Travels and Tours Australia – Day 8: Cairns Queensland

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After a well-deserved lie-in, I drop the campervan at Wicked Campers for a new windscreen and a full service before exploring Cairns on foot. Having taken in quite a few of the city sights the night before, I head down to the harbour for a leisurely stroll and find a cute café for an iced coffee – the city boy in me has missed these comforts and an inner scream of satisfied relief is howled. Before long the Manson Mobile is once again in my possession and upon Wicked Campers’ John’s advice, I head out to Lake Eacham along another long and winding road…

Having had more than my fill on twisting and turning roads – I despaired upon seeing what lay ahead of me and contemplated bypassing his recommendation and heading straight for Tully, but given that lunchtime had only just passed and there was the potential of turtles I decided to give it a go… And despite the non-stop rain and the overcast gloomy skies, it was more than worth the while. Lake Eacham is a swimming pool lake that even in the stormy season shines. A vast body of water, the wildlife thrive in the area and given its size, it is seemingly peaceful despite the overflowing car park. The grass path from the car park to the lake nearly proves my downfall as I nearly slip-slide my way straight into the lake, but I catch myself before the big fall and sigh a huge gulp of relief. Yet again mother nature lets me down as no turtles are in sight, but a flock of cassowary makes up for any major disappointment and I pin all my turtle hopes on the Great Barrier Reef…

With the dark skies getting potentially darker and the time drifting by, I decided that in order to see the Millaa Millaa Falls, my time at Lake Eachem should be cut short. The drive to Millaa Millaa is met with even heavier rainfall and I almost decided to cut my losses, before stumbling across the Big Barramundi. I risk the rain for a cheesy shot and my bucked-up spirits want to at least say I have seen the Milla Milla Falls. I eventually arrive as darkness is setting in and am so tempted to have a swim, but decide it is probably not wise given the looming darkness and the remaining drive to Mission Beach. I return to the campervan and hit the road. Before I even get halfway I am surrounded by a cloak of darkness, but I persist and finally pull up at a campsite just short of Mission Beach. I opt for the easy meal that is soup, before setting up a bed for the night.

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