Port Douglas, or simply ‘Port’ as it’s referred to by locals, is a chilled resort town about 60 ks north of Cairns. It’s perched on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef with the rainforest-clad mountains of the Great Dividing Range tumbling down to the jade-coloured Coral Sea.

Huge palm trees line the road leading into town with Four-Mile Beach sweeping along its edge. The town is dominated by the iconic Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, first developed by the infamous Aussie conman, Christopher Skase in 1987 at a reported cost of $100 million – transforming Port Douglas from a sleepy hamlet into one of Australia’s most famous tropical playgrounds.

The pink-hued resort is set amongst an impressive 360 acres of tropical beachfront garden with a sprawling network of sandy-edged lagoons and an 18-hole golf course with, reportedly, seven resident Salt Water Crocs. I’ve been coming here to chill since the early 90’s and nothing much has changed, other than the obligatory always tasteful refurbishments and the occasional 5-metre Salty (one of which swam along Four Mile Beach only last week – apparently).