This document provides a summary of 5 things to do in Port Douglas, Australia. It describes Wildlife Habitat where you can interact with koalas, crocodiles, kangaroos and snakes. It recommends GBR Helicopters for an aerial view of the Great Barrier Reef from 150 meters above the reef. Another option is to see the reef from the sea on a Quicksilver boat tour, which offers snorkeling, scuba diving and viewing whales between June and August. It suggests lunch at Hemingway's Brewery for craft beers and local dishes overlooking the reef marina. Finally, it recommends dining under the stars at Nautilus Restaurant for an elegant outdoor setting with a focus on local sea

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18 | Tuesday, September 20, 2016 travel
Douglas
Across the Ditch »
5
Discover an abundance of
things to do and see in the
area, writes Ellie Hutchinson
Checklist
PORT
DOUGLAS
GETTINGTHERE
Air NewZealand fliesnon-
stopto Cairnsfrom
Auckland betweenMarch
and October.One-way
Seat faresstart from$340.
airnewzealand.co.nz
Cairns
PortDouglas
Queensland
Coral Sea
Lake
Mitchell
Port Douglas
things
to do in
1
Wildlife Habitat
You can’t visit Australia without
cuddling a koala, holding a baby croc or
petting a tiny joey. Wildlife Habitat offers
it all. There, you can see the cassowary, huge
scary crocodiles, beautiful native birds each
with unique personality, interact with friendly
kangaroos and wallabies and, if you’re up for
it, have your picture taken with a non-venomous
python. Highly recommended by the nearby
Sheraton Mirage Resort as part of their new
‘1-Hour Gems’ concept, aiming to connect guests
to their destination through local experiences.
wildlifehabitat.com.au
2
See the reef from the air. . .
This once-in-a-lifetime trip may feel like
the fastest 10 minutes you have ever
experienced but it is worth every second.
GBR Helicopters’ knowledgeable flight crew will
give you a great commentary as the aerial views
of the Great Barrier Reef take your breath away.
The colours and patterns you see below will blow
your mind while you glide 150 metres above
Agincourt Reef — one of the most beautiful outer
ribbon reefs, and just one small portion of the
2300km stretch of this incredible natural
wonder.
gbr.com.au
3
. . . and see it from the sea
Hop aboard Quicksilver’s newly equipped
boat and be transported to Agincourt Reef
in just over an hour. To get the most out
of the fascinating pristine ecosystem, take a semi-
submersible tour and get up close to sleepy
turtles and sharks, go on a guided snorkelling
tour with a marine biologist, or scuba dive for
a more up-close encounter with an abundance
of fish. Between June and August, you might be
lucky enough to spot humpback whales with
their calves. If you don’t want to get your hair
wet, you can don an ocean walker helmet,
allowing you to dive at 4.5 metres. The fantastic
staff will not only take pictures of you in your
striking helmets and lycra suits, but will happily
help snorkellers fit masks and fins, and even get
into the water to assist those less confident
swimmers.
quicksilvergroup.com.au
4
Local lunch
Hemingway’s Brewery has drawn
inspiration from Port Douglas’ rich and
sometimes colourful history to create its
specially crafted beers on site. It is a welcome
surprise to have healthy, fresh, gourmet local
produce served up with your craft beer tasting
platter, and you can dine on the outdoor deck
overlooking the reef marina. The tapas and
barbecue style dishes are delicious, from sweet
potatoes with smoked baba ganoush, herbed pea
salad, green rice fried prawns and mouth-
watering buffalo mozzarella with prosciutto. The
local cows are on a diet of the spent grain — a
by-product of the brewing process — bringing an
element of quality and sustainability to the
restaurant’s menu.
hemingwaysbrewery.com
5
Dine under the stars
Nautilus Restaurant’s outdoor dining
experience is like no other. Tucked away
down a hidden pathway, you’ll discover a
romantic dinner setting under a canopy of rain
forest and stars. The vibe is elegant but relaxed
and the tasty ‘Modern Australian’ menu sources
only the freshest produce from the bountiful
coral sea and surrounding fertile land.
nautilus-restaurant.com.au