The full moon is a magical time to be outdoors and nowhere has quite the other-worldly atmosphere as that of a tropical full moon. Tropical daylight is more intense and the same holds for tropical moonlight. Being a reflected light it is polarized which seems to create a 3D effect. Plants stand out more, their outlines exaggerated by the deep shadows which contrast with the sometimes silvery and sometimes velvety surfaces of their leaves. White flowers and variegated leaves become almost luminescent. Many tropical plants are notable for their sculptural qualities (think of palms and agaves) which I think are at their best under the cooler still light of a tropical moon. Of course, some moons are hidden by a veil of cloud and rain seems to come more often around the full moon but it is one of the wonderful experiences of life lived close to the equator.

Dates: Jun 8, Jul 7, Aug 6, Sep 5, Oct 4, Nov 3, Dec 2

2010: Jan 1, Mar 1 & 30, Apr 28, May 28, Jun 26, Jul 26, Aug 25, Sep 23, Oct 23, Nov 22, Dec 21

Events

For a Calendar of Events at the Flecker Botanical Gardens copy this web address: http://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/cairns/services/botanic_gardens/files/calendar_of_events.pdf

The main Botanical Gardens open from 7.30-5.30 weekdays and 8.30-5.30 on weekends. The information office is open from 8.30-4.30 during the week. The adjoining areas are Centenary Lakes covering 38 Ha and the Mt Whitfield Conservation Park covering around 300 Ha. The Red Arrow track (1.3km/1 hr) and Blue Arrow track (5.4km/3 hr) are popular walking and jogging tracks running through the rainforest and over the mountain. There are terrific views over Cairns and Trinity Bay.

The Garden restaurant is open from 8.30-4.30 ph. 07-40537087

Every Tuesday at 8.30 am Birdwatching Walk in the Gardens starting from the Admin centre behind the cafe.

Mon-Fri Guided Walks 10am oh. 07-40443398

Trebla Stone Cottage
3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, sauna, 5 minutes from Mareeba

Weekly price : $1490

Kitchen Sitting area

Open plan
Kitchen

Main bedroom
Upstairs bathroom

Verandah BBQ

Main bedroom
Main bedroom mezzanine

Downstairs singles bedroom
Downstairs queen bedroom

Downstairs bathroom
Wood fired sauna

Garden Rear of cottage

Side of cottage
Barron River

Hills near Mareeba
Main bedroom verandah

This beautiful stone cottage was built by the owner, Bill Whiteley, who is a master stonemason. The care and attention to detail shows in what was a 12 year part time project. Now it is available for the first time. The location is brilliant - about as central as you can get for an exploration of the Cairns hinterland. Cairns and Pt Douglas are about an hour away, Cooktown 3 hrs, Herberton less than an hour or Chillagoe about 2 hrs. Mareeba is just 5 minutes away and the Mareeba Wetland is just over the main road.
This is a unique property and I cannot recommend it more highly.

Weekly price for 6 people (no children under 12 yrs) : $1490

We have 2 very reasonably priced properties close to the Cairns CBD - see below

Behan St Cottage

3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, separate toilet, fully fenced, close to CBD and Botanical Gardens

Weekly price : $850

Behan St kitchen

Behan St main bedroom

Behan St queen bedroom

Behan St double bedroom

Behan St bathroom

Behan St hall

Behan St hall

Behan St sitting room

Behan St sitting room

Behan St front yard

Behan Street is particularly good value for visiting contractors, families re-locating or renovating and people traveling with their pets.

Weekly price: $850

Draper St - upstairs apartment

4 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, separate toilet, verandah

Weekly price - $1050

Draper St - front bedroom

Draper St - side queen bedroom

Draper St - side queen bedroom

Draper St - side double bedroom

Draper St - kitchen

Draper St - verandah

Draper St - garden

Draper St - sitting room

Draper St - bathroom

Draper St house is a lovely timber Queenslander which was originally the church parsonage. It still retains the ambience and character of earlier times but is fully air-conditioned and has an internet connection. Ideal for 8 people, it can take 11 if the extra single beds in three of the bedrooms are used as well. The house is less than 2km from Cairns CBD.

Weekly price for 8 people - $1050

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