A day in Kuranda - Skyrail and Railway (finished off with a great curry!)

A day visiting Kuranda, a tiny village up in the rainforest outside of Cairns is a must do while visiting Cairns. 

 

Kuranda is a number one tourist destination that is famous for it's arts and crafts industy.  There are many options to get to Kuranda but the most popular being the Skyrail Rainforest Cablecar and the Kuranda Scenic Railway.

 

We chose to go up on the skyrail, over the canopy of the rainforest and return by the scenic railway, getting a glimpse into both transport options.

 

We opted to upgrade to the diamond view on the skyrail, which offers a glass floor and a wonderful view to the rainforest below you.  Heading up the 7.5km to Kuranda you can see wonderful views of the rainforest all the way to the sea.  It's lush green and breathtaking.

 

 

 

There are to optional stops along the way.  Red Peak and Barron Falls.  Each stop offers a boardwalk of a few minutes through the lush rainforest and see the rainforest from groundlevel and of course seeing some lovely waterfalls.

 

Kuranda is abuzz with tourists shopping and eating.  We wander through the main street down to the Heritage markets and the Original markets.  We stop off at Kuranda Candy for some sweet treats, although we end up buying chilli peanut brittle and lime and chilli candy (so perhaps not so sweet trwats!).

 

 

 

 

We stop by the Kuranda Fudge Bar/ Little Scotland for tasting testing of a selection of fudges.  Creamy, dense and full of wonderful flavours....I can't pass up the opportunity of a mug of their Turkish Delight Latte

  

 

Excuse me while I enjoy a moment with my mug.....this is absolutely an amazingly wonderful concoction and served in a huge mug hand painted with their crest.

 

Delicious.

After an hour of so of wandering through the markets (both original and heritage) we spend some time in at the butterfly sanctuary before our tummies are grumbling and I know that Mr C would like German sausages for lunch. 

We head on over to German Tucker Wursthouse for a Kaeseknacker (smoked beef and cheese sausage) and a Thuringer  Bratwurst (beef, pork and herbs and spices) with kraut to share.  We grab a table out on the tiny balcony overlooking the main hub of Kuranda and listen to some oompa music to set the mood.

 

Before boarding the scenic railway back to Cairns we stop by the local waterhole for a thirst quenching drink or two.  The Kuranda Hotel is a typical Queenslander style pub and it's very atmospheric and tropical.  I could get used to this.

 

It's fun!

 

 

I opt for the Rainforest Riesling Spritzer which is riesling, grenadine, soda, lime and lemonde....It's like a fire engine but with wine!  It's very refreshing and goes done way to easy :)

 

We couldn't help ourselves and also purchased two pies from Annabelle's Pantry.  It was nearing the end of the day so we were left with only a select few options.  Mr C goes with pepper beef pie and I have a beef and mushy pea pie.  As far as pie go, they were okay.  Not the best pies I've ever tasted, but certainly good enough.  It may have been a combination of later in the day, we were already full from lunch and drinking.

 

 

It's time to board the train and head back to Cairns.  I was really looking forward to the train ride.  Cutting through dense heritage listed rainforest, waterfalls and bridges on an old train.  Romantic!

 

ALL ABOARD!

 

 

 

 

Later in the evening we were a little peckish.  We headed to Spice Bite , which is an Indian restaurant recommended by our taxi driver when we first arrived in Cairns.  The spicy aroma wafts from the kitchen and entices us before we are even seated.

The menu is extensive and it even offers crocodile curries. However, we keep it a little more traditional and opt for the kheema naan - which has spiced mince between the layers of the naan bread (and a new discovery!) and utterly delicious, a lovely rich and nutty chicken korma and lamb rogan josh with a side of pilau.

We dig in with gusto and savour the spicy curries mopped up with that fabulous naan and pilau
.

Spicy Bite can be found on the corner of the Esplanade and Shields St, Cairns.

Snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, La Pizza and Devine Gelato @ Cairns

The only thing we wanted to do and see on our first day in Cairns was jump on a catamaran and head out to the Great Barrier Reef.  Of course this just also happened to be one of the worst days to do so in the week we were up North...But we decided to still go out.

Overcast, cool and with threats of rain we boarded our vessel and sat out on the top deck for tea and muffins trying to catch the small amount of rays that were trying to shine through the clouds. 

choc chip muffins

Once we headed out to sea, we had to move inside.  30 knot winds and bouncing around the sea is not ideal (let's just say that for someone that never really feels seasick spent most of the trip out to the reef sitting on the back of the boat a little green!).

However, once we did reach the reef, things calmed a little and managed to spend a good couple of hours in the water, although quite choppy, the water was a warm 25 degrees (warmer in than out of the water) and we snorkeled around Milln and Flynn reef.

We swam with huge green turtles, saw a reef shark, a lagoon ray plenty of fish and some amazing coral (and yes we goofed around some with the photographer).

guess where I am?

