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.