Mt Whitfield. Cairns

Cairns. North Queensland

August 2010 on a holiday with my wife and 2 young children to Cairns I was keen to explore a conservation park only 10min walk from our Hotel. (The Lakes).

The park is in a rainforest about 4km north of the main City of Cairns, just near the airport. There are 2 walks that can be done. The first is the Red Arrow Circuit. A short walk that works its way uphill through beautiful rainforest to a lookout that takes in views of the Coral Sea and Cairns. The return journey down the other side of the mountain also has great views. This walk is only 2 km and wont take more than a hour.

While at the top of the Red Arrow Circuit walk there is the start of the longer Blue Arrow Circuit Walk. This walk takes in the peak of Mt Lumley and is about 7km long.

Time was limited on the morning when I set out to do the Blue Arrow Circuit and even though its winter in Cairns it was very hot and didn't take long to work up a sweat.

After taking in a few good lookouts it was into the thick, lush green fainforest and the track was narrowing and becoming very rough. After about an hour I had to turn around and head back, again taking in the great views of Cairns and The Coral Sea.

This walk would take 3-4 hours to complete and if I'm ever up in Cairns again I will make sure I have time to do the whole thing.