Kerry and I were lucky to be invited to spend time with old friends in Port Douglas, North Queensland, Australia for two weeks. We landed in Cairns (a 5 and a half hour flight from Auckland), and if you look closely on the map you’ll see Port Douglas marked above it. It is an hour’s drive further north.

We left in winter temperatures and arrived to a summery 27 degrees. The sky was blue, the water likewise. Too cold for ‘stingers’ we were told. Thank goodness for that I thought, knowing there were many that had wrapped their tentacles around unsuspecting strangers’ limbs in the past.

Salt water crocodiles are in the area too, but they prefer estuaries I’m told – thank goodness, as I wouldn’t have even poked a toe in the sea otherwise. Another difference between New Zealand and Australia – we have no crocodiles in our waters, in fact few dangerous creatures at all.

But luckily we could take a boat trip to view crocodiles bathing under mangroves in the sun. In fact, boats are a great way to get to lots of fabulous places, like the Great Barrier Reef. It’s a snorklers’ paradise, if that’s your thing. Not this time for us. Daily swimming, sketching and bush walking in the main. Port Douglas is a hop step and jump from the lush Daintree Rainforest, the oldest rainforest in the world purportedly, and naturally we took advantage of a day’s tour there. We walked in the Mossman gorge beside flowing water and huge boulders with trees towering overhead.

The contrasts between New Zealand’s bush and Australia’s rainforest is different in so many ways; from the tree species to the birdlife. For although we were in rainforest the canopies are lighter than the density of our native tree cover; the birds brighter and more raucous, ours more muted in colour and quiet (with the odd exception). We also walked in Cape Tribulation to view yet another fantastic beach.

Back to Port Douglas for dinner. We enjoyed many good restaurant meals in Port Douglas; Melaleuca and Zinc to name two, though there are almost too many to chose from, likewise the bars. Our days were filled with walking, swimming, sun-bathing, socialising, and for me, some sketching.

We finished the week by visiting the great market held down on the point near the wharves. Alongside fabulous fruit and food stalls were clothes, jewellery and knick knacks. I was encouraged to buy a sun dress, and of course I succumbed to the pressure. The light cotton dress was perfect for wearing in Port Douglas.

To be continued next week…