 
When you turn off the Pacific Coast Highway between Cairns and Port Douglas there’s a slight decline in the road as you pass the first sign welcoming you to Palm Cove meaning that you have to take your foot off the accelerator ever-so-slightly. A little further along the road becomes a little steeper meaning that you now have to apply the brakes just a touch.
And that’s a fitting way to enter this part of Tropical North Queensland because Palm Cove is undoubtedly the place where the pace is a little slower that everywhere else. It is as Tourism Tropical North Queensland’s CEO, Rob Giason, describes as a resort village. And yet it’s so much more.
It’s the place where if you can’t find a massage therapy to suit you, you mustn’t be looking hard enough; it’s the place where you don’t need your car if you want to stroll down to the shops for some necessity or other; it’s the place where you can dine in five-star comfort or savour one of those old-fashioned hamburgers they used to make in the local milk bar near home; it’s the place where, if you want to take a nap under the gently swaying palm trees you probably won’t be the only one doing so.
 
Palm Cove is another place altogether; a relaxed, easy-going, leisurely, no hang-ups kind of place that simply oozes charm and understated style.
It may not have always been that way but once you have been there it’s hard to think of any time it would have been any different. Case in point is the history of the Sebel Reef House which now stands proudly in resplendent white among the towering melaleuca trees right opposite the beach.
Once upon a time, back in the 1970s, this property was the private home of Brigadier David Thompson and his wife Judy who welcomed friends and associates to rest and recuperate in what was later described as “the only air-conditioned beach resort in the Far North”. (One story goes that the Brigadier’s favourite guests were those soldiers he had met throughout his career, particularly those who had been injured in the carrying out of their duties).
Guest numbers were restricted to 18 people at any one time, each of whom were treated as personal guests of the hosts. Ministers, government officials and doyens of society from Australia and overseas were all recorded as guests. An honesty system in the bar operated at the time, and still does today in the now modern and expanded property.
In honour of David Thompson, The Brigadier’s Bar has been named in his honour.
It sits opposite the main beach and is today surrounded by a variety of glamorous looking apartments and hotels. Many would say that fortunately there appears to be no more room for any more accommodation. Indeed, right now there is just enough. The brakes have been applied, as they should be, in this beautiful tropical hideway.
The Palm Cove “strip” extends for what seems barely 500 metres and yet it is home to a great range of accommodation options, many of which are well-suited to intimate meetings groups. On the following pages we preview a few of the best.
The Angsana Resort & Spa at the southern end of Palm Cove boasts in having the only direct beach access right from the property in Palm Cove (IE – you don’t have to cross the road from the resort to get to the beach).
The property is boutique in size, offering 67 one, two and three-bedroom suites which are all generously proportioned. Floor to ceiling glass doors open onto wide balconies and tropical gardens with many overlooking one of three swimming pools and a heated jet pool.
All suites come complete with full-sized kitchens with European appliances, Italian-style coffee machines, the latest audio-visual offerings, and a washing machine and dryer.
Angsana’s Horizons Restaurant and Bar is most definitely one of the best in town. Offering international cuisine and local seafood completed with a contemporary flair, guests can sit outside on the balcony and listen to the waves gently roll into the beach just metres from where they’re sitting.
Angsana is recognised the world over for its spa treatments and not only its treatments but the amazing location of where massages and other therapies are undertaken. The best of the best are the outdoor rooftop pavilions which overlook the Coral Sea.
To learn more about this great property visit www.angsana.com.
Located right in the heart of Palm Cove is Peppers Beach Club & Spa, an elegant and inviting property that really is a surprise packet when you walk inside. What appears quite small from the front gives way to a deceptively large property which stretches right away to the road at the back of the property where the tennis court and gymnasium is located.
In total it has 180 accommodation rooms in a range of configurations – elegant suites and spa rooms to one and two bedroom penthouses complete with private rooftop terraces, barbecue areas and plunge pools or jacuzzis.
Many rooms overlook the wonderful beach lagoon pool complete with sandy beach and deck chairs and swim-up bar for those who would prefer not to leave the comfort of the property for the 10 metre walk across the road to the main Palm Cove beach. There is also a rainforest lagoon lap pool and a formal pool which is often also used for cocktail parties and even small, intimate dinners.
Sanctum Spa is also located on-site, offering a range of treatments that are sure to suit even the most seasoned spa-goer.
