It was a joke! There is a reason why they are called one liners.

Hysterically funny one-liner, Peter. You're talking to an international audience here, who may just not pick up on your wit.

Floods and dreadful chaos in Melbourne and the whole of Victoria! People have been asked to move out of their homes with inundation from water everywhere.
If you are travelling to Victoria any time soon be aware of the danger and consider your need to go!

There is a time and a place for 'one-liners' and this is not it! I was surprised by the comment, but then having read some other postings, maybe not.
As Pat said, we are trying to encourage people to visit Tropical North Queensland, a wonderful place to go to see amazing wildlife and plant life, and of course meet her people. Pat and Alan live there - surely they are the best people to comment on the state of Cairns, Atherton Tablelands, Port Douglas and the environs.

Absolutely dotty, however I am sure that Peter did it in a flash without thinking of any consequences.
Having been through many cyclones myself it is surprising how there is mess everywhere one day and one week later there is no record of it left. That is NOT to say that the areas which were directly hit will not show the scars for a long time and the people in those districts have my full and utmost sympathy and best wishes. But those areas are not in the "Tourist regions" per se and Cairns, Port Douglas and surrounds will clean up and look spic and span in no time.
The Gods were very kind to them this time and we all hope that something like that mega storm will never be seen again.

Hi Yall
I will fly from Sydney to Cairns and rent a car for 5 days before returning to Sydney enroute to Beijing.
You guys have suggested so much to see and do - its almost overwhelming. I really appreciate it and will sort through the suggestions and look them up via google or a GBR travel guide. I love rain forests, and cant even conceive of the GBR so I have no idea what I want to see and do when I get there.
Please keep the suggestions coming.
Thanks again

Shrink

I just returned to NY from Port Douglas, in an effort to plan my tour for the solar eclipse in 2012. The area is fine, all cleaned up now. Internet there was down for about 4 days, but all is fine now, and it is a WONDERFUL place to visit. The reef in doing ok, the Capt Cook Hy is all clear, and you would never know that they all dodged a huge bullet in that area. Cairns is clean as well.