Aboard the Sunlander: Cairns – Brisbane

We boarded the ‘Sunlander’ at Innisfail, about 40km south of  Cairns, after an enjoyable 5-day stay on the Glen Dirran estate in the Atherton Tablelands. The train slowly mad its way south through sugarcane country and it was not until we got to Townsville that we had a change of scenery and saw some wetlands. Immediately south of Townsvill we travelled for 2 – 3 hours through an area of extensive marsh. It was difficult to tel whether the marshes were permanent or the result of recent heavy rains. Whatever, they were attracting a wide range of waterbirds. From the train we could only identify the larger species, including Brolga, Black-necked Stork, Black Swan and Australian Pelican., but other smaller species must have been present. An area worthy of further exploration. Darkness overtook us near Bowen, where we saw Australian Bustards in the twilight. Our second day aboard the ‘Sunlander’ was not so interesting as the train passed through much eucalypt woodland and arable farmland where birds were much more difficult to see.