The Far North Queensland heat is strong and coming from Sydney, I’ve forgotten how much more humid it gets up here, though I’m not complaining. We finally get to the largest swimming water hole at Crystal Cascades, and I’m ready to rip my T-shirt off my sweaty back and dive straight into the inviting fresh water.
The Instagram-FOMO part of me says that I need to capture some #lifewelltravelled snaps before I go for a swim – after all, I’m supposed to be posting pictures of this trip on lastminute.com.au Instagram’s account. So I go snapping and as life would have it, I slip from one of the precarious boulders and my iPhone goes straight for the water. Long story short, it’s beyond repair (though I manage to get a replacement). What’s a holiday without a mishap or two, right? 😉
Our accommodation, Niramaya Villas, is in Port Douglas so we drive north for about an hour from Crystal Cascades. Once we get out of Cairns and onto the coastal route along Captain Cook Highway, it reminds me of what I love about Australia. With stunning ocean views of unpopulated beaches and magnificent mountainous vistas, this meandering road is the kind where you blast drive tunes with the car windows down as the wind blows furiously against your hair. You know, the kind you see in daggy karaoke videos, except in this case, it’s more fabulous!
The space and design of our villa feel like the kind of property many would dream of owning. Described as Balinese-inspired lodging, the hardwood timber and lush foliage, and open-plan rooms with lots of natural airflow, bring together an expansive living experience. There’s a plunge pool in every villa so you can imagine how fabulously tan and unfortunately prune-like-shrivelled we will be by the end of our trip.
We’ve heard people talk favourably about Four Mile Beach as one of the treasures in Port Douglas so we get up early the next morning and start our day off with a morning stroll.
The beach is already bustling – tourists like ourselves casually sauntering under the sun, stand-up paddle boarders ferociously paddling against the oncoming tide, and swimmers kicking minuscule strokes in the safety net, away from stingers. The curse of Australia’s countless, deadly animals is real (did I mention crocs – the ones with teeth, not the unpleasant footwear – are very prevalent in Far North Queensland) but hey, us Aussies are tough cookies.
A trip to Tropical North Queensland is only complete with a visit to Mossman Gorge. Traditional homeland of the indigenous Kuku Yalanji people, the national park has a walking track that loops through the tropical rainforest and Mossman River.
The clear water flows rapidly over boulders to form water holes and if you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know how my love for the water would have easily coerced me to go for a drip. The forest and giant rocks setting make swimming here an unforgettable experience.
What’s truly special about this part of Australia is how the rainforest meets the reef – it is home to the Daintree Forest and Great Barrier Reef, both of which have been listed as World Heritage Sites. Adventure seekers can explore the wet tropics and different species of trees in the different national parks one day and snorkel among the corals and reefs on one of the islands like Green Island the next (where we go for a day trip – recommended though you should opt for the full-day tour rather than the half-day). The offerings here, unlike other tropical holiday destinations, are extremely varied.
While we could have packed our itinerary full of social media moments, we spend some time, mostly evenings, at our luxury beach house at Niramaya Villas, where we cook dinners and dine under the night skies in the al fresco dining area. It is easy to forget how enjoying a meal without the usual TV or iPhone interference can be such a simple pleasure. Of course, being the fashionistas that we are, we also do a self-styled, high fashion photoshoot in the opulent resort setting just so we could show off like most style bloggers would.
Glenn and I have already decided that Far North Queensland will be our annual summer and relaxation sojourn – we just have to find time from our busy schedules though something tells me this won’t be difficult.
What adds to the attraction as well is how much we paid to live like royalty at Niramaya Villas, considering this is a luxuriously designed retreat with full amenities in Australia, where things aren’t always exactly cheap. Get ready to be “OMG! are they for real?” surprised when you find out the rates and easily convince your BFFs to fulfil that wanderlust.