Printable property details
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Beachfront Mirage Estate, Port Douglas
QLD 4877
The (w)right House
- Style
- Moated modernist maritime
- Setting
- Pioneering Port Douglas property
The (w)right House is in the select Beachfront Mirage Estate, and was designed by award-winning architect Charles Wright. It is enveloped by water, a clever ruse to cool the tropical air – just one of the environmentally sound solutions that grace this maritime masterpiece. A flowing metal structure shades the lap pool, and a wooden deck wraps around the house conjuring up the sense of being at sea. Neck-craningly high ceilings and the stunning architecture throughout lend this luxury self-catering house the air of a homely cathedral. And it has heart-stopping views of the melaleuca forest.
In the know
House style
Modern architectural masterpiece
Grounds
The house is surrounded by pools of water and swaying palm trees, and has a sweeping driveway leading to an underground garage. The back lawn looks over the forest. There’s an outdoor shower, an enormous cushioned day bed, sun loungers and barbecue.
Sleeps
8–10
Ideal for
Architecture groupies, eco-savvy sybarites and independently minded style-setters.
Rates
$1,200 a night for up to six guests. There’s a $50 surcharge per night for additional guests.
Minimum hire
There’s a five-night minimum stay.
Also
Pets are not allowed and smoking is only permitted outside.
Eating & drinking
The dining table seats eight and is next to glass doors which fold back to allow cool breezes in from the pools of water surrounding the house. There’s an outdoor dining table on the rear deck with a state of the art gas barbecue.
Music
The living room has an LCD widescreen TV/DVD/CD, Cable TV, WiFi and surround sound entertainment system.
Provided
Books, (including recipe books), board games, CDs, DVDs, bed linen, beach towels and L’Occitane bath products are provided. You will be greeted with an exotic, tropical fruit basket and chilled champagne.
Packing tips
The estate borders the 18-hole Sheraton Mirage Golf Course so observe their etiquette and pack a collared shirt.
Eco policy
The entire design ethos of The (w)right House revolves around sustainability. Rubbish is recycled and eco-friendly cleaning products are used when possible.
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All the bedrooms have glass doors which fold upwards and create an indoor and outdoor sleeping space. On a balmy nights, you can virtually roll out of bed and dive into the pool.
Interior
Bedrooms
Bedroom 1: Large room with kingsize bed, flatscreen TV, DVD and doors leading to the deck and lap pool. The en suite bathroom has a shower.
Bedroom 2: Large room with kingsize bed, walk-in wardrobe and doors leading to the deck and lap pool. The en suite bathroom has a freestanding two-person bath and separate shower.
Bedroom 3: Large room with kingsize bed, which can also be made into singles, and doors leading to the deck and lap pool. This bedroom shares a bathroom with bedroom 4 and has a freestanding two-person bath and separate shower.
Bedroom 4: Large room with kingsize bed, which can also be made into singles, and doors leading to the deck and lap pool. This bedroom shares a bathroom with bedroom 3 and has a freestanding two-person bath and separate shower.
Kitchen The fully equipped kitchen area has a dishwasher, microwave, espresso machine, wine fridge and breakfast bar with three seats. It also has a TV.
Living room The living space has a treble-height cathedral ceiling void and a colossal L-shaped couch.
Dining room The dining table in the large open-plan living area comfortably seats eight.
Other
Outdoor
Poolside The (w)right house is flanked by a 15-metre lap pool, which flows into a shallow reflecting pool at the rear and side of the house. A wooden deck wraps itself around the house whilst the iron sail-like roof structure that extends over it and the water provides shade.
Gardens
Parking There’s undercover parking and plenty of room on the driveway.
check availability
To check availability and book a vacation rental property please call the Smith travel team on 1 866 610 3867. We guarantee best available rates on all vacation rental properties.
Activities
Best picnic spot
Pick up supplies from Taste on Macrossan, Shop 12 Saltwater, Macrossan Street, Port Douglas, +61 (0) 7 4099 5999. The well-signposted Mossman Gorge is five minutes away by car and is the prime spot for a romantic picnic and afternoon swim. The ancient rainforest borders a pristine river, which weaves its way through giant boulders big enough to accommodate your picnic blanket.
Best beaches
The white sand of Four Mile Beach is fringed with palm trees and is minutes from the house. During the stinger season (November to May) swimming is only permitted in the netted enclosure.
Best walks
The 10-minute stroll along the beach to the many attractions of nearby Port Douglas.
Activities
A day-trip to the Great Barrier Reef is a must. Marina Mirage is tucked away on the inlet and harbours luxury yachts, game fishing launchers and a fleet of small cruise ships, which all moor at 4pm so look before you book. Plump for a smaller boat and smugly avoid the crowds. Divers and snorkelers should head to the luxurious and eco-friendly Aristocat, www.aristocat.com.au, which has hot showers on board and a licence to ‘passive dive’ with Minke whales, the smallest of the baleen whales. Sightings occur mid-June to mid-August.
