Viewing the Kuranda Rainforest

   

      The tropical city of Cairns along the northeast coast of Australia was a huge contrast to Melbourne with its skyscrapers and also to the barren “outback” country at Ayers Rock. After a fabulous day of snorkeling and learning first-hand about the Great Barrier Reef (the topic of last week’s article), Al and I took an optional excursion offered by the tour company into the extensive rainforest above the city.

      First there was a scenic train ride along the Barron River Gorge to Kuranda, a small tourist oriented village, and then from Kuranda, the Skyrail over the rainforest.  Both of these afforded great views of the Kuranda World Heritage Rainforest, which gets anywhere from 4 to 9 feet of rain a year, contributing to the enormous size of the plants and trees (and insects too!) and the lush foliage of the rainforest.

       The sun came out after a typical early morning drizzle, creating a hot, humid climate similar to the steam room at the gym. During the two hour train ride through the gorge, we learned about the history of the railway, a great engineering accomplishment which began in the 1870’s with the discovery of gold in the mountains.  

      Arriving at Kuranda just in time for lunch, we found many interesting places to choose from, all pretty pricey. Bottles of coke, ice tea and other cold drinks sold from $4.00 and up…but who cared? Fluids didn’t last long in the body, due to the high humidity                                          and heat.

A very big Katydid!

      Then came the ride on a gondola over the rainforest to a place near the train station where our trip had started early that morning. Along the way, we were able to get off the Skyrail and visit two different interpretive centers which explained more about the different levels of the forest: the forest floor which is always shaded and moist; the understory; the roof-like canopy formed by trees from 100-130 feet; and the emergent trees which grow over 200 feet tall.

       The view from the gondola was wonderful, with bird’s nests ferns and plants growing out of the topmost branches of the trees like huge hanging baskets. We had expected to look down on the forest and see wildlife, like koala bears in the eucalyptus trees. However, it was a solid carpet of green except for the break in the foliage where the Barron River wound its way to the Coral Sea.

      At one interpretive center, a ranger led a small group of interested tourists on a walk through the dense forest floor, where we spotted a pair of white cockatiels perched on a branch overhead. He pointed out a large tree nearby which was being completely encircled by a much smaller fig tree. 

It had started from a seed deposited high up in the host tree. The roots of the fig tree were growing downward to reach the soil, eventually strangling the host. Unlike that fig tree, many plants grow on the trunks, branches and leaves of host trees without killing them. All are competing for light and nutrients. 

    As the gondola floated over the treetops suspended on a steel cable, Al and I enjoyed the peaceful interlude in an otherwise packed schedule of sightseeing and traveling.

     How wonderful are moments of peace, enjoying God’s presence and the beauty of His creation…sweet interludes in hectic, pressured lives which leave us worn out and feeling frazzled. May we take time to rest in His love and enjoy His presence every day. He loves us!

     “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” Deuteronomy 33: 27a NIV