Port Douglas Magic 8th - 9th August

Port Douglas is behind the little hill

 

 

We had a leisurely motor/sail, and eventually sail, from Yorkey's Knob to Port Douglas. Book reading, gazing at the amazing scenery and lazing in the sun meant that on arrival at berth A23 in the marina we were ready for a bit of exploring. What a tourist paradise this is and obviously this is the high season. People everywhere! The town itself, only a couple of hundred metres from our marina, consists of predominantly cafes, restaurants, boutiques, travel souvenir shops and acres of tourist accommodation. Aside from the crowds of people, the gardens, streetscapes and buildings are quite lovely and wandering around is an absolute pleasure.

We have been told that the marina berths here are fairly shallow and to expect Rene to settle into the soft mud in the low tides we are experiencing at present. The channel into the marina is dredged and deep enough, as is the marina itself, but the berths have not been dredged for a while. (Not as bad as Conwy though Greg.) The bathrooms here are luxurious. Separate unisex bathrooms, new and clean and a pleasure to use. Only Soldiers Point, in Port Stevens, beats this one. You get music and flowers there.

Port Douglas

On Sunday morning we walked to the market we had seen advertised the day before. This is one of the best markets we have been to. It is huge and most of the stallholders produce their wares in this area. I didn't notice any of the Bali/Chinese trinkets and beads that usually predominate in markets today. I could have let my head go here. Luckily I had Peter to keep me on the straight and narrow. Where are my girlfriends for a bit of girl shopping when I want them?

Temptation at the markets

After the markets we wandered down the main street to the beach. This would have to be one of the loveliest beaches in Australia. The sea sparkled in the sunshine and the water had cleared out to a beautiful aquamarine blue. Half of Far North Queensland's population appeared to be on the beach or in the water. Half of those were soaking up the sun and brewing up a recipe for future skin cancer. Oh well, live for today!

While we were on the beach we could see the Low Isles, only 7.5 nm NE of Port Douglas, and watched the tourist boats making their way out for day trips. We have decided to take advantage of this gorgeous weather and leave Port Douglas tomorrow and begin our trip further north with a night at the Low Isles. Following a stop over here we intend to visit the Hope Isles and then on to Cooktown to ready ourselves for the final leg north to Lizard Island.

The Bally Hooley steam train runs past our back door