October Long Weekend - Cairns, Queensland

After much planning and anticipation, we finally arrived at the tropical Cairns on a not so sunny day. My heart sank and I thought to myself, what are we going to do for the next four days if it doesn't stop raining? As we were driving to our resort Elandra at South Mission Beach (2 hours from Cairns) we kept praying that the clouds will stay in Cairns. Unfortunately it was pretty much the same at South Mission Beach, but we were very grateful that our resort was as beautiful as we expected it to be.

Elandra resort is very much an African inspired theme and this is reflected through the decor in the common area, pool, restaurant and the rooms. A luxurious 4.5 star resort that was recently renovated, it is nestled in amongst the lush tropical rainforest.

Our room, decorated with splashes of tribal colour and artwork provides the ultimate comfort for our three(3) nights stay at Elandra.

The pool deck won our hearts with the private day-beds. It was the perfect place for us to lie down, relax and unwind.

As soon as we settled in, we had lunch at the restaurant. We decided to have a light and refreshing lunch which consist of Alaskan King Crab & Avocado Salad $22.50 and Smoked Mezze Plate $30.

We spent our second day exploring Paronella Park and Josephine Falls.

Paronella Park was built in 1929 by Josè Paronella who came from Catalonia in Spain. He first arrived in Australia in 1913 and worked for the next 11 years, cutting sugar cane initally, then purchasing and reselling the cane farms. The park was opened for the enjoyment of the public, with beautiful gardens, swimming pool (waterfall), tennis court and theatre.

One of the staff at Paronella Park recommended us to visit Josephine Falls. Josephine Falls are situated at the base of the mountain, Mount Bartle Frere. A beautiful waterfall with large granite boulders, crystal clear and fast moving water.

On our last day at Elandra, we spent the morning having breakfast at the restaurant and relaxing by the pool deck. I really enjoyed my breakfast of Banana & Walnut bread which was served with cinnamon & nutmeg mascarpone and strawberry coulis $14. The Egg Florentine $15 was a disappointment as the eggs were overcooked.

The highlight of our holiday was definitely the trip to the Great Barrier Reef. It was such a breathtaking experience to be snorkeling around the magnificent reef which is surrounded by colourful marine life. Unfortunately the photos taken from my cheap underwater film camera did not turn out well, so no images to share. But my husband & I really enjoyed it so much that we made a pact to come back soon! So hopefully I can share some photos then.