The Mangrove Boardwalk can be accessed from the road to Cairns Airport. There are two boardwalks through the mangroves both with viewing towers. During our visit only the Northern Boardwalk was open and the viewing tower on the walk was closed for repairs, however we were grateful for the boardwalk which enabled us to see this otherwise inaccessible area. The muddy ground was alive with mud skippers, whelks and crabs but the birdlife was very quiet. We could hear birds calling from above the canopy and wished the tower was open to give us a chance at seeing them.

Mangrove Boardwalk

The boardwalk took us out to Saltwater Creek where we stopped a while. A flash of blue whizzed past while we were peering down the creek and perched on a tree on the edge of water, it was a Little Kingfisher, as we watched it some Helmeted Friarbirds flew through. We also heard a gerygone calling and on our way back to the car we saw a Sunbird. They were the only birds for the walk, however it was worth it for the Little Kingfisher alone.