Our trip to Port Douglas with the family was interesting, was the end of the summer wet, had a lot of tropical rain showers, for 4 days off and on, the grandies loved swimming in the rain and have to say it was pretty 'cool', was hot and humid, wouldn't want to live up there couldn't cope with the continual wet for so many months in the summer and the high humidity and then when it is fine and dry it is burning hot.  However, the resort had 3 wonderful pools with lots of caves and different areas to keep everyone happy and a huge bbq area with a pool next to it which was lit at night, as they all were with different colours.. Because of the continual wet and sun everything grows so fast so maintenance is a continual pain.  Found PD to be a cross between Byron Bay and Nimbin, 1 main street and shops.  The tropics don't hold too much thrill for us now.  Maybe different in the dry season but certainly wouldn't hurry back again.

The place is very expensive and always has been, people we have spoken to have commented on that and even the locals admit the town needs money spent on it to stop it from becoming too run down and being turned into a retirement town.  There are 10,000 beds in PD and I would bet even in the height of the season they would not all be filled these days.  As we were in the shoulder season you would expect prices to have come down rather but no.

Did have a wonderful trip out on our last day there, which dawned fine and sunny and very hot, to the low isles on one of the sailing catamarans, a 30m luxurious cat. named Wavedancer, was fabulous and a superb crew..  This was only a 1/3 full so the kiddies had plenty of room to move around the cat.  It was an hour of sailing out of PD and the cat anchored in the lagoon just shy of the isles.  There we went snorkelling, even 4yr old Nate, 2yr old Chace just enjoyed playing on the beach.  Everyone had to have on 'stinger' suits (full-length all in one black Lycra suits complete  with hoods and gloves) as it was still jelly fish season.  When snorkelling we were treated to a wonderful array of coral and fish and then a trip back to the cat. for  a super topical lunch.  After lunch hubby and i joined a guided walk around the island.  It still has a working lighthouse, not manned these days, works on solar, however there are caretakers who look after the island and the coral and habitat.

Hubby and I also went out on the Lady Douglas tug for a dusk trip up the Dickson inlet croc. spotting.  We did see two crocs. one basking amongst the mangroves and then another which followed our tug for a few metres in our wake.  Both were young females about 2 1/2 m long.  Everyone was warned to keep arms in and not lean over the sides as crocs. do jump high.

It was also touch and go whether we were going to get out of PD for our flight out of Cairns as on the Mon evening there had been a slip on the Cairns-PD highway and the road was closed.  However, the only other way out was over the Tablelands which was also flooded.  With no more significant rain the road was being repaired and traffic was let through from 7-8am and 2-3pm each day, and as we had a mid-morning  flight out on the Friday am. we decided to catch an early shuttle to get through and we were at the airport by 8.30am.  i have to admit that I was glad to land at Coolangatta and realised what a wonderful area we live in - The Tweed.