In and Around Cairns

Cairns Aquarium

We are having a relaxed day today.

After breakfast, we walk five minutes to the Cairns Aquarium. I always love aquariums. This one is really well done and has a number of interesting talks.

The aquarium is Australian based and also has a number of reptiles and dinosaur exhibits. We spend a couple of enjoyable hours there.

The Esplanade at Low Tide

We next walk down to the Esplanade, a boardwalk running along the waterfront. The tide is out revealing a large expanse of mud flats. We leisurely check out the crabs, mudskippers, numerous shore birds and pelicans. We get a laugh at a gull who seems to be doing a step dance in pools of water to catch his lunch. Click here for a short video.

Morton Bay Bugs at Prawn Star

My nephew says that when in Australia, we need to try Morton Bay Bugs. They aren’t really bugs, they are a cross between lobster and shrimp. So for lunch we go to a highly recommended seafood boat restaurant at the marina with the saucy name of “Prawn Stars”. The restaurant is spread across three repurposed fishing boats which makes for a relaxed and nautical atmosphere. We order drinks and the Morton Bay Bugs which are very good.

After lunch, we walk around the marina for a bit before heading back to the apartment for a break.

The Esplanade at High Tide

At 5:00pm we head back to the Esplanade. The tide is now in and it looks like a totally different place. 

A flock of large pelicans are hanging out near shore. You can tell which ones are the alpha pelicans; they are the ones standing on the rocks, not letting the smaller pelicans join them.

Night Market

We check out the Cairns Night Market. I suggest to John that I want to check out all the stalls. He replies that he’d rather poke out his eyes with a sharp object than follow me around.

I don’t find anything that I am interested in buying.

Back on the Esplanade, we watch the lorikeets settling into a tree for the night before heading back to our apartment.