34. Port Douglas - Four Mile Beach & Sunday Market

Sunday 28 September

Another wonderful day today - went down to Four Mile Beach at 8.00 this morning. Headed down Warner Street, turned right at Owen Street, then left up Mowbray passing some lovely red hibiscus on the way.

Hibiscus in Mowbray Street

It was a lovely walk and the sand was very clean and the water lovely and warm. I was surprised at the number of people out and about already.

Four Mile Beach

This is the premier beach of Port Douglas. From the main Port Douglas district, you can walk to the beach in under 5 minutes and then continue to walk along the sandy beach for hours under the tropical sun.

Facing North

4-Mile Beach begins at the northern rocky headland - great for children to explore and play with the small crabs that make the beach their home.


Facing South

Then the 4 miles of beach unfold in a gentle curve that continues as far as the eye can see, without a hint of development - the accommodation and houses are neatly hidden behind the swaying palms.

Then it was time for the Port Douglas Sunday Market which is held every Sunday at Anzac Park at the end of Macrossan Street between 8.00 and 1.30pm.

Anzac Park

At the mouth of Dixon Inlet is Anzac Park, also known as The Old Stinger Enclosure due to it originally being a man-made rock wall protecting a sheltered swimming beach from box jellyfish. The area behind the rock wall has since been filled in and it is now a very pleasant area of parkland with rock faces dropping off to the water on three sides.

Anzac Park is a great place for family fishing with plenty of room for children to run around in, playground equipment, picnic tables, beautiful big shady trees, easy parking, and a stones throw from the centre of town, and the Courthouse Hotel.

Sunday Market

Each Sunday a market is held in Market Park, which adjoins Anzac Park Port Douglas.
Bordered by Dickson Inlet and Wharf Street the location is picturesque with the mountain ranges and Coral Sea in the background.

Established almost 20 years, Port Douglas Sunday Market provide locally made hand crafted goods of every description.

In 1998 Council decided that the Port Douglas Sunday Market would be a "Cotters Market", thereby ensuring that goods offered for sale were made by the stallholder or their immediate family.

There were many arts and crafts, jewellery, clothing, and fresh produce as well as dried fruits and nuts. I bought fruit $5.00, three tomatoes, two peaches, a pineapple ($2). That was the best pineapple I've ever tasted. Also macadamias ($6), liquorice, dried paw-paw, cost- $14.00.

After this it was time to head to Coles for three small bottles of champagne ($13.00) for my trip to the Low Isles.

Port Douglas Click on blue marker for photo. You can also enlarge the map.

View Port Douglas in a larger map

26. Port Douglas - Macrossan Street

Thursday 25 September

I had a migraine and took some tablets, and slept on and off until after 12 noon. Goodness, the day is almost over! After a refreshing shower I strolled down to Macrossan Street and bought two coffees $3.80 each at the Port Douglas Central Pub and sat in the smokers area - a huge undercover area with lots of tables and chairs, right on the street. I met two ladies, Sue and Nicky. It was Nicky's birthday - she was 28. We pased a very pleasant time and chatted and Sue filled me in on all the goss - they were both "locals."


Macrossan Street

About Port Douglas

PORT DOUGLAS is a nice little town about an hour's drive north of Cairns. The main street Macrossan is filled with cafes, clothing shops and the street is lined with trees. Beautiful Four MIle Beach with it's long sandy shore, nifty little boutiques, a host of restaurants, Sunday market, and a range of accommodation to suit all budgets, this is the perfect get-a-way for a laid-back holiday. The Central Hotel is a great watering hole with outdoor smoking areas in a relaxed and shady setting. Marina Mirage is where you depart for the Great Barrier Reef, and the complex has an array of shops and cafes.

Below A few pics of Macrossan Street - the main street where all the shops are.

Cafe Ecco

ECO Wear & Palms

Opposite Macrossan Gardens

Street Plant

It was Chef's night off so I had water crackers and tinned salmon for tea.

