Joanna James
Ever since the Europeans came to Australia there have been many reasons that brought people to Port Douglas; first the gold, then for sugar but now it's mainly to appreciate the scenic beauty.
Port Douglas is surrounded by natural beauty – the Great Barrier Reef is a notable presence just off the shore. Many visitors come here for the scuba diving. The views beneath the waves are unrivalled; you could travel the world and not find a place that comes close. So if you're visiting make sure to go on at least one excursion to see this mythical underwater wonderland.
There are various experiences that teach and share the aboriginal culture with visitors – the shows conducted by the 'Flames of the Forest' is probably the best. It is a dreamlike experience which takes you into the forest and into the ancient tales of the aboriginal people of Australia.
Seeing the reef from underwater is magical but when you see this marvel from the skies you can truly appreciate its magnitude and splendour. From Port Douglas, you can easily find helicopter tours that take you out to see some of the best parts of the reef just off the coast. Any Port Douglas family resort or hotel should be able to help you with such an excursion as it is a favourite part of the Port Douglas experience. If you're looking for a place to stay Oaks Resort Port Douglas comes highly recommended.
Daintree rainforest is one of the oldest rainforests in the world and is believed to date back to at least 110 million years – making it at least 50 million years older than the Amazon. Some of the plants here co-existed with dinosaurs. Zip-lining through the jungle canopy is a very popular activity with the people who visit – offering quite an exhilarating ride through awe-inspiring foliage.
It's hard to stay away from the sea for too long, especially when it looks the way it does from Port Douglas. The best way to relax from an adventure into the rainforest is to sail out into the Pacific on board a gigantic catamaran. Sip on a nice cool drink while you lie back and wait for the sunset.
Be sure to spend an evening out on the Marina; the nightlife is quite laidback but there are enough pubs and spots to get a drink and meet and hang out with the locals.
Australia is unquestionably home to some of the most unique wildlife species on Earth mainly due to the fact that the content has been separated from the rest of the world for many millions of years allowing the species there to evolve very independently. And when you're visiting it would be a shame if you didn't get up and close with some of Port Douglas's furry friends.
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