2018 - Almost Half a Lap: Day 18: Sun 10 Jun – Paronella Park to Cairns via Mamu Skywalk

Sunday, June 10, 2018

Day 18: Sun 10 Jun – Paronella Park to Cairns via Mamu Skywalk

Drive: 144km; Total towed: 1849km

18-26 deg C

We were ready well before the scheduled departure time of 9am, so parked up and waited until the others were ready. First stop was at the Mamu Sky Walk which was a good investment. Although Cyclone Larry had decimated a lot of the rain forest, it had regenerated quite nicely. The highlight was the elevated walkway, also known as the Sky Walk. It is 750m long and the views were quite speccy. The grand finale was the observation tower at the end of the walk - 100 steps up to the top with a really good view of the Johnstone River and the mountains beyond.

We finished the walk ahead of the other two couples so brewed up in the car park. The others had still not appeared by the time we had finished so we texted them to let them know we had gone on ahead. We arrived in Cairns and checked into the BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut Resort just after 1pm. After getting completely lost in this van park which is the size of a small suburb, Greg did an amazing job of reversing the van around a fire hose reel and light pole. It always helps when you reverse with the driver on the side you are reversing into.

After lunch and an LLD we did some grocery shopping and amazingly it all fitted into the fridge, freezer and cupboards.

Drive scenery

An old cane train bridge

Pre-dinner drinks were had at our place as we have a pre-placed picnic table on our slab site. We also ate dinner here. Every evening at this park, they have a movie at the open-air cinema. Tonight's offering is "Planet 51" which when we Googled it is in animated thing resembling Buz Light Year. Everyone but Wendy decided to give it a go. Wendy elected to do the dishes and update the blog.