The property has a main conference room that can cater for up to 100 delegates theatre-style and which can also be divided into two separate rooms. The adjoining landscaped and terraced gardens provide a nice outlook for delegates.
To learn more visit www.peppers.com.au.
Another boutique property near to Peppers in the heart of Palm Cove is the Sebel Reef House Resort & Spa. With 69 accommodation rooms it is well-suited to small to medium-sized groups. Brigadier and Verandah rooms provide a relaxed tropical experience while the Verandah Spa rooms have the added luxury of a private balcony with a corner spa.
The Sebel Reef House Resort & Spa has been designed to reflect the romance of the tropics while retaining a sophisticated and relaxed ambience.
In terms of conferencing, the Melaleuca Room is suitable for groups of up to 45 theatre-style or 30 for a boardroom-style configuration.
 The Reef House is one of Palm Cove and Tropical North Queensland’s best known restaurants. It offers a choice of intimate dining inside or alfresco dining on the deck among the giant melaleuca trees and directly across the road from the beach. At night it looks picture perfect, and the food is equally as impressive.
The Brigadier Bar and Lounge is also popular, particularly for pre-dinner drinks. Candles lit at twilight inform guests that punch is being served. An honour system for drinks is a unique offering at this historic bar.
For those who want to soak away the stresses of the day the property has three swimming pools, two jacuzzis, and the award-winning Reef House Spa where treatments are said to combine the wisdom of Aboriginal spirituality, healing methods with aromatherapy and herbalist principles to produce powerful experiences for the body and soul.
To learn more visit www.mirvachotels.com.
Sea Temple Resort & Spa Palm Cove
The five-star Sea Temple Resort & Spa Palm Cove boasts a superb beachfront location, where seamless service and a dedicated events team with a “can do” attitude, is assured at this luxurious tropical hideaway.
Ninety-five well-appointed studio spa guestrooms or the choice of one, two, three and four bedroom apartments (each with their own bathroom) and penthouses surround the central lagoon pool. Many of the penthouses offer an exclusive rooftop spa or BBQ area, perfect for break-out sessions or cocktail parties. The three bedroom private villas with a private plunge pool and the two bedroom “swim-out” apartments with direct access to the grand central lagoon, offer a point of difference for VIPs, international visitors or guest speakers.
 The resort presents seven variable space meeting areas consisting of three dedicated function rooms catering for up to 150 cocktail or theatre style or 120 for a dinner, a boardroom and a delightful selection of entertaining areas, many alfresco. Natural light in all function spaces along with a creative audio visual team create a relaxed and intelligent environment.
Combine this with imaginative banqueting, including personalised themeing and speciality break-out sessions, a day spa with six treatment rooms open for the convenience of delegates, an on-site partner program, stunning and tranquil views and legendary local attractions, Sea Temple Resort & Spa Palm Cove presents the complete choice to succeed on every level.
Visit www.seatempleresorts.com.au to learn more.
Away from the main thoroughfare the Novotel Rockford Palm Cove not only has the largest meetings facilities in Palm Cove but some beautiful areas for events in the great outdoors.
Set on 45 hectares of lush tropical gardens the property features 202 guest rooms, all just a five minute walk from the beach and the Palm Cove village.
The property features 202 spacious and comfortable rooms, a bar, two restaurants and extensive leisure facilities including swimming pools, tennis and squash courts, a gym, sauna, kids’ club, nine hole golf course and conference facilities for up to 500 guests.
Conference facilities include six meeting rooms, and there is an on-site technical team which can assist with theming and audio visual needs.
Visit www.rockfordpalmcove.com.au to learn more.
 
Okay, so maybe they won’t but they’ll probably feel like they should be playing better when they tee off on this beautiful golf course just a few minutes out of Palm Cove.
A round at Paradise Palms is an exciting way to spend a day. Not only will the layout impress but the scenery, the dips and swales, the white sandy bunkers, the criss-crossing waterways, the birdlife, and the stunning mountainous backdrop will lift anyone who has held a club in their hand to new heights.
Paradise Palms has undergone a metamorphosis in recent years. It has unveiled 84 luxurious golf course apartments, and opened a 96-room resort, a new pro shop, and a signature dining outlet, Fifty Nine Restaurant & Bar which overlooks the course. There’s even a brand spanking new 2000 square metre children’s playground, swimming pool and mini golf course to guarantee that little ones are as well catered for as the big kids.
