WELLNESS ESSENTIALS

Holidays offer us a chance to slow down, take pause and reconnect with ourselves, nature and those closest to us. If you are looking for experiences that will stay with you, long after the glow of your sun kissed holiday tan has faded, Port Douglas and Daintree has so much to give.

Go Green

Travellers are spoilt for choice when it comes to ecofriendly travel operators who put sustainability at the front and centre of everything they do. Look for experiences that give back through monitoring, research, conservation, education and preservation of the natural environment. Think citizen science, turtle encounters on the Great Barrier Reef, carbon offset, cultural tours and rainforest experiences to enrich your soul

Go Forest Bathing

Immerse yourself in the oldest tropical rainforest on Earth, where hugging trees is encouraged. North of the Daintree River, self-guided walks will offer jawdropping views that make your spirit soar Discover secret swimming holes as you climb to the top of Mowbray Falls along the Bump Track, navigate the stunning rainforest circuit track at Mossman Gorge, or walk amongst the lush fig tree canopy along the Flagstaff Hill Walking Trail

Rejuvenate

Start your day with yoga on Four Mile Beach or Rex Smeal Park, where classes will quieten your mind and leave you energised, refreshed and ready for a day of exploring. Stargaze at Thala Beach Nature Reserve. Its unique location means this eco resort is free from light pollution, affording the best views of the Southern night sky. If relaxing by the fire is more your thing, watch the moon rise over the ocean as evening sets in with a beach bonfire at Cape Trib Beach House before turning in to the sound of the rainforest and water lapping the beach just metres away

To Do Around Port Douglas

Rex Smeal Park

This coconut fringed park at the northern tip of the Port Douglas peninsula, offers views from every vantage, overlooking the rainforest clad Daintree mountain ranges, the Coral Sea, Low Isles, Snapper Island and Dickson Inlet. Throw down a rug and bathe in the bliss of a tropical evening as the reef boats cruise in to berth for the night and the sun sets on another day perfect day in paradise.

Sunday Markets

The Port Douglas Markets is a celebrated cotter's market where all goods showcased are created and sold by Australian artisans. Meet the locals, wander the stalls, find a treasure to take home and sample some of the different foods on offer – this bustling waterfront market, which has long been a favourite for travellers, will not disappoint. Open every Sunday from 8am-1.30pm

Sunrise

Affectionately dubbed as Port Douglas' ultimate viewing point, Flagstaff Hill Walking Trail offers views over Four Mile Beach, as well as the surrounding mountains and Coral Sea. The lookout is accessed via steps from the northern end of the beach, before winding around the headland through tropical rainforest and ancient fig trees to finish at Rex Smeal Park. Whether you take in a sunrise, or watch a full moon, the rewards at the top are well and truly worth the effort.

Beach Days

You will never go short of a beach at Port Douglas and Daintree. Four Mile Beach is an ideal place to swim and relax, manned by lifeguards and offering the epitome of a beach holiday. Fringed by palm trees, it also offers water sport rentals for the active beachgoer. If you are looking for that postcard perfect photo, take a drive and check out the more secluded beaches of Oak, Newell, Myall, Pretty, Cow Bay and Cape Tribulation, as well as the island delights of Low Isles and Mackay Cay on the Great Barrier Reef.

Freshwater Swimming

Whether it's a mountain stream, rocky waterfall or rainforest swimming hole, there are plenty of places to take a dip. Mason's Café and Mason's swimming hole are easily accessible from Cape Tribulation. Enjoy the drive up to this local beauty spot, pay a gold coin donation and jump into the cool water. The secluded Mowbray Falls is your reward for a walk up the Bump Track and through the rainforest-clad National Park in Port Douglas' back country and the Shannonvale Causeway, just north of Port Douglas, is very picturesque with its clear water, shallow rapids, and sandy bottom