When: Day 35 Cairns, QLD and Sydney, NSW
Where: Cairns and Sydney
Weather: sunny and warm in Cairns. Much the same in Sydney
What: travel day to Sydney
Who: just us
Wine: will know later tonight
Whine: last night in Australia
Winery: none
Wtf: how did 5 weeks go by so quickly?
Wild: we got a good view of the Great Bugger-All while flying
Wildlife: no wallabies, no koalas. So it goes.
Water: Pacific Ocean
Wonderful: the amazing view we got flying over Sydney.
Here's a few random pics:
When: day 33 Cairns
Where: Cairns, QLD
Weather: cloudless sky, about 30c. Gorgeous.
What: last day lazing in the sun
Who: just us
Wine: Lindeman's Origins Cabernet Merlot 2009
Whine: these beautiful tropical birds shit all over the place (including on me!)
Winery: none
Wtf: the internet has been down for the most part during the last day (and still not totally back).
Wild: we survived without it (mostly).
Wildlife: a really bizarre looking insect that looked like a moving piece of wood (photo will follow when we get proper internet - see above).
Water: much to the chagrin of Brent, I swam in the ocean today. I'd guess the water temperature was about 28c. I survived to tell the tale (marine stingers, or box jellyfish, are known to be in the area at this time of year and swimming is not advised).
Wonderful: the resort planted two trees in honour of my birthday. Kinda.
When: Day 32 Cairns
Where: Cairns, QLD
Weather: mostly sunny but breezy. High 30
What: beach and pool day
Who: just us but we took the girls to the airport
Wine: Giesen Sauvignon Blanc from NZ
Whine: cocktail hour just isn't the same without the ladies.
Winery: none
Wtf: it appeared that we were the only two guests at the resort today.
Wild: I discovered today that there are two types of Flame Tree.
Wildlife: crazy crab jumped a foot in the air as he scurried across the beach.
Water: Pacific Ocean
Wonderful: the wind today kept away the March Flies (mostly)
When: Day 31 Cairns
Where: Cairns, QLD
Weather: little shower overnight. Mostly sunny. A few clouds and about 30c
What: nothing but the beach and pool
Who: just us, and Wendy and Lorie
Wine:Rocky Gulley Cabernets from Western Australia (this is the bottle that the Qantas Flight Attendants gave us).
Whine: I want to come back in January!
Winery: none
Wtf: Brent's glasses fogged up in the high humidity.
Wild: we found a rare bug (see below). It hissed at us when I was poking it with a stick.
Wildlife: rhinoceros beetle.
Water: pool and bay
Wonderful: the rain overnight seemed to scare away the March Flies.
When: day 30 Cairns
Where: Cairns and Port Douglas
Weather: cloudyish in the morning and a bit breezy. Calm and hot by late afternoon
What: Snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef!
Who: me, Brent, Lorie, Wendy, Melanie, Hannah, Calum and Liam.
Wine: Saltram Eden Valley Riesling
Whine: too bloody hot in the afternoon!
Winery: none
Wtf: this British woman who asked the skipper to stop the boat while she was walking because it was hard to walk with her wine glass!
Wild: the turtles were amazing!
Wildlife: all the fishes and coral. Amazing.
Water: the Pacific Ocean and Great Barrier Reef
Wonderful: the amazing new friends from the Synergy.
When: Day 29 Cairns
Where: Cairns, Queensland (sometimes called Far North Queensland or Tropical North Queensland or The Deep North)
Weather: sunny and very warm. About 32c
What: Beach and Pool day
Who: me, Brent, Lorrie and Wendy
Wine: Cape Schank Tallant Pinot Grigio 2012.
Whine: it's hot when I'm not in the pool but then I get a chill when I go in the pool!
Winery: none
Wtf: just realised that in a weeks time, we'll be back home.
Wild: saw two geckos fighting over territory. Lots of room here and plenty of bugs, but they still fight. And one was mocking me most of the morning.
Wildlife: these frogs. Tree frogs.
Water: the Bay
Wonderful: we still have another week!
When: Day 28 Cairns
Where: Between Cairns and Port Douglas on the Captain Cook Highway
Weather: sunny and gorgeous. About 30
What: beach and pool
Who: just us
Wine: Bird in Hand Pinot Gris 2013
Whine: it's so hot and there's hardly any wind!
Winery: none
Wtf: I followed the inukshucks and found this
Wild: the pool is not heated but around 26c. Lovely.
Wildlife: bloody horseflies (possibly kangaroo flies here). Got bit twice today. Fortunately I'm charged up on prednisone and don't seem to be having a reaction.
Water: this gorgeous bay
Wonderful: these three palms in front of our room. Just like Gilligan's Island.
When: Day 27 Byron Bay and Cairns
Where: Byron Bay and Cairns, Queensland.
Weather: absolutely sunny and gorgeous. About 28 in Cairns
What: travel day. Drive from Byron Bay to Brisbane. Flight to Cairns.
Who: me, Brent and Nikki who gave us tons of info during our flight.
Wine: Rocky Gully 2012 Cabernet (see wonderful below)
Whine: there's no internet in the room! We have to connect at the pool area!
Winery: none
Wtf: there are stingers here and we can't swim in the ocean.
Wild: the resort is in a stunningly beautiful setting.
Wildlife: this bird wanted to be fed. Lia? Any idea?
Water: the bay
Wonderful: the Qantas flight attendants. Possibly the friendliest we've ever encountered. And they gave us a bottle of wine (like we actually need more).
When: Day 26 Byron Bay
Where: Byron Bay, NSW
Weather: mostly sunny and glorious. About 25c. Nice breeze.
What: Last beach day in Byron
Who: just us
Wine: Jacob's Creek Sauvignon Blanc from Borassa Valley
Whine: the last day in this paradise.
Winery: none
Wtf: this tree. But is it art? Also, Jesus was at the beach.
Wild: the waves! (I also took some video that I will try to upload).
Wildlife: this bird. No idea what it is.
Water: last day at Kings Beach
Wonderful: last day at Kings Beach
When: Day 25 Byron Bay
Where: Byron Bay, NSW
Weather: 23c, sunny with a few clouds. Beautiful. A light breeze.
What: beach day. Awesome
Who: just us and those damned bush turkeys
Wine: Kim Crawford Spitfire Sauvignon Blanc 2013. Delicious.
Whine: that wave got me wet when I wasn't looking!
Winery: none
Wtf: why, on such a gorgeous day, do most people at the beach hide in the shade?
Wild: most of the locals go everywhere barefoot and usually shirtless. In grocery stores, restaurants, everywhere!
Wildlife: bloody bush turkeys that try to break into people's bags!
Water: Kings Beach. Yes, it's once again becoming the most beautiful beach I've been too. It's amazing.
Wonderful: the lovely colours of my (possibly) broken toe. Debbie K will know what happened.
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