Day 2 - Cairns

Day 2 – The Cairns Tropical Zoo-niverse & Thala Beach Lodge under the Stars

“There’s so much more to see and do than just lie on the beach”
(Peter Johnston, Retail Manager – Knock Travel, Belfast)

We grabbed our group from Cairns airport and departed for Cairns Tropical Zoo. Don’t think typical zoo, there are none of those big concrete enclosures. Its tamed forest with a natural feel designed to be as unobtrusive as possible. The group held small crocodiles, snakes and koalas. I was excited to hold a croc but an unexpected interview with Channel 9 News meant we got to the reptile house too late. There is a who’s who of venomous snakes.  One terrarium was a recreation of the average garden shed. At first we thought that the pythons inside had escaped and were basking in an unfinished section of the zoo.

We made our way to Thala Beach Lodge in the early evening and walked through the forest to the Lodges’ little beach bar for a champagne reception overlooking the surf. Maggie and I were celebrating our first anniversary and couldn’t have been at a more perfect place. Thala is a rarity because it offers both a rainforest and beach experience in one. Its luxurious wooden cabins perched in the tropical trees over the ocean breathe romance and privacy. We felt lucky to be there. The Ospreys tree top restaurant serves beautiful presentations of Longford beef, goat cheese panacotta or Tasmanian salmon fillet to name a few and you can gaze across the tree tops to the ocean and islands beyond without even a pane of glass between you and the view.  
  

Local Tips

• Take a tour to the Lodges’ coconut plantation and learn about the health benefits of the coconut while tasting the produce.
• Thala Beach Lodge also offers bird watching tours during the day and star gazing at night.