Port Douglas and the Daintree for Reef, Rainforest & Diving.
Port Douglas and the Daintree offers the holiday of a life time. Whether you want to sit back and relax or get out and explore, the options are endless. With stunning beaches, world class restaurants and superb shopping, Port Douglas and the Daintree is also the only place in the world where two World Heritage areas meet. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is the largest protected marine area in the world at 345,500km in area and, at 140 million years old, the Daintree National Park is the oldest tropical rainforest on earth. Visit this blog regularly for short comments by the long time Port Douglas fan, local of 18 years, stills photographer, cameraman, and digital marketer Stephen Nutt. http://www.showmedia.com.au http://twitter.com/portdouglasfan http://facebook.com/portdouglasqld
The Daintree is a natural encounter with adventure.
The Daintree Rainforest is one of Australia’s most spectacular regions, where the rainforest meets the reef.
Just a short drive north of Port Douglas is the cable operated ferry which crosses the Daintree River and marks the beginning of this ancient land. From here the drive north to Cape Tribulation offers stunning scenic lookouts and picnic areas, emerald forests, golden sands and deep blue waters.The Daintree Rainforest is 140 million years old and is home to Cassowaries, crocodiles, goannas and Bennett’s tree kangaroos to name just a few. It’s also home to the highest number of threatened plant and animal species in the world and a large number of animals and plants not found anywhere else.The rainforest is a nature-lovers paradise with hundreds of species of birds, the beautiful Ulysses butterfly with its iridescent metallic-blue wings and millions of insects making their home here.Tropical fruit abounds in season, in all shapes and sizes, with passionfruit, jackfruit, mangosteen, papaya, rambutan, star apple and soursop among others.Tucked away in the Daintree are hidden swimming holes and peaceful bushwalks through untouched forest, while stunning beaches separate the reef from the rainforest.The history and biodiversity of this area was recognised in 1998 when the forest was listed as a World Heritage site due to its evolutionary history and exceptional natural beauty.There are plenty of operators offering tours and guided hikes both during the day and in the evening, to spot the many nocturnal species, to help you make the most of your Daintree experience.Port Douglas is the natural place to holiday in Australia
Port Douglas, once a sleepy fishing village, is 60km north from Cairns along the Captain Cook Highway. The highway offers the first glimpses of this beautiful area, with stunning views across the water and along the coast.
Visitors to this family-friendly, laid-back area can fish, golf, snorkel over the reef, walk through the rainforest or just relax on one of the many beautiful beaches the area is known for.
The area is home to over 12,000, but during the tourist seasons the number can reach over three times this amount as tourists take advantage of the tropical climate and average temperatures of 26 C.
Whether you want to self-drive or take advantage of one of the many tours on offer the Douglas area is easy to navigate and full of interesting attractions.
Whatever the holiday there is a hotel, resort, lodge, backpackers or caravan park to suit your budget and needs and most offer pools, kids play areas and beach access.
