We stayed at this same resort with the kids when they were little back in 2001 and decided that when they were a bit older hubby and I would return for a few days on our own to explore the area a bit more thoroughly.  So in 2005 the Girls went to stay with their Grandparents and we went back to Port Douglas.

Address

316 Port Douglas Road, Port Douglas Queensland 4877

Date stayed

16th November 2005 for five nights

Check-in & Check-out

• Check-in is from 2pm
• Check-out is by 10am
• The resort has 24 hour reception

Parking

There is limited parking at the resort and the small car park can fill quickly so you’re left with parking your car out on the street.

WiFi

WiFi is available in your room for a fee and is free at certain locations around the resort such as by the pool.  The signal can be quite weak and mobile phone coverage can be poor.  This seems to be one of the biggest gripes about this resort.

Room

There are two main room types – a hotel room or an apartment.  Of the hotel rooms there is a standard room that will accommodate up to four people and is 28m² and a Deluxe room also for four people which is slightly larger at 32m².  Both have a king bed or two singles and a double sofa bed.  The apartments come in either one or two bedrooms and you can choose from standard or deluxe.  The deluxe apartments have more impressive kitchens with stainless steel appliances.  The hotel rooms have tea and coffee making facilities, a LCD TV with DVD’s for hire, a mini fridge and a bathtub.  All rooms have air-conditioning.  We noticed this time our room didn’t have a balcony which was a pity as it would have been nice to sit outside and take in the sites, smells and sounds of the tropical landscape.  It was evident the hotel rooms are showing signs of age and could do with some renovations.

 Grounds

The grounds are attractive and make you feel like you’re in the middle of a rainforest.  There are plenty of trees that provide a good amount of shade throughout the resort and a lovely boardwalk that meanders past trees full of birds and ponds which are home to fish and lilly pads.  A beautiful pool with a waterfall over rocks and a swim up bar is tucked in amongst the greenery.

Hotel Facilities

• Attractive swimming pool
• Nice gym
• Meeting rooms
• Day Spa
• Bikes for hire
• Restaurant

Location

Just an hour’s drive north of Cairns in far north Queensland, Port Douglas is a gateway to both the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest.  The resort is set amongst tropical rainforest and is only a ten minute walk to the beach.  There are shuttle buses that go into town for a fee and the short trip takes only about five minutes.

What’s nearby

• Four Mile Beach – 10 mins walk
• Nautilus Restaurant – 10 mins
• Mossman Gorge – 20 mins
• Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures – 20 mins
• Rainforest Cableway Great Barrier Reef – 55 mins
• Cape Tribulation – 1hr 45 mins

Pros

• The resort setting is quite tranquil with it’s rainforest feel
• Well located with plenty to do nearby
• Friendly and helpful staff
• Nice food at the Resort’s restaurant

Cons

• WiFi is not complimentary in room and signal is weak
• Rooms with no balconies
• Resort is not on the beach so there’s a bit of a walk and you can not swim at the beach for a good part of the year due to stingers
• Rooms are dated and require some work

Summary

The grounds are what do this resort justice.  The staff also do a good job.  I hope they fix the WiFi situation and with the place currently undergoing renovations until 23rd March 2018, it should again be an impressive place to stay.