nw: *Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas

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Sheraton Mirage,
Port Douglas,
Australia.		 ©ITT Sheraton Mirage logo - GIF image 170x160 pixels, Decoded size (Bytes):54616

©ITT Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas, PO Box 172, Port Douglas, Qld 4871 - Reservations PHONE: +61 070-99-5888 - JPEG image 180x120 pixels, Decoded size (Bytes):43416

Arrived Monday afternoon, June 26, 1989, after driving the 44 miles (70 kms) north along the beautiful scenic Captain Cook Highway from Cairns and even stopping at the crocodile farm along the way.

This beautiful resort with villa units, magnificent championship golf course, Country Club, restaurants and shopping at Marina Mirage is set among 300 acres of tropical landscaped grounds at idyllic Four Mile Beach at Port Douglas, Queensland's closest mainland point to the spectacular Great Barrier Reef.

Quicksilver catamaran - Outer Reef - JPEG image 180x130 pixels, Decoded size (Bytes):47016 opening to arial view of Quicksilver VIII - Agincourt Reef JPEG image (41KB)

There had been cyclonic weather earlier, and despite very rough seas with a 3m. swell, overcast skies and murky underwater conditions reducing visibility to 30ft, on Tuesday I bravely joined others on the 'Quicksilver' catamaran to the Outer Reef - SCUBA diving Agincourt Reef. Fed fish, filmed from the submersible, snorkelled, chatted with those not seasick and spent an exhilerating day while Charlene preferred to stay back at the resort.
Angelfish
©Quicksilver Connections - JPEG image 258x160 pixels, Decoded size (Bytes):82776

Two days later weather for diving had not improved - winds at 25 knots, and swells between 3 1/2 to 4 metres which reduced visability and without the sunlight, robbed the fish of their jewel-like colours.

Our luxurious room had it's own balcony onto the free-form five-acre saltwater lagoon, much to Charlene's swimming enjoyment. Bicycles were available, and early morning walks along the beach, around the golf course or to the health & fitness centre made breakfasts of fresh, tropical fruit most welcome. ©ITT Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas - Lagoon rooms - JPEG image 180x120 pixels, Decoded size (Bytes):43416

Thursday we packed the car for the day and headed off to 'explore' - driving through fields of burning sugar cane - stopping to wave to all those aboard the Kuranda train on it's way to the Atherton Tablelands and the return Skyrail trip.

Rainforest JPEG image 442x88 pixels, Decoded size (Bytes):78008

Driving on to Daintree National Park, Mossman River Gorge section and then following the nature foot trails was breathtakingly beautiful - mammoth moss-covered rocks, gorges, towering trees, waterfalls, reptiles, birdlife - tropical rainforest certainly worthy of the World Heritage listing and time well spent.

©ITT Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas, PO Box 172, Port Douglas, Qld 4871 - Reservations PHONE: +61 070-99-5888 - JPEG image 315x147 pixels, Decoded size (Bytes):93120

This was such a happy break for Charlene and I, and far north Queensland is a wonderful place to return to again and again. I cannot recommend the area highly enough, and have kept in touch with many of the contacts I've made there.

Departed mid-morning, Friday 30th. June for the Gold Coast.

How far is it ? - 1483 kms - 2 hrs. 30 mins.

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