 

 

snorkeling the reef

 

We got to meet this little (okay large) fella...goes by the name Dustin and/or Nigel depending on who you speak to.  He is a Napolean Wrasse and very friendly.

meet Dustin

We did manage a bite to eat, which was served buffet style.  A few local prawns, sushi, rice, chicken, stew and some salad.  It was basic stuff but tasty enough, however I really didn't have much of an appetite and barely touched it.

buffet offerings

 

After a fabulous day out, we had a few drinks and nibbles on our balcony overlooking the mangroves of Cairns.  I could easily get used to this. 

olives, dips, cheese and crackers with a vodka soda

For dinner we headed to La Pizza on the Esplanade, along with all the hordes of tourists, backpackers, families and the general population.  This place gets busy.

A few wines, some good conversation and we shared a pizza.  The menu offered to many wonderful toppings and we ended up with a half/half with Zucca and Alagnello.

Zucca/Alagnello

The Zucca side had tomato, mozzarella, roasted pumpkin, feta, pine nuts and fresh rosemary.  The Alagnello had tomato, marinated lamb, red onion and red peppers topped with tzatziki sauce.  The pizza base was thin and crispy and held up with the delicious toppings.

gelato makes me happy

No night out is complete without gelato, so we headed up the road to Devine Gelato which is voted number 1 on Tripadviser. 

Epic fail on my part - but I don't seem to remember exactly what we ordered.  I think Mr C had caramel and something and I had a scoop of macadamia and a hazelnut one (I think)....boohoo.  It was creamy and very tasty, but I was just to full after (sharing) a pizza....

The Salthouse @ Cairns

Our first evening in Cairns was fabulous.  We left a very cold Sydney and landed in warm, sunny weather and I was excited about spending a week in the sun with my man (although the nights were very cool to cold). 

It seems I had been celebrating my 40th birthday for the past few days and who was complaining - so I wanted our first night in Cairns, which also happened to be the first night of our first holiday together, a little bit special.

The Salthouse was the only place I wanted to go and belive me when I say I did alot of food research for this holiday.

Strolling through the park watching the sunset set and the tree line walkway lit up was magical.  I could breath - we were on holidays.

beautiful sunset views from the park

 

We arrived and decided a pre-dinner glass of bubbles was the ONLY way to start the evening (okay we may have already polished off a bottle of Patriache Hermitage on the balcony.  The outdoor bar area is lovely (if not a little too cool for this time of year).  Big comfy chairs and cushioned benches scattered around, soft lighting and bubbling lit fountains.  It certainly made for a romantic mood setter.  Definitely a tropical and seaside/marine feel to this marina restaurant and bar.

life is flat without bubbles

 

Feeling a little peckish we headed into the restaurant and were seated by a bubbling fountain on the outdoor patio area (which is undercover).

Salthouse restaurant on the patio

 

Salthouse is known for it's seafood, however they also have a woodfired grill which using local ironwood timber.

The menu is mouthwatering, however we both knew we wanted the chilled seafood platter.  It consisted of king prawns, Moreton Bay bugs, natural oysters (from Tasmania), local red claw crayfish, baby octopus, Tasmanian smoked salmon, glazed yellow fin tuna and matching condiments.

We also added a caprese salad with plump balls of boccoccini, a variety of tomatoes and aromatic basil.

We also choose a bottle of the 2012 Fat Bird Saviougon Blanc.  Crisp, cold and pairs well with seafood.  We cannot help people watch in the restaurant and drooling over others dishes.  The woodfired steaks coming out of the kitchen look devine.

However, that changed when I had big cheesy grin on my face when the platter was placed in front of us. I was in my seafood happy place and we dug in with gusto.

seafood platter

The Tasmanian oysters were sprinkled with fish roe and tasted like the briny sea, fresh, plump and absolutely delicious, in fact the best oysters I think I have ever eaten.  I love a good bug and the Moreton Bay bug was simply steamed.  Easy picking out the tasty flesh and dunking it in a thousand island style dressing. The local red claw crayfish were yummy and the baby octopus was so tender and juicy.  What more can I say. This platter was perfect.

caprese salad

Niether Mr C or I are big dessert people (okay, maybe I should word it that we are partial to dessert occassionally but try not to indulge to often)...but we are celebrating and we both eye off the Chocolate Terrine.  So we share - how romantic (and better on the waistline!). Three heavenly wedges of chocolate terrine with peanut brittle, raspberry gel, chantilly cream, forest berry sorbet - I'm kinda of wishing I didn't have to share.  Do you think I could pull the 'it's my birthday' line to get more dessert?  No....

heaven on a plate

Satisfied, content and happy we revel in the atmosphere and the moment and thoroughly enjoy our evening here.  As far as seafood platters are concerned, this has to be one of the best platters in Cairns with a fantastic price tag!

Being a Tuesday night, it's quiet and not much happening but we do come back a couple of times during our stay (but more on that another time).


Salthouse
Marina Point,
6/2 Pierpoint Rd,
Cairns, QLD 4870
+61 (0)7 4041 7733

Travel Photo of the Month - Swimming with the Fish

Last week I returned from a fabulous winter escape in Cairns.  I was whisked away for my 40th birthday by my wonderful man.

Our first day was spent out on Milln and Flynn Reef where we met Nigel, the Napoleon Wrasse...he was beautiful and friendly and very inquisitive.

Napoleon Wrasse on Flynn Reef, Cairns