Cairns & Port Douglas
If you’re looking to escape the colder winter months in Australia, Port Douglas is the place to be! One of the rare places in Australia where Rainforest meets the sea. Located along Four Mile Beach with close proximity to the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest. Tropical North Queensland is the only place on Earth where two UNESCO World Heritage listed sites exist side by side– the Great Barrier Reef and the rainforests of Daintree and Cape Tribulation.
During the Winter months in Australia Cairns is the perfect place to go to escape from the cold weather. While in North Queensland I stayed in Port Douglas. To reach this destination we hired a car from the airport and drove along Great Barrier Reef Drive to get to our destination. This would have to be one of the most beautiful drives along the Australian coast line with roads that wind through the surrounding palm trees and along the coral sea – the scenery is truly beautiful.
While in Port Douglas I stayed at the Sherton Grand Mirage Resort. This five star resort is inspired by the tropical North Queensland lifestyle and enveloped within 147 hectares of lush tropical gardens, two hectares of sparkling lagoons and an 18-hole golf course.
Located only a 20 minute walk into town, you can walk along four-mile beach from the resort into town to find perfect brunch locations and at night there is so much local talent with live music acts as well as some more fancy restaurants for the ideal romantic date night. On the weekends, make sure to drop by the Port Douglas Markets for local arts, crafts and produce. While you’re there also check out the cute little white church on the point over-looking the ocean. As a young girl, I always wanted to get married there. It’s a very small church but it has beautiful stained glass windows and a cute country charm about it.
F.Y.I – Being far Northern Queensland there are often Crocodiles about and depending on what months you visit there can be Box Jellyfish in the ocean so make sure to be careful when swimming and to check before entering the ocean.
Regardless of some swimming restrictions, Cairns and Port Douglas is truly beautiful and defiantly worth adding to the travel bucket list if you haven’t already been.
