Our first encounter with the Maori

After our Rainforest experience we are herded over to an all you can eat buffet. It’s peak lunch time so again it’s just us and a couple of hundred of only our closest Chinese relatives who can consume mass portions. It is a buffet and it is all you can eat so it must be good. I try the chicken barbecue and the Kangaroo skewers and some fruit as it is difficult to get within 5 feet of anything being served due to the pirana like activity of our Chinese friends.

After a quick lunch of which the highlight was the Tasmanian beer we had, we are off to our first encounter with the Maori Natives. This will consist of a performance of Native dance then a spear throwing demonstration, a Digereedoo demo and a chance to throw a boomerang.

The highlight of our trip so far has been the train ride. The Rainforest station was a tourist trap and when we return again, we now know where the real rainforest is about 20 miles away. Hopefully the Gondola ride will be at least better than the Rainforest Station but it will be hard to beat the Train ride.

The gondola or SKYFARI ride is nice for a couple of reasons. First it is open windows and moving so we get a cool breeze flowing through the cab. Secondly, we are only the four of us alone suspended above the forest canopy and able to laugh and talk and make jokes about the previous several hours at the Rainforest Station. Lastly, it moves fast so we are wisked to our bus waiting at the base of the mountain to take us back to our hotel where we do have reservations for great Ribs and Steaks.

Back at the hotel for a quick shower and change of clothes, hop in a cab for the Marina, and now arrive at the WaterBar and Grill for a sumptuous meal. Vodka/Gin Tonics to start (sparkly water for Fran) washes away the grim of the day. Steaks are good, Ribs are great, and the backed potatoe was just what we all were craving.

Tomorrow we try to pack it all back up and head to the airport for an all day travel from Cairns to Auckland via Melbourne. Not the shortest route but the cheapest.