Flying Fox

Hanging around in Cairns

Flying Fox, or Fruit Bat (Pteropus) hanging around in the trees in Cairns.

Flying Fox, or Fruit Bat (Pteropus) hanging around in the trees in Cairns.

We decided to drive to Cairns a few days early, as there was the potential that Cyclone Nathan makes landfall where it would either flood or blow away our road. Luckily non of this happened and the storm hit about 100 km North of Cairns (strange to think that way, because lucky for us means bad luck for somebody else). But one thing is sure: we are happy, it did not flood Thomas' and Lina's new Butterly House in El Arish (Australia). Now we are having more time ein Cairns than planned and the city is quite a sleepy one: get a haircut at the night market, go for a swim in the lagoon. The reef is not that easy to reach and waters are still rough from the storm. Cairns is an "old" sugar town, and quite nice. There are free barbecues along the sea side. Eating is important in Cairns. Should you consider to go and swim in any of the natural waters here, you might end up as a meal for a salt water crocodile.

All flights are up and running again, so that tomorrow we can leave on time via Sydney to New Zealand.