Smith tip
How to open a coconut:
Use one of the dozens of coconuts strewn across the lawn in front of the house as a guinea pig. Pull off the strands of outer husk, and remember to hold the coconut over a bowl if you want to catch the delicious water inside. Locate the three holes, known as the eyes, at the top of the fruit and with them pointing sideways, wallop the coconut across the ridge with the back of a meat cleaver and it should split in half.
Absolute Newell Beach
Queensland & Great Barrier Reef, Australia[view map]
Best picnics
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 one on your doostep. Swim (when stingers aren’t in season) or go horse riding along the beach (+61 (0) 7 4098 7583; www.,ridethebeach.com.au.Best walks
The Mossman Gorge. While you are there, make for Kuku Yalanji Dreamtime, at the entrance of the gorge, where the indigenous inhabitants of the local rainforest offer guided rainforest walks with demonstrations of traditional plant use and identification of bush tucker.Shopping
A general store is five minutes’ walk away and sells basic provisions such as bread and milk, basic grocery items, newspapers and fishing bait. The nearest supermarket is a five-minute drive away in Mossman (IGA, 12 Front Street, Mossman 4873 +61 (0) 7 4098 1168). Head for The Golden Cane Bakery (37 Front Street, Mossman 4873, +61 (0) 7 4098 1907) for breakfast goodies. Visit Mossman market on Saturdays or the weekly market in Port Douglas on Sundays. They both sell locally grown fruit and vegetables direct from the farmers. Port Produce at 9 Warner Street, +61 (0) 7 4099 4989 also sells local produce. 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 daily from 08.30 to 18.30.Activities
The vibrant resort town of Port Douglas is a 15-minute drive away and offers a multitude of activities, including international standard golfing, day trips to the Great Barrier Reef, shopping, fabulous art galleries and world-class dining.
Your hosts can organise day trips and a hire car.
Take a scenic helicopter ride to remote Aboriginal rock art sites and the outback, or try a heli-horse or heli-rafting safari (+61 (0) 7 4099 3666; www.skysafari.com.au).
Cafes
Soul n’ Pepper
+61 (0) 7 4099 4499Facing a former sugar wharf, this cafe 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 5814Java Blue serves the best coffee in town and is popular with locals so it’s always buzzing. 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 4998Classic Aussie beach kiosk with plastic chairs and a sand-covered floor. Wander in barefoot for an ice cream or tuck into one of their superb burgers.
Cnr Mowbray Street / Esplanade, Port Douglas, Queensland 4877
Junction Café
This cafe is in the nearby town of Mossman, just five minutes’ drive away, is locally renowned and open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
41 Front Street, Mossman
Restaurants
Nautilus
+61 (0) 7 4099 5350This 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
Salsa Bar and Grill
+61 (0) 7 4099 4922; www.salsaportdouglas.com.auThis 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; www.2fishrestaurant.com.au2 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