Cairns Waterfront Walk - April 2022

Heading back along The Esplanade in the early evening tropical rain.

During our time in Cairns while we were on our 2022 North Queensland road trip we stayed in the wharf precinct, so I figured that an early evening walk along the wharf area before joining up with the Esplanade Track might be worth the effort. I was hoping that I might be able to get some nice photos of the cities lights as the sun dropped down behind the Great Dividing Range. Well, that plan went out the window about ten minutes into the walk when we were hit by the first of what was to be many tropical showers.

We were staying opposite the wharf precinct on this visit to Cairns.

 

I started the walk at the cool playground that is built around a massive Strangler Fig.

The old Cairns Wharf.

I was starting to think that we may be getting wet tonight.

It hadn't rained all day so I didn't really check out the BOM radar before setting off tonight, however it soon became clear that there were plenty of showers scudding our way from the south. As we were still in the wharf precinct it would of been easy enough to bale out on the walk, however being an urban style of walk with plenty of shelter we decided to push on. After swinging away from the wharf we were soon on the Esplanade Path, this path follows the coast north west for around 2.5 kilometres to the first headland and from our experiences over the years it makes a pleasant spot to go for a stroll in the early evening, although during the heat off the day I think I'd just head to the lagoon for a swim!

Leaving the wharf we started our long walk along The Esplanade.

Passing by the lagoon we copped another burst of rain.

The Trinity Bay is the ship that services the remote ports on Cape York Peninsula I think.

You don't come to Cairns to swim at the beach!

We had got a middling tide for tonight's stroll so on the way out the mud flats were on full view, if the thought of the mud flats doesn't keep you out of the ocean along here then the Saltwater Crocodile warning signs should do the trick I think! The showers were much more persistent than normal tonight so unfortunately there would be no great sunset shots tonight. Arriving at the northern end of the Esplanade we turned and started our walk back to our hotel, already the lights of Cairns were starting to stand out in the darkening sky.

 

Walking The Esplanade beneath the tropical rain.

If you walk far enough you'll reach some sand...

... although there was an issue!

Looking north from The Esplanade.

There is a fair bit of public art in the parkland beside The Esplanade.

I took a lot of photos on our return walk although for the most part they were more impressive in my imagination than they are in reality - story of my life really! With darkness it meant that we couldn't pre-empt the showers anymore and by the time we got back to the wharf precinct the showers were virtually rain, so we didn't muck around much now basically heading straight for our hotel. The rain pretty well setting in for the next 24 hours! 

This was as far north as we got tonight.

The locals seem a little more casual about the Salty Risk.

The northern end of the walk is close to the Cairns International Airport.

Looks like the rains stopped for awhile.

The Esplanade, Cairns. 

There use to be a Muddy's on the highway at Cardwell back in the day - it was traditional pre or post Hinchinbrook Island feed. I'm not sure if this is the same people however the old café back in Cardwell was in a renovated old Queenslander and was very low key - this one seems very slick by comparison. 

Our visit to FNQ was around the time of Anzac Day. 

Back at the lagoon and there were still some punters enjoying the water. 

I think that's the hurry up and stop taking photos face. 

The Dirt.

According to my GPS we walked around 6.9 kilometres and climbed about 24 metres on this easy walk. This walk should be suitable for wheelchairs and prams (just turn back when it gets a bit long). Sam and I have walked The Esplanade section of this stroll many times over the years and it is a very nice walk - I don't really think I did it justice tonight really. There are numerous opportunities to stop at a café or picnic on this walk. Swimming isn't possible in the ocean here (unless you want to risk getting up close and personal with a Saltie!) however the Cairns Lagoon is right beside the Esplanade - it's free and makes for a good swim. I used my Alltrails App and my GPS topos on this walk although a map isn't really necessary I don't think.

Relevant Posts.

Broken Nose Walk, Wooroonooran National Park, 2005.

These small colourful LED lights are cheap, efficient and look good - makes me wonder why more councils don't use then in their public outdoor areas.

We look happy - what we didn't know was the rain was about to hit us again. 

Heading back to the hotel.