We disembarked from the ship at 8:00 and went to the Information Center as we didn’t have any tours pre-planned. We decided to visit the Tjapukai Tribe at the Aborigines Cultural Park.
With the Tjapukais, we learned about their dance as they connect to the spiritual world; they believe they were hatched from an egg. We leaned about their herbs and medicine.Nancy learned a native dance.
We learned about the didgeridoo and how to play this amazing instrument.
Then on to spear throwing and boomerang throwing. Jerry was a natural with the boomerang – they told him to invest in a helmet as he could get the boomerang to return to him perfectly. Me…not so much, but I can throw a spear!
The Aborigines don’t tolerate crime, if someone is bad, this is a stick that they beat them with. They intentionally maim them, that way the society knows they are bad people. This wooden X is also a weapon.
We then boarded the Skyrail, a 4.7 mile ride high above the rainforest. Needless to say, I was frightened, but Jerry thoroughly enjoyed himself!. We had great phone reception up near the clouds!
The first stop was the Red Peak Station where we took a hike with a ranger. This rainforest dates back 120 million years – the oldest surviving rainforest on earth. It is home to over 2800 plant species.
The second stop was Barron Falls Station, where we saw some lovely waterfalls, then got caught in torrential rains. After all, it’s the rainforest!
We landed at Kuranda Village where we shopped, then took the Kuranda Train back to Cairns, a 2 1/2 hour ride through the many tunnels and large bridges that span between the mountains.
We went back to the ship and enjoyed an “Outback BBQ” then walked back to town for their Night Market. The ship left Cairns at 3:00am with the high tide.
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