Feb.14, 2012 and Feb.15, 2012.
Off to Cairns on the Tilt train, all seat business class, large seats, very comfortable, configured one on one side and two on the other, like plane seating but more room and you can get up and walk around, very pleasant trip - 10 hours  but very relaxing and of course you are not the driver. Meals and snacks can be purchased and some are even delivered to your sear, beer and wine are served along with the other common beverages. You even have  your own personal TV right in the arm rest of the seat that you pull up and swing out.
You travel past miles of cane fields, numerous small towns, and the approaching Innisfail and beyond  you start to see large banana plantations and then you are at Cairns.  Arriving at night and the train being late we took a cab to our accommodations.  We will be staying at the Getaway on Grafton a two bedroom apartment for 7 days.   The apartment is on two floor and in very clean and more that I had expected.  Main floor laundry, kitchen , dinning room and living area, two bedrooms with en-suite bath, one with a balcony. Located near to the shops, Railway Station, Trinity Wharf, Marina and Esplanade.
The  Owner/Manager and his wife are very friendly and knowledgeable and have made  suggestions as to which tours would be best suited to what we want to see.  They also had suggestion to what might be seen on a walk around the city.   They also let us know that on Saturday there were several local markets on the Esplanade.  We have arranged to take three tours in the next few days. Must explain the we, my cousins Peter and Val have decided to along to Cairns with me. Nice to have company along as they have been here a few times  already and also have knowledge of the area.
Has been hot here also, no rain, but there appears to be less humidity than in MacKay.

Link Train

The painted sides of the Link Train

Old Queenslander house

photo from train

Banana plantation

Photos of house in village along the track

Train station at Innisfail, train stops for 10 minutes so you can get out and walk about.

House raised up about ten feet, must be expecting a flood

Photos taken from the train

Esplanade

Sitting on a bench

Sea bird

The Esplanade

The Esplanade Cairns waterfront

Getaway on Grafton - our home away from home for a week.