Port Douglas (wikipedia) is a town in Far North Queensland, Australia, approximately 70 km (40 mi) north of Cairns. Its permanent population was 3,205 at the time of the 2011 census. The town’s population can often double, however, with the influx of tourists during the peak tourism season May–September. The town is named in honour of former Premier of Queensland, John Douglas. Port Douglas developed quickly based on the mining industry. Other parts of the area were established with timber cutting occurring in the area surrounding the Daintree River and with settlement starting to occur on lots around the Mossman River by 1880. Previous names for the town included Terrigal, Island Point, Port Owen and Salisbury. The town is situated adjacent to two World Heritage areas, the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. Port Douglas was No. 3 on Australian Traveller magazine’s list of 100 Best Towns In Australia.

History

The Port Douglas township was established in 1877 after the discovery of gold at Hodgkinson River by James Venture Mulligan. Port Douglas Post Office opened on 1 September 1877.^[3] It grew quickly, and at its peak Port Douglas had a population of 12,000 and 27 hotels. With the construction of the Mulligan Highway it serviced towns as far away as Herberton. When the Kuranda Railway from Cairns to Kuranda was completed in 1891, the importance of Port Douglas dwindled along with its population. A cyclone in 1911 which demolished all but two buildings in the town also had a significant impact. At its nadir in 1960 the town, by then little more than a fishing village, had a population of 100. On 5 July 1943, a RAAF Vultee Vengeance (Serial Number A27-217) crash landed on the beach near Port Douglas. In November 1996 United States President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton chose the town as their only holiday stop on their historic visit to Australia. When dining at a local restaurant they witnessed a couple’s wedding certificate. On a return visit on 11 September 2001, the then ex-President was again dining at the Salsa Bar and Grill, a local restaurant, when he was advised of the 11 September attacks. He returned to the United States the following day. The town has enjoyed a steady influx of full-time residents since its ‘rebirth’, with most newcomers arriving from Australia‘s south, namely Victoria and Tasmania.^{[citation needed]} On 4 September 2006, entertainer a.k.a. “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin died at Batt Reef, off Port Douglas, after a stingray barb went through his chest into his heart while Irwin and his crew were filming a documentary called The Ocean’s Deadliest. Irwin was filmed snorkelling directly above the stingray when it lashed him with its tail, embedding its toxic barb. Irwin died almost immediately. This event was widely reported both in Australia and overseas. Every year Port Douglas attracts tourist and locals alike to two significant festival periods. The Port Douglas Carnivale is held during the end of May and runs for 10 days over two weekends beginning with the Macrossan Street Parade attracting over 10,000 people. The second festival period is held through October and November with The Sunset in the Park Music Festival and Porttoberfest North Queensland’s very own Beer Festival are held on the middle and last weekends of October. The first weekend in November Port Douglas turns into an athletes’ village to host the CANEGROWERS Great Barrier Reef Marathon Festival. Steve Moneghetti is the event ambassador and competitors get the chance to race against the Marathon Olympian in the Steve Moneghetti Marathon. Port Douglas continues to entertain taking the first Tuesday of November very seriously with an assortment of Melbourne Cup dining events. Both periods celebrate and embrace the regions unique tropical island like lifestyle. In 2012, Port Douglas was the pole position for a Total Solar Eclipse. This phenomenon took place at 6:38 am on 14 November 2012. The total eclipse was visible from approximately Innisfail in the south to Cedar Bay National Park in the North. Port Douglas was right in its path. Thousands travelled to Port Douglas to see the event.

Climate

Port Douglas has a tropical monsoon climate according to Köppen climate classification (Am), with hot summers and warm winters, with heavy rainfall primarily occurring from January-March, the wettest month of the year typically being February.   20^th July Sunday The trip down the mountain to Mossman was slow going.  We could only do 30kms, which is the recommended speed limit anyway, but tell the cowboys who live here that. The road again is windy, bendy, u-bends in fact the GPS of the road looks like a heart monitor machine.  It is harvest time for the Cane sugar and the cane trucks are up and down the mountain like yo-yos, driving over the white line and there is no space because it’s a mountain pass, a little scary in parts.  Ralph pulls over when he can find a little layby to let the traffic go past.  It’s a beautiful drive and I enjoyed it more than Ralph did because the poor bugger had to concentrate.  We arrived at the caravan park, it’s the only one in Mossman and it’s very nice as far as caravan parks go.  We have a beautiful view of the mountains although the photos don’t do it any justice.  We set everything up and then went to Port Douglas to have dinner with Mike, Barbs and Margrit.  It was lovely to see them again. Margrit goes back to Germany on Tuesday and that is why we needed to get here sooner rather than later. We had a lovely BBQ and then drove back to Mossman (only 15 mins). 21^st July Monday We took a drive to see Newel beach and had something to eat in Mossman.  I was looking for a hairdresser and everything was closed as today is show day in Mossman, which we didn’t know about. The holiday is only for this town and that would explain the big concert they had last night, which we could hear from the caravan park and it wasn’t too bad. Apparently there are fireworks tonight, someone came and warned us because of Hugo.  We drove to Port Douglas and the place is hopping.  People everywhere, it’s so busy.  We went to Mike and Barb’ boutique, it is a beautiful boutique but nothing there for daggy old me.  From there we went to Mike and Barb’ house to say Goodbye to Margrit.  She was busy packing so we only stopped for a tea, hate Goodbyes, so like to get them over and done with quickly.  We will chill for the rest of the day.  We are going to leave the van here and stay with Mike and Barbs for a few days which is great so we get to spend some more time with them.

22^nd July to 25^th July, Tuesday to Friday Port Douglas is a very pretty place and there is so much to see with the barrier reef, the rain forests etc. but we have done these things before and just want some quality time with our good friends. It is so good to catch up with them and it seems like yesterday since last we saw them. Wednesday, we vegged and just caught up with each other.  Mike and Barbs were quite sad because Margrit had left on Tuesday.  Thursday, it rained a bit.  The boys were going to go fishing but by the time the weather cleared the tide had gone out, they will try tomorrow.  We watched a movie and then went out to the Beach Shack for dinner.  It’s an awesome place and Mike and Barbs took us there the last time we were here.  The restaurant is just about on the beach and the floor of the place is all sea sand.  Today, Friday, we went to the beach which is within walking distance of where Mike and Barbs live. The boys threw a line in and Barbs and I sat on the beach just chillaxing and catching up some more.  Ralph caught a flathead and he was put back to swim another day.  We went to the Surf Club for lunch and We have to say that the meal we had there is the best we have had so far on our travels.  Master chef, move over. We went back to their place packed up and left to come back to the caravan park. Barbs had 2 days off from her shop but she has to go back tomorrow so has stuff to do. It was so sad to leave them……. I hated it. Tomorrow, we will start packing up and head off to the Lions den caravan park on Sunday which we visited last time we were here with Mike and Barbs.  It’s a real character place but I will leave that bit to tell you until we are there.  It is quite close to Cooktown and we will stay for 3 days.  I don’t think that there is no internet or phone reception there so I might only update this blog in about 4 days.

26^th July Saturday

Today we did our shopping, went to the market and did general bits and pieces that we do the day before we leave, so there is not much to tell you.  The only thing that we can say is that we are happy to leave this Caravan Park as there are very strange people who stay here.  The park itself is good but the people are weird.  Tomorrow we will head off at Sparrows so we will update this when we can. Love you all. xxxxxxxxxxxx