6 Beachfront Mirage

Best picnics

Pad down to Four Mile Beach, which borders the house, with a gourmet, tailor-made hamper put together by Taste on Macrossan, Shop 12 Saltwater, Macrossan Street, Port Douglas (+61 7(0) 4099 5999). For a more dramatic backdrop, rainforest-flanked Mossman Gorge, on the crystal-clear Mossman River, is a 15-minute drive away. Spread out your picnic blanket on the giant boulders at this magical spot.

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.

Shopping

Pick up locally grown tropical fruits and vegetables from the Sunday market in Anzac Park at the Dixon’s Inlet end of Macrossan Street or from Port Produce at 9 Warner Street, +61 (0) 7 4099 4989 which offers free delivery in Port Douglas for orders over $20. Seamarkets Australia, Cnr Grant and Warner Street, Port Douglas 4877, +61 (0) 7 4099 4625, sells seafood fresh from the trawler. Pick up homemade sauces and valuable cooking tips while you’re there. They even sell airline-approved seafood packs. Open seven days a week from 08.30 to 18.30. The nearest supermarket is Coles on Macrossan Street.

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.
Get that wind-swept look by cantering along a sandy beach on horseback.
Whatever your level of expertise, thee team will look after you on an enchanting two-and-a-half hour trek of the beach and rainforest. www.ridethebeach.com.au; +61 (0) 7 4098 7583.

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).

Billy Tea Safaris offers personalised 4WD tours to Cape Tribulation, (the only place on earth where two World-Heritage-listed sites lie side by side), the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. Daintree is the oldest rainforest in the world and is home to 20 per cent of Australia’s bird species and 60 percent of Australia’s butterfly species. Ancient trees believed to have been extinct for millions of years were rediscovered here. www.billytea.com.au

Cafes

Soul n’ Pepper

+61 (0) 7 4099 4499

This cafe 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
Cnr Mowbray Street / Esplanade, Port Douglas, Queensland 4877

Restaurants

Nautilus

+61 (0) 7 4099 5350

This restaurant is, hands down, the most romantic place to dine in Port Douglas. Under a canopy of towering palms, you are served sumptuous seafood by candlelight. Dinner only.
17 Murphy Street, Port Douglas, Queensland

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.
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

For a full list of eating and drinking recommendations in Queensland & Great Barrier Reef, check out our Queensland & Great Barrier Reef restaurant guide

For a full list of recommended activities in Queensland & Great Barrier Reef, check out our Queensland & Great Barrier Reef destination guide

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