Up and out early to the Parklands – then to the Queens Street mall to check email and waste time. Don’t have to leave for the airport until about 1 pm so we have plenty of time to waste. Checked in without a problem – totally different world flying domestic over here. No need for the liquids in a baggie – don’t think they ever even checked our i.d.s. Flight went off without a hitch and we were in Cairns by 5:30. Collected our rental car in the heavy drizzling rain and headed out to Yorkey’s Knob.
About 15 minutes outside of Cairns, Yorkey’s Knob is a cute little bedroom beach community wth an IGA, post office a couple of restaurants and not much else. The main road through the town is a broad 2 lane street with houses on either side. Our hotel, The Golden Sands, is located off the main drag in a cute little subdivision of other lovely hotels and single family homes. The hotel itself is very pretty, white stucco with balconies for every room (two for ours). It has efficiencies and one bedrooms – we have a one bedroom that is huge. The living area is bigger than the condo at Sanibel. All white tile floors, new tile bathroom and almost full kitchen (no oven, but a microwave). Owners Brian and Qi are very friendly and helpful. Knowledgeable about everything there is to see and do around the area, Brian talked to us for almost an hour on our arrival.
After settling into our room, we made a quick run to the bottle store for beer and wine, then had dinner at the restaurant that is located on the property adjacent to the pool. Named Jai’s on the Beach, it was a charming introduction to Cairns laid back life. All outdoors with a very attentive wait staff, we shared a Caesar salad with fried proscuitto (for some reason the salads here are really expensive – anywhere from 12 to 20 AUD – very odd – so we end up sharing one just about every night), then for our mains – Ed had the Curry Seafood which he really enjoyed and I had the Rib Filet with Lemon Garlic Mushroom. It was excellent. Australia is beef – land (where as New Zealand is lamb) and their beef is very good. Haven’t gotten to the Kangaroo or Croc yet, but, the beef is excellent!
Dragged ourselves back up to our room, watched a Grey’s Anatomy episode and fell asleep early.
No comments:
Post a Comment