The Marlin Coast
The Marlin Coast is the 44 mile stretch between Cairns and Port Douglas to the north.

I've included my trip to Kuranda in this section even though it isn't on the coast. Kuranda is northwest of Cairns in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.

In addition to exploring the rainforest, I spent two days visiting the beaches between Cairns and Port Douglas.
From Cairns I took a day trip to Kuranda on the Skyrail.
Skyrail's cablecars travel 4.7 miles up into the mountains, 130 feet above the forest floor...
The view was spectacular!
Rainforest tree ferns (left) below me were about 50 feet tall.

The first stop on the trip was Red Peak, 1,788 feet above sea level.
White trunked Ghost Gums (above) and huge Queensland Kauri Pines (right) inhabit the rainforest.

Of the 3,000 different plant species living in Australia's Tropical Rainforests, more than 395 are considered rare or threatened and 330 are found no where else in the world.
The second stop on Skyrail is Baron Gorge, a deep chasm lined with dense rainforest vegetation. The photo above shows the Kuranda Rail which I rode on the way back down to Cairns.
Skyrail View of the Baron River Looking west towards the Tablelands
Kuranda Village was the end of my Skyrail trip.
This is a artsy little town - a bit of a "tourist trap." Even the garbage cans are creative.
I found some clever bean jewelry sold here in the market...
...with rainforest beans. Seed pod of Entada sp. above.
It must be the altitude (attitude?) that makes a cold VB go down real good at the Kurunda Hotel.
Aboriginal Dreamtime mural Baron River Poinsettas in bloom
On the river you can see water dragons and pythons sunbathing and slithering up trees while turtles, fish and eels swim past you.
I took the Cairns Kuranda Steam Train 34 km through 15 hand made tunnels back to Cairns.
Kuranda's tropical train station (above) was opened in 1893. Classic timber carriages (below).
Stoney Creek bridge produces another rushing waterfall.
On the trip back down, I got another look at the Baron River and Gorge from the train window.
After leaving Cairns, I headed north to Yorkeys Knob and the Half Moon Bay Marina.
It was pelting down with rain in Yorkeys Knob on this day.
Next stop on the coast tour was Trinity Beach...
...where I took a walk out to the point. I could see Half Moon Bay from here.
Quiet little Kewarra Beach was the next stop...
Kewarra is a beautiful deserted beach with an estuary flowing down from the mountains.
Clifton Beach has safe swimming with a stinger enclosure on its picturesque beach.
Warning signs are on every Queensland beach.
Lots of sea beans in Dead Man's Gully.
The mural on the beachfront restroom depicts a dog walker being attacked by a crocodile. This really happened here at Dead Man's Gully.
Palm Cove is the Marlin Coast's upmarket seaside village.
Paper bark trees, luxury hotels and Rolls Royces line the esplanade at Palm Cove.

Mangroves (top) at Palm Cove's estuary.

Ghost Gum (left) growing on a cliff face.

The Palm Cove Jetty (right) is built for fishing and provides a pick up spot for day trips to the Great Barrier Reef.

Ellis Beach is a jumpin' weekend place with live music on Friday and Saturday nights.
Stinger nets for protection from box jellyfish (below).
Oak Beach is the last residential beach village before you get to Port Douglas. It's a lovely spot!
Rex Lookout provides a great view of the coastline from 170 feet above sea level.
Hang gliders wait for the right wind.
Next...Port Douglas...Click here to continue the journey...
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