Kuku Yalanji Dreamtime, Mossman Gorge, Mossman, +61 (0) 7 4098 2595; www.yalanji.com.au. The Kuku Yalanji tribe inhabits the local rainforest and offers one-and-a-half hour guided rainforest walks in Mossman Gorge. Your guide will demonstrate traditional plant usage and identify Bush tucker.
A two-and-a-half hour beach and rainforest horse ride is the stuff of dreams (+61 (0) 7 4098 7583; www.ridethebeach.com.au).
Take a scenic helicopter ride to remote Aboriginal rock art sites and the outback, or try a heli-horse or heli-rafting safari (www.skysafari.com.au +61 (0) 7 4099 3666).
Smith tip
Plucky holidaymakers should know that Port Douglas is said to have matchless kitesurfing conditions. Windswell offers various packages but their most popular is a three-day course which allows you to practice with all the kit for the rest of each day. (End of Barrier Street, Port Douglas; www.windswell.com.au)
Eating, drinking and dancing
Cafés
Soul n’ Pepper
+61 (0) 7 4099 4499
Faces a former sugar wharf, is right on the water and is the perfect spot for a casual breakfast before the Sunday market. The freshly squeezed juices and tropical fruit platters are sublime and their signature breakfasts are served in cast iron frying pans.
8/2 Dixie Street, Port Douglas, Queensland 4877
Java Blue
+61 (0) 7 4099 5814
Java Blue serves the best coffee in town and is popular with locals so it’s always buzzing with energy. They serve fresh juices, wraps and sandwiches with a choice of bread.
3/2 Macrossan Street, Port Douglas, Queensland, 4877
Beaches Café
+61 (0) 7 4099 4998
Classic Aussie beach kiosk with plastic chairs and a sand-covered floor. Wander in barefoot and grab an ice cream or tuck into one of their superb burgers.
Cnr Mowbray Street / Esplanade, Port Douglas, Queensland 4877
Restaurants
Nautilus
+61 (0) 7 4099 5350
This restaurant is the most romantic place to dine in Port Douglas, hands down. Under a canopy of towering palms, you are served sumptuous seafood by candlelight. Dinner only.
17 Murphy Street, Port Douglas, Queensland, 4877
Salsa Bar and Grill
+61 (0) 7 4099 4922
This charming restaurant, in an old wooden Queenslander building, dishes up tropical, modern Australian cuisine. The vibe is lively yet relaxed and is perfect for lunch or dinner. 2
26 Wharf Street, Port Douglas, Queensland 4877
2 Fish
+61 (0) 7 4099 6350
2 Fish is a great option for a casual lunch or dinner. The scallops with pancetta are beyond delicious and their speciality is market fish cooked seven different ways.
Shop 7, 20 Wharf Street, Port Douglas, Queensland 4877
check availability
To check availability and book a vacation rental property please call the Smith travel team on 1 866 610 3867. We guarantee best available rates on all vacation rental properties.
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Housekeeping
A complimentary cleaning service is available for stays of eight days or more.
check availability
To check availability and book a vacation rental property please call the Smith travel team on 1 866 610 3867. We guarantee best available rates on all vacation rental properties.
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Planes Regular flights are available to Cairns from all major cities in Australia with Qantas (www.qantas.com.au), Virgin Blue (www.virginblue.com.au) and Jetstar (www.jetstar.com). There’s also an international terminal at Cairns. Sunlover Helicopters offers airport transfers from Cairns airport to most resorts and islands along the coast (+61 (0) 7 4035 9669; www.sunloverheli.com.au)
Trains You’d have to be an avid railway fan to attempt this journey by train. The business-class-only service from Cairns to Brisbane will take an eye-popping 24 hours and there is no sleeper service (+61 (0) 1 300 131 722; www.tilttrain.com.au).
Local taxi service There’s a taxi rank on Macrossan Street or call Port Douglas Taxi (+61 (0) 7 4099 5345).
Directions by road It’s a one-and-a-half hour drive from Cairns to Port Douglas, along one of the most spectacular stretches of Australian coastline. There are plenty of car hire companies at Cairns airport and city, including Hertz (www.hertz.com.au), Avis (www.avis.com.au) and Europcar (www.europcar.com.au). Sun Palm Transport (+61 (0) 7 4087 2900; www.sunpalmtransport.com) has a shuttle service from the airport to Port Douglas and Rainforest Limousine Service (www.rainforestlimo.com.au) offers airport transfers to and from Cairns.
Review
The (w)right House is in the select Beachfront Mirage Estate, and was designed by award-winning architect Charles Wright. It is enveloped by water, a clever ruse to cool the tropical air – just one of the environmentally sound solutions that grace this maritime masterpiece.
A flowing metal structure shades the lap pool, and a wooden deck wraps around the house conjuring up the sense of being at sea. Neck-craningly high ceilings and the stunning architecture throughout lend this luxury self-catering house the air of a homely cathedral. And it has heart-stopping views of the myrtle-like melaleuca forest.
check availability
To check availability and book a vacation rental property please call the Smith travel team on 1 866 610 3867. We guarantee best available rates on all vacation rental properties.
Back to top
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