17. Cairns - Wobble Board Fun and the Hokey Pokey

Monday 22 September

Volunteers were called to use the "Wobble Boards" to help with the entertainment and yours truly put her hand up. It was great fun but we all said how our arms ached - it's harder than it looks, but none of us wanted to be the one to give in, or give up as the case may be so we all carried on 'wobbling.'

Wobble Boards

The grand master of the wobble board was Rolf Harris, a well-known Australian singer and entertainer. In the clip below, the "bwoop bwoop" noise you hear is the wobble board.



Our EmCee and Musician

Do the Hokey Pokey

You put your left foot in,
You put your left foot out,
You put your left foot in
And you shake it all about
You do the Hokey-Pokey
And you turn around
That's what it's all about...

You put your right foot in,
You put your right foot out,
You put your right foot in
And shake it all about...........

All too soon it was time to leave and after 3 hours of fun and entertainment we wished it could go on forever.

I was the only Australian on this tour apart from a lady who worked for a travel agent who was there as part of her job, and I would recommend to anyone when up in Cairns whether you're an Australian or an overseas visitor to do this tour. It's fun, entertaining and a wonderful night out.

16. Cairns - Bush Dancing

Monday 22 September

Back after our night walk and the campfire with the resident swagman, it's time for a spot of dancing - bush dancing. The old time stuff that our ancestors used to do. The "Swagman" called for volunteers to show how the Heel and Toe was done, and me having learnt, and done, a fair bit of dancig in my time, volunteered. And great fun it was too. Below are some photos, the first being the "Demonstration"!

Heel and Toe

So, let's start - and it's heel and toe, heel and toe...

Slide, slide, slide, slide....

Heel and toe, heel and toe
Slide, slide, slide, slide....

Right hand clap, left hand clap
Both hands clap, clap on lap...
And... swing your partner 'round.

Below:Listen to (and watch) some bush dancing

15. Cairns - Koalas and Kangaroos

Monday 22 September


Cairns Tropical Zoo has the largest Koala colony in Tropical North Queensland. Koalas sleep for 18-21 hours a day due to the low energy content of their only food source – eucalyptus leaves. Koalas are marsupials, females having a pouch in which their young first develop. Their pouch faces the rear and has a drawstring-like muscle that the mother can tighten.
There are three subspeies:
P.c. victor (Victoria)
P.c. cinereus (New South Wales)
P.c. adustus (Queensland).
For further information about Koalas click here.


In the Koala House

Our guide took us through the Koala House where we spent quite some time. If you're lucky, they'll be awake, and you can have your photo taken with them - you can't hold them, (although you can cuddle a koala during the day) but you are allowed to (gently) pat them. I was so pleased to get 'up close and personal' with this little fellow.
Isn't he cute?


The Mumma and the Pappa

The koala on the left is the female, the male is on the right. The above photo is from Wikipedia - I have included it to show the differences between the male and the female.



Around the Campfire - Billy Tea and Damper

After seeing the animals we all sat around the campfire and had billy tea and damper. The tea is fragrant with Eucalyptus and is served in small baked enamel mugs and the damper is dipped in Cocky's Joy - Mmm...mmm... delicious! Hanging around the campfire took me back to the days when we'd go up to Emu Bottom (in Sunbury) for billy tea and damper and bush dancing.

The kangaroos are very partial to sharing your food and will hop over to you and wait in the hope that you will share some with them - of course everybody did. They must be the best fed kangaroos in Australia!

After everyone had had their fill, it was time to wash our hands and head back to the undercover area for a spot of music and bush dancing.

14. Cairns - Tropical Night Zoo

Monday 22 September

When the sun goes down come along and see what the local indigenous folk of the animal world get up to. For a touch of "Australiana", you can't go past the Cairns Tropical Night Zoo. They do pick-ups and drop-offs (good if you want more than one drink!) and you leave at 7.30pm.

First you start off with an Aussie barbie - steak, chook (chicken), fish, roast spuds, and tomato and salads. There's champagne, beers, wines and soft drinks. For dessert I had Pavlova and cream (2 helpings). After this the guide took us around (with a torch) to see some of the animals - lots of alligators and crocodiles. I took heaps of photos, but unfortunately deleted them. (Well, you live and learn eh?)


Cockatoo

Ring Tail Possum

Meet "Blossom", the ring tail possum. All the people there were in raptures over this cute, furry little creature.


Barn Owl