Wednesday, March 5, 2025 – I had an early flight to Cairns with a final destination near Port Douglas. So, up at 5am to meet my shuttle at 6am.
I was dropped off at the domestic flight terminal and grabbed a bite to eat — power breakfast of yogurt with fresh berries and a chocolate chip cookie! Have I mentioned I’m currently on a chocolate binge? Never had a sweet tooth (saltaholic all my life) but I finally understand!
My flight was uneventful and I was the only passenger on the shuttle to the hotel. The driver was friendly and provided a great overview of the area, which was hit with the tail end of a strong (category 5?) typhoon in 2023. It stalled near Cairns and dumped more than 6 feet of rain in three days. The road from Cairns to Port Douglas was washed out by flash floods and rock slides in several areas, so it’s still under repair and thus, we had a few short delays.
The resort is simple and beautiful. It sits on a small peninsula jutting into the Coral Sea. The reception / restaurant / bar are at the top of the hill with bungalows, pools and paths scattered throughout the jungle and down the hill. The vision for the resort was successfully achieved — maintaining the natural feel of the forest and land, protecting the wildlife habitat, and providing privacy and access for guests.
After nearly 10 miles of walking in Sydney over the past two days, I wandered just a little around the grounds. I had a light lunch followed by a quick dip in the pool. Dinner was early and I went back to my room to relax and prepare for the next day’s adventure… snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef!
Travels with Nance 