The property’s spectacular club house is well suited to events of all shapes and sizes. Superbly landscaped gardens can be utilised for outdoor events as can the Ocean Breeze verandah before sitting down to a sumptuous meal in the Mangano Room which can seat up to about 120.
To learn more visit www.paradisepalms.com.au.
When gold fever was at its peak in Tropical North Queensland in the 1870s the population of Port Douglas swelled to 12,000. By 1960 when the gold was well and truly gone township numbers dwindled to around 100.
Today, with the development of hotels, resorts and tourist attractions, around 4000 people call Port Douglas home. Many, understandably, work in the tourism business in some form or another, perhaps seeking their own riches in a region that continues to unearth exciting new attractions and opportunities.
Those who haven’t visited Port Douglas for some time would be surprised at the amount of new product now found here. New resort hotels like Sea Temple and the stunning Peppers Bale Resort have added to the Port Douglas inventory, boosting accommodation and business significantly.
But despite the growth, Port Douglas remains a sleepy little hamlet. Certainly there are more shops and apartments and restaurants and cars, and yet it still doesn’t appear to be too busy. Bordered quite significantly on three sides by water or dense, protected rainforest, Port Douglas has retained its fishing village charm. And that is a great thing.
For the meetings and incentive travel industry Port Douglas offers a more serene stay than Cairns. The limited number of bars, pubs and shops means that losing delegates to other “attractions” is less likely here. Having said that, there is still a myriad of things to see and do within Port Douglas itself or just beyond its limits.
Golf is big, fishing is possible, taking off to the reef is imperative, and exploring the Daintree on half or full day 4WD tours is recommended. And then there is the beach; four miles of it pretty much stretching along the entire length of Port Douglas. Sunseekers are encouraged to stake their claim below a palm tree and relax forthwith.
Team-building too is a big part of Port Douglas meetings and incentives. The small size of the destination makes it perfect for experiences like car rallies and treasure hunts.
And then there are the special events. Spaces abound everywhere. The majority of first-class resorts offer off-site areas for events with a difference, with chefs and caterers who just can’t wait to serve up their latest fresh produce menus.
This is Port Douglas. And it is good.
For those serious about holding meetings or incentives in Port Douglas it is recommended you speak to Port Douglas Incentives, a conglomeration of passionate local product suppliers who aim to make events in the destination a seamless and of course highly memorable experience.
Executive officer of Tourism Port Douglas, Doug Ryan, which supports Port Douglas Incentives, explains that those working in the region realised some time ago that there was a need to get local operators working together because the meetings and incentives sector is such a massive part of Port Douglas activity.
In fact, conferences and incentives equate to approximately 24 per cent of the destination’s income.
“Port Douglas Incentives is a strategic planning group for us and we work closely with them,” he explains.
“It has all the major players up here involved, and really shows how the destination works so well together. If you’re dealing with one person here you’re dealing with everyone.”
Which is a good thing because Port Douglas offers so much to the meetings and incentives sector.
“It really does have something for everyone. On any one day there are 96 tours leaving Port Douglas.
“We’re a very experienced destination, we’ve got the facilities needed for conferences and incentives, we’ve got the weather, and we’ve got the expertise up here to undertake great events.”
To learn more visit www.portdouglasincentives.com.
 
Thala Beach Lodge
Thala Beach Lodge is not actually based in the heart of Port Douglas but it’s certainly closer to this little hamlet than it is to Palm Cove and Cairns. The property is perched high above Oak Beach and is just about as secluded as a resort can be. Little wonder then that this was the place where Silverchair’s Daniel Johns and Natalie Imbruglia tied the knot a few years back – away from the prying eyes of the paparazzi.
The property is located on a private peninsula and boasts 83 deluxe timber bungalows on 145 acres of natural forest and two kilometres of absolute private beach frontage. This unique resort with advanced eco-tourism accreditation sits spectacularly on top of the headland providing breathtaking views of untouched coastline and the Coral Sea, and is the perfect setting for special incentives or small conference groups.
The bungalows are built high on stilts and nestle in the forest canopy providing an unobtrusive relationship with the natural world.
Thala has three areas for small meetings, and a fantastically rustic venue on the beach – Herbie’s Beach Shack – which is a great venue for special events for groups.
The beauty of the property is that it can be fully booked for groups.
