Cairns Foreshore

We walked through Cairns, then onto the newly developed Beach and foreshore where backpackers were enjoying sunbathing in the grass under the shady trees. Walking on past the pool, there is a wall that separates the beach from the muddy banks and sea that was the original Cairns before this added beach.  http://www.cairnsattractions.com.au/explore/family-attractions/cairns-esplanade-lagoon-attractions.395.html

The tide was out and the mud banks were there, but this was full of birds enjoying the bounty from the sea, and also the sea life that is their food. There were gulls, waders, many pelicans and other birds, also birdwatchers with their cameras and stands all ready to take their bird photos and look knowledgeable.

One of the most internationally famous locations is the Cairns Esplanade, the long park along the coast of the city that forms the city waterfront. The beach is mostly mud, actually something of a recent development caused by the complex effects of dredging the harbour. But the mud has allowed great areas of mangrove to grow and also provides a great wintering site for migrant shorebirds from the northern hemisphere. The mud isn’t so great for classical tourism, but the beach was always something of a non-starter because of the stingers and saltwater crocodiles. Today the interests of tourists are met by an artificial sea pool near the city centre, and the muddy beach is left mostly for the birds.   http://www.10000birds.com/cairns-esplanade.htm    http://www.10000birds.com/cairns-esplanade.htm