{"id":32987,"date":"2014-05-08T07:28:35","date_gmt":"2014-05-07T21:28:35","guid":{"rendered":"\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/?p=32987"},"modified":"2018-05-14T08:46:36","modified_gmt":"2018-05-13T22:46:36","slug":"escaping-winter-in-port-douglas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/escaping-winter-in-port-douglas\/","title":{"rendered":"Escaping winter in Port Douglas"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

When invited to a destination wedding I have<\/em> to go to, my immediate response is always JACKPOT! Bonus holiday.So when a good friend decided to tie the knot in Port Douglas<\/a> last winter I was working the keys pretty quickly to book flights<\/a>, accommodation<\/a> and see what else I could squeeze in that was pregnant-lady friendly. The result\u2026<\/p>\n

The digs:<\/strong><\/p>\n\"<\/a>\n

We needed to be close to the heart of town and after careful consideration booked the Mantra Aqueous<\/a> on Port where a few of us stayed.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\"<\/a>\n\"<\/a>\n

I also need to mention the staff. They\u2019re 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 \u2013 thanks Mantra!<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the perfect refuge for a pregnant lady to easily retreat to as my friend\u2019s wedding weekend is celebrated with vigour.<\/p>\n

The activity:<\/strong><\/p>\n

With only time to fit in one extra non-wedding related activity, there\u2019s only one option. While the partying was escalating around me, a massage at QT Resort\u2019s<\/a> spa QSpa had my name written all over it.<\/p>\n\"<\/a>\n

QT resorts are fitted out to make you feel uber-cool. You can read more about that here<\/a>. Luckily for me, being there seemed like I wasn\u2019t 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\u2019s the perfect scene for a very trendy massage.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The food:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Aside from the amazing wedding feast, we enjoyed a few good meals in Port Douglas. It\u2019s 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\u2026 which I do.<\/p>\n

When we did get out we managed to sample the meals at The Court House Hotel <\/a>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.<\/p>\n\"<\/a>\n

We made time for a Thai feast at Star of Siam<\/a> also on Macrossan Street during our weekend. I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the tropical climate or just that I\u2019m 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.<\/p>\n

We also made a few pit stops at Shakes Gelato Bar<\/a> where the coconut and lime gelato was becoming a frequent craving.<\/p>\n

And if you wander towards the beach along Macrossan Street, a great little spot to pick up breakfast is Caf\u00e9 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.<\/p>\n

The weather:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Having long put away our shorts and bikinis in Brisbane we were hopeful for a reprieve from the July chill and were not disappointed.<\/p>\n\"<\/a>\n

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.<\/p>\n\"<\/a>\n

The buzz:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u2019s at its best. The restaurants are buzzy, the pubs are jovial and the shop-keepers are happy. It\u2019s a great time to go.<\/p>\n

And the best part for those who live along the East Coast is that it\u2019s 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<\/a> or airport transfer for the one-hour drive it takes to reach this charming little beach town.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re thinking of escaping winter this year I would definitely put Port Douglas on my list of possibilities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

Where is your favourite Aussie destination to escape winter in?\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n