll probably never guess where.

“On a backpacker trip in China, we decided to take the bus between two cities 1500km apart. The journey takes just over a day, but we have a sleeper bus, so it's going to be cool. The downside is that we had a quick wash the day before at the hotel and the staff returned our clothes still damp. I tell myself it doesn't matter, it'll take time to dry on the bus, and I hang it as best I can on the outside of my bag.

The journey went pretty well, the other travellers weren't too noisy and I managed to sleep despite the TV showing films and the loud speakers blaring far too loudly for my liking. However, during a break at a petrol station, my friend, who's towards the back of the vehicle (I'm at the front), tells me that he's having trouble sleeping because he hears a sort of muffled moaning and smells a strange odour, and that it bothers him. We figure it must be one of the old ladies snoring strangely and that's that.

The next morning, the bus stopped at a roadside bistro so we could eat, and the driver opened the back of the vehicle. That's when we discovered what was really bothering him. Stacked high on top of each other in two wide holds were narrow cages filled with cats reeking of piss and poo. The poor creatures meow repeatedly, faintly but continuously. The smell is so strong that my eyes sting and my friend and I have to move back a few metres. To add insult to injury, as we struggled to tear our eyes away from this disgusting sight, a little kitten, not yet hairy (in my opinion, it had been born only a short time before), slipped through the bars of its cage and fell to the floor. It crawled along the floor, squeaking miserably, and a little girl holding her father in one hand and sweets in the other pointed at the kitten, laughing. Behind her, other bus passengers are quietly eating their noodles, facing the cages just four metres in front of their eyes. I have a rather disgusted memory of it, but it was even worse for my friend who is allergic to cats...

As we left the bus, we picked up our bags and after getting far enough away from the bus we noticed that the smell seemed to be following us: the damp clothes we'd put to dry on the outside of our bags had become impregnated with the scent of cat's piss - perhaps they'd even picked up a few drops of urine directly. As soon as we reached the next hostel, we emptied the bags and sent everything off to be washed at high temperature. Yuck.”

MINGO-MEMES

VASCO-SNAP OF THE DAY

Sermersooq Municipality, Greenland