Scenic Skyrail, Kuranda, Australian Butterfly Sanctuary and Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park
Today, Monday, April 12, 2010, we boarded the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway on our journey to Kuranda. The Skyrail opened to the public in August 1995 and at the time of completion was the longest g
ondola cableway, stretching 7.5 km. There were no roads built during Skyrail's construction. Workers had to walk in to the remote tower sites each day, carrying their equipment, which took up to an hour each way. The tower footings were built largely by hand, up to 5 meters deep in some cases, using picks and shovels. Specialist, heavy lifting, Russian helicopters were used to carry towers to tower sites. The towers were flown-in in sections and assembled on site; some tower sections weighed up to 5 tons each.
ondola cableway, stretching 7.5 km. There were no roads built during Skyrail's construction. Workers had to walk in to the remote tower sites each day, carrying their equipment, which took up to an hour each way. The tower footings were built largely by hand, up to 5 meters deep in some cases, using picks and shovels. Specialist, heavy lifting, Russian helicopters were used to carry towers to tower sites. The towers were flown-in in sections and assembled on site; some tower sections weighed up to 5 tons each.
In June 2000, Skyrail established a world first by carrying the Olympic Torch on the cableway over Australia's World Heritage listed Tropical Rainforests. The 1-1/2 hour one way trip was spectacular, with picturesque views of the rainforest. There were two stations enroute where we got off to enjoy a walk through the rainforest.
At the end of the 1-1/2 hour ride over the rainforest, we walked the short distance to the town of Kuranda.
Kuranda is a vibrant little town
surrounded by rainforest and has been home to the Djabugay people for over 10,000 years. The town receives thousands of tourists each week. Kuranda has wonderful shopping with many of shops offering high quality local and Australian made goods including handmade crafts and Aboriginal artifacts.
At the end of the 1-1/2 hour ride over the rainforest, we walked the short distance to the town of Kuranda.
Kuranda is a vibrant little town
surrounded by rainforest and has been home to the Djabugay people for over 10,000 years. The town receives thousands of tourists each week. Kuranda has wonderful shopping with many of shops offering high quality local and Australian made goods including handmade crafts and Aboriginal artifacts.
While in Kuranda, I visited the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, the largest butterfly flight aviary and exhibit in Australia. All the butterflies at the sanctuary, over 1500, are local rainforest species, including the electric blue Ulysses butterfly, which inhabits rainforest areas around the Cairns region.
The electric blue Ulysses butterfly is probably the most beautiful butterfly that I've ever seen. The Ulysses butterfly is quite large with a wingspan of 5-1/2 inches. The top side of the wings are an incredible bright blue with black bordering while the underneath is black and brown. Like other butterflies in the swallowtail family, the Ulysses butterfly has tails on its wings. Its eyes have thousands of lenses and it breathes through holes on each side of its body.
A shor
t distance from the Skyrail, we visited the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park. Here we experienced Aboriginals playing the didgeridoo, a fire making demonstration and the opportunity to try throwing a boomerang and spear. The didgeridoo is a wind instrument developed by indigenous Australians of northern Australia at least 1,500 years ago. The instrument is traditionally made from Eucalyptus trees which have had their interiors hollowed out by termites.
t distance from the Skyrail, we visited the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park. Here we experienced Aboriginals playing the didgeridoo, a fire making demonstration and the opportunity to try throwing a boomerang and spear. The didgeridoo is a wind instrument developed by indigenous Australians of northern Australia at least 1,500 years ago. The instrument is traditionally made from Eucalyptus trees which have had their interiors hollowed out by termites.
We ended the day by going to the Cairns casino. I actually did quite a bit of driving while in Cairns. Because I don't drink alcohol, I was the "designated" driver in the evenings so the kids could enjoy themselves. The car we rented was an automatic so it was much easier for me to drive. I actually got pretty good with the roundabouts and driving on the wrong side of the road although I still needed a bit of verbal guidance from Scott.
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