Jenny and I

Thursday night was Trivia Night and Jenny, one of my room mates, and I entered. Each team had to have a name, so we called ourselves "The Blondies" - we had most of the 30 questions right but fell down on the pictures of muscicians. I said Spartacus, she went for Gladiator. It was Spartacus. We came 6th - last! But even though we didn't win, it was fun and we had a really good time.

Jenny is from Canada and had been working in Korea and had done a trip to Australia and was flying out the next day.

3. Cairns - Around The City Mall

Saturday 20 September
Strolling along Shields Street was fun - lots of pubs with people sitting at small tables enjoying a beer (or wine), and plenty of cafes and bistros. Every one of them had tables and chairs on the footpath and people just sat and lazed around. dining "al fresco" is one of the most popular ways of eating in Cairns and the weather is just made for it.


Cairns Plaza

I sat in the middle on a round wall in the middle of this intersection and watched the comings and goings of people as they went about their way, and spoke with many of the "locals".

Cairns was an enjoyable place to be and unlike some who say it is boring, I found this untrue. I loved the gaeity and holiday atmosphere that abounded. I sat chatting with a local chap for almost an hour and he told me stories of the area. He was a nice fellow who informed me that everybody had air conditioning and in summer everyone pops out early in the morning then it's back inside until the evening.


Cairns Mall Playground

What a wonderful splash of colour this children's play equipment provided. The backdrop was a stage.



Cairns Visitor Information Centre

There is a huge amount of greenery in Cairns City

2. Cairns - Shopping

Saturday 20 September

The plane touched down at Cairns airport around 3.00am - in the morning! By the time I caught the shuttle and arrived at the YHA in McLeod Street, it was close to 4.00am. I had booked four nights there, 20 -24 and asked could I go to my room now,(I had booked a dorm room) The answer was yes I could, but I'd have to pay an extra $28 for another night's stay. Considering the time was after 4am. it wasn't worth it just for a few hours. Told the fellow I'd sleep in the lounge, which is what I did. There was another person also sleeping there as well.

About Cairns
CAIRNS is a tropical city and very popular with holiday makers. The Esplanade is a new well-designed area on the shore with safe swwimming, and is the hub for night markets, events & get-togethers With shady trees & numerous cafes it is also child friendly. Cairns is the stepping off point for many attractions & places - the Great Barrier Reef, Port Douglas, the Atherton Tablelands & of course the Daintree & Cape Tribulation.

Buses run frequently and there are many hostels for the backpacker, some with very good facilities and most within eaasy reach of the CBD. The Cairns YHA is opposite Cairns Central Plaza and is a haven for those who wish to relax without all the noise.

Many pubs offer good deals and the Mall is a lovely place for a stroll. There is a bus operated by a local man - CountryRoad Coaches which goes to Cooktown three times a week. Travel inland or the coastal route via the Bloomfield Track. September in Cairns is lovely with warm days and nights.


Cordyline Rubra

This is one of several plants that dotted the courtyard - aren't the leaves pretty?


Cairns Central

I'd planned on going to Rusty's Markets and buying fruit etc. but after a lazy start to the day, I strolled down to Cairns Central Shopping Centre and bught a light-weight backpack - a daypack, with a waist strap. It was much easier than carrying around a bag. Also bought a small Thermos from Myers.

Cairns Central is the largest shopping centre in far North Queensland and has been servicing the local region since 1997.

The centre is fully enclosed and offers an extensive range of stores and services, including the only department store north of the Sunshine Coast. It has over 180 stores together with Myer, Target, Coles, BI-LO and Birch, Carroll and Coyle.
It was opposite and just up the road from the YHA where I stayed.


Street Art

There were a number of these colourful artworks which doubled a seats and the bright colours made the city vibrant and fun.



International Street Sign

This is located somewhere near Shields Street and Grafton Street. Just think, if I head right from that sign it's only 15,376 kms to New York! Should I head left, I'd be in Wagga Wagga after 2,028 kms!