Escaping winter in Port Douglas
When invited to a destination wedding I have to go to, my immediate response is always JACKPOT! Bonus holiday.
So when a good friend decided to tie the knot in Port Douglas last winter I was working the keys pretty quickly to book flights, accommodation and see what else I could squeeze in that was pregnant-lady friendly. The result…
The digs:
We needed to be close to the heart of town and after careful consideration booked the Mantra Aqueous on Port where a few of us stayed.
It’s a great little hotel right at the end of the shopping strip and very central to the action. The rooms are big, clean and all have balcony spas overlooking the pool.
I also need to mention the staff. They’re friendly and patient as we ask for directions, come and go (leaving keys at the front desk) and are generally time-consuming guests in a big uncoordinated group – thanks Mantra!
It’s the perfect refuge for a pregnant lady to easily retreat to as my friend’s wedding weekend is celebrated with vigour.
The activity:
With only time to fit in one extra non-wedding related activity, there’s only one option. While the partying was escalating around me, a massage at QT Resort’s spa QSpa had my name written all over it.
QT resorts are fitted out to make you feel uber-cool. You can read more about that here. Luckily for me, being there seemed like I wasn’t missing out on any action. From the sleek foyer to the crisp white pre-treatment area with sheepskin covered seats and the awesome black and white silk, boxer-style robes, it’s the perfect scene for a very trendy massage.
The treatment rooms are consistent with the experience, decked out in modern but retro pastel pop arts. I opt for a pregnancy and foot massage and drift back to the party-goers zen and ready for any of their foolishness.
The food:
Aside from the amazing wedding feast, we enjoyed a few good meals in Port Douglas. It’s not an extensive list as our apartment had a full kitchen so we ate in a couple of nights, if you call cheese plates meals… which I do.
When we did get out we managed to sample the meals at The Court House Hotel at the top end of the main drag, Macrossan Street. A great old pub with modern day pub-grub like steak sandwiches, burgers and salads followed by some dancing and a few beers for the party-goers. It has a great atmosphere and drew in our group in with its charm.
We made time for a Thai feast at Star of Siam also on Macrossan Street during our weekend. I don’t know if it’s the tropical climate or just that I’m in a great mood on holidays but the two times I have eaten Thai food in TNQ it has been fantastic. Especially catering for a big group, the Pad Thai was second to none and we had a table full of very happy customers in general.
We also made a few pit stops at Shakes Gelato Bar where the coconut and lime gelato was becoming a frequent craving.
And if you wander towards the beach along Macrossan Street, a great little spot to pick up breakfast is Café Freq. We made it our regular during our stay and it definitely looked like the place to be. A well priced hearty brekky, good coffee and lovely staff.
The weather:
Having long put away our shorts and bikinis in Brisbane we were hopeful for a reprieve from the July chill and were not disappointed.
Our white legs got some much-needed Vitamin D and the sun dried up our wintery blues perfectly. It was exactly what we needed to get us through the rest of winter at home.
The buzz:
Winter is the peak season for Tropical North Queensland and the town is buzzing. Aside from having our friends in town it is always good to be in a destination when it’s at its best. The restaurants are buzzy, the pubs are jovial and the shop-keepers are happy. It’s a great time to go.
And the best part for those who live along the East Coast is that it’s so close to home you can do a weekend or short break. Just snap up a quick flight to Cairns where you can organise a hire car or airport transfer for the one-hour drive it takes to reach this charming little beach town.
If you’re thinking of escaping winter this year I would definitely put Port Douglas on my list of possibilities.
Where is your favourite Aussie destination to escape winter in?
So when a good friend decided to tie the knot in Port Douglas last winter I was working the keys pretty quickly to book flights, accommodation and see what else I could squeeze in that was pregnant-lady friendly. The result…
The digs:
It’s a great little hotel right at the end of the shopping strip and very central to the action. The rooms are big, clean and all have balcony spas overlooking the pool.
It’s the perfect refuge for a pregnant lady to easily retreat to as my friend’s wedding weekend is celebrated with vigour.
The activity:
With only time to fit in one extra non-wedding related activity, there’s only one option. While the partying was escalating around me, a massage at QT Resort’s spa QSpa had my name written all over it.
The treatment rooms are consistent with the experience, decked out in modern but retro pastel pop arts. I opt for a pregnancy and foot massage and drift back to the party-goers zen and ready for any of their foolishness.
The food:
Aside from the amazing wedding feast, we enjoyed a few good meals in Port Douglas. It’s not an extensive list as our apartment had a full kitchen so we ate in a couple of nights, if you call cheese plates meals… which I do.
When we did get out we managed to sample the meals at The Court House Hotel at the top end of the main drag, Macrossan Street. A great old pub with modern day pub-grub like steak sandwiches, burgers and salads followed by some dancing and a few beers for the party-goers. It has a great atmosphere and drew in our group in with its charm.
We also made a few pit stops at Shakes Gelato Bar where the coconut and lime gelato was becoming a frequent craving.
And if you wander towards the beach along Macrossan Street, a great little spot to pick up breakfast is Café Freq. We made it our regular during our stay and it definitely looked like the place to be. A well priced hearty brekky, good coffee and lovely staff.
The weather:
Having long put away our shorts and bikinis in Brisbane we were hopeful for a reprieve from the July chill and were not disappointed.
Winter is the peak season for Tropical North Queensland and the town is buzzing. Aside from having our friends in town it is always good to be in a destination when it’s at its best. The restaurants are buzzy, the pubs are jovial and the shop-keepers are happy. It’s a great time to go.
And the best part for those who live along the East Coast is that it’s so close to home you can do a weekend or short break. Just snap up a quick flight to Cairns where you can organise a hire car or airport transfer for the one-hour drive it takes to reach this charming little beach town.
If you’re thinking of escaping winter this year I would definitely put Port Douglas on my list of possibilities.
Where is your favourite Aussie destination to escape winter in?
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