Australia > Early flight to Cairns

The alarm goes off at half past four. It feels strange to be heading to the airport for a flight to Cairns while New Year's Eve is still to take place in the Netherlands. Ann drives us to Darwin Airport. Outside, it is still dark and no one is on the streets at this early hour. The airport is quiet as well. At the departure hall, it’s silent. A lone taxi arrives to drop off passengers. Inside, we can go straight through to check-in and baggage control. While waiting for boarding, I order a cappuccino. Boarding goes smoothly. I estimate there are at most fifty people on the flight. The plane makes a stopover in Numburindi, at the northern tip of Arnhem Land—a region of the Aboriginal people. Ann already told us two days ago that due to high water, the roads from Kakadu to Arnhem Land are closed. This area can only be reached by plane during this season. During the short flight, a snack and tea are served. Many people get off in Numburindi. Only five new passengers board. I feel a bit sorry for the crew. They have to go through the safety instructions again for the new passengers. I don’t get the impression anyone is paying attention on the half-empty plane. The second flight to Cairns takes an hour and a half. It is half an hour later in Cairns, the fourth time zone on this trip. Breakfast on the flight consists of toast with cheese, a cookie, and tea. Around half past eleven, the plane begins its descent into Cairns in the state of Queensland. The plane flies directly over the city of Cairns. I can already see the hotels along the boulevard.

Australia - On the boulevard of Cairns

Probably one of the buildings will be my next hotel. The airport is not very large, and the luggage arrives quickly. Victoria is waiting with a van. This time it’s a slightly smaller van, so the luggage is loaded onto a trailer. The distance to the hotel is only a few kilometers. A little later, I get out at the Cairns Plaza Hotel. The hotel is located on the Esplanade boulevard. Across the street, I see the sea. Because saltwater crocodiles can be found here, swimming in the sea is discouraged. It may even be prohibited. No one dares to enter the water. As an alternative, there is the Lagoon—a large open-air swimming pool on the boulevard. The pool is free to use. I cross the street to Murray’s, a small eatery on the boulevard. I order fish and chips for lunch. The terrace is busy, but fortunately there is still a table in the shade with a view of the sea. I don’t do much for the rest of the afternoon. I lie down on the bed and quickly fall asleep after the short night. Early in the evening, I walk into Cairns with some fellow travelers. I go looking for a supermarket. We seem to be walking around it. After asking around once, we find the supermarket. I buy bread rolls, cheese, and yogurt for breakfast for the coming days. On the way back, we meet other travelers on a terrace along the boulevard. We join them for a drink. It also turns out to be a great place to have something to eat. Since I already had a substantial lunch, I choose a salad.