Port Douglas, North Queensland

The Bruce Highway runs all the way from Brisbane to Cairns and then changes into Captain Cook Highway from Cairns to Port Douglas and beyond. Captain Cook Highway mainly follows the coast from Trinity Bay where we are staying and makes a really great run in a car with constantly changing views of the coastline and sea. There are also Islands here and there which also adds something. We stopped at Clifton Beach and Palm Cove which is quite upmarket set alongside the coast. There are lots of expensive looking hotels and apartments, a very pretty stop with plenty of restaurants and shops here and there. A couple of distant Islands had clouds forming above them and they looked just like gently erupting volcanos.

Port Douglas is another pretty town, seemingly with the sea all around it. Again, there are lots of shops, pubs and restaurants everywhere. We had a walk around town first trying to pick out our favourite eating place for lunch as we were up early again this morning. I think I had the aircon on to low and we were both freezing which makes a change around this part of the world. It is so hot and humid around here that it is ridiculous. Within a minute of stepping out of the aircon room or car I get small beads of sweat on my forehead and arms and within another couple of minutes it starts running down my back. It feels just like someone has thrown a hot wet blanket over you when you step out; likewise when you go back in again it feels like you are being hosed down with cold water. I don’t know if it’s me, but I can almost see the humidity in the photographs; they look sort of misty.

We drove up to the lookout point with spectacular views over 4 mile beach which we gave a miss because of the heat. Also it’s not the same, not being able to have a quick cool off in the sea whenever you want to. There are stingers in them there seas, along with crocodiles and other nasties that all seem to want to eat you or at least nibble on you. I couldn’t understand how Koala bears had evolved to hang in the nook of a branch and sleep for 21 hours a day and then eat for the remainder but now I know; it’s just so humid that you don’t want to do anything. I guess hanging in a shady tree with a breeze is about as close to air conditioning as they can get.

The place that we had chosen for lunch has the slightly off putting name of “The Tin Shed” but is has a great location, reasonably priced food and drinks and lots of fans so it was a great choice. The other place that’s supposed to be good but a little more pricey is Bill Clinton’s favourite called,”The Salsa Bar and Grill”. I just had a crab, prawn and mango salad which was delicious, I will be trying that one at home on some unsuspecting guests once I have perfected it; it should make a perfect dinner starter. I have no idea why Claire ordered the hot chicken Madras with rice, chutneys and Nan bread or how she managed to eat it but I guess we eat curries all the time when in India but the difference is the humidity here. Anyway, very tasty with great views and service, well worth a try if you are in the area. I noticed that on the dinner menu they do a chicken Oscar, which is a chicken breast topped with, prawns and scallops with a seafood sauce. I wish now that we had stayed for a night in Port Douglas as they have so much choice and lots to offer.

We had one last drive to the end of the port and then had a leisurely drive back along the picturesque coast road as Claire was keen to get out in the sun by the pool to top up her suntan; I think the curry must have gone to her head, I will be staying in our lovely apartment until the sun goes down. As Claire said yesterday we chose well to stay here in the Coral Sands beachfront apartments, they have lots of original artworks, plenty of space and it very well furnished and equipped. If they have room and you come off the street, they give a 20% discount so that is worth knowing when you are in the area. We have even been talking of staying an extra night here tomorrow but I guess we should move on and see somewhere else. We will be heading into Cairns first thing tomorrow but will wait to see if we like it before deciding where we will stay.

One last thought for one of my hero’s, Steve Irwin who died on September 4th 2006 at Batt Reef off Port Douglas after a stingray barb went through his chest into his heart while filming a documentary called, “The Ocean’s Deadliest”. On a lighter note, the latest sports news; Crocodiles 0 Stingrays 1.