Visit www.thalabeach.com.au to learn more.
They just don’t make resorts like this anymore. When it opened Port Douglas’ only five-star beachfront resort was the one that so many other resorts aspired to be. Little expense was spared in any facet of the product.
Which is why, despite its years, the Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas retains much of her charm and style. The acres of pool, the oversized lobby, the stunning gardens, the championship golf course, and the restaurants and bars, are only topped by the quality and dedication of the staff and the stunning location.
If walls could talk then those at the Sheraton Mirage would be filling gossip magazines the world over with tales of celebrity shenanigans, lavish parties, and the excesses of the rich and famous.
With 294 accommodation rooms, meetings facilities for upward of 800, and creative personnel who know how to make events memorable, the Sheraton Mirage continues to impress those who visit and stay.
A big plus at this property is its ability to take delegates “beyond the ballroom”. From the Glade Pavilion, Gilligan’s Island, barefoot and black tie soirees on the beach, or functions at Fairview at the Mirage Country Club with panoramic views across the golf course and lakes with the Daintree Rainforest as a backdrop, the Sheraton Mirage is your resort for inspirational event experiences.
To learn more visit www.sheraton.com/portdouglas. />
One of the relative newcomers to Port Douglas, Sea Temple has already had a huge impact in the corporate meetings and incentive travel market not only due to its location at the southern end of Four Mile Beach but because of its stunningly beautiful design, high-quality rooms, and simple ambience.
With 194 accommodation rooms including studios, two and three bedroom fully self-contained apartments, three bedroom villas (with private terrace and plunge pool), two bedroom swim-out apartments, and two bedroom rooftop terraces, there is plenty of choice for the groups market.
Set on 10 acres, the property is centred around a vast pool from which much of the accommodation overlooks. The reception area and main restaurant and bar also overlook the swimming pool.
In terms of meetings facilities, the property’s main room is Temple I and II which when combined can seat up to 150 delegates. The Lagoon Boardroom can comfortably seat up to 12 delegates, or can be used as a break-out room from the main meeting room. Adjacent to the resort is the Clubhouse which can seat up to 140 for dinner. The larger Lagoon View Terrace at the main property can seat up to 200 for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the Aqua Terrace can seat up to 150.
The Mii Spa is also located at the property offering a range of treatments to individuals and couples.
To learn more visit www.seatemple.com.au.
If it’s luxury and reward you’re after for your delegates then you must take a look at the impressive Peppers Bale Resort.
Nestled within 15 hectares of tropical landscaped grounds incorporating lagoons and parklands is some of the most exquisite accommodation you will find anywhere in the world. One, two, three and four bedroom configurations are described as “sanctuaries”, and an inspection of them will have you certainly agreeing with that description.
Built with Feng Shui principles in mind, each sanctuary features private plunge pools, a relaxing poolside pavilion with day bed, premium facilities and full kitchen, lounge and dining facilities. You really never will have to leave your room.
To learn more about this amazing property visit www.peppers.com.au/bale-resort.
Rydges Sabaya Resort
When you undergo a refurbishment to the tune of $22 million there are bound to be some changes. And there are at the 192-room Rydges Sabaya Resort located in the heart of Port Douglas.
Contemporary accommodation options include resort rooms, and one and two bedroom apartments, which are perfect for those travelling with families or delegates twin sharing. It also has one of the largest conference facilities in the region, with a grand ballroom that can seat up to 350 theatre-style.
To learn more visit www.rydges.com/portdouglas. />
 
This truly is nature at its best. Visitors to this ancient region can spend a day or half day experiencing what this destination offers, or even longer if they have the time with some spectacular properties to stay in overnight or for three, four or five days or more.
It is said that World Heritage-listed reef and rainforest come together in this area. Indeed, between the Daintree River and Bloomfield River the forest slopes of Cape Tribulation National Park seemingly drop off into the waters of the Great Barrier Reef.
The Daintree is one of the most diverse natural rainforests found anywhere in the world. It is home to a huge array of flora and fauna covering an area in excess of 1200 square kilometres.
The Daintree Rainforest was added to the World Heritage List in 1988 in recognition of its valuable natural assets including:
• it being an outstanding example of the major stages in the earth’s evolutionary history;
• an outstanding example of significant ongoing ecological and biological processes;
• an example of a natural phenomena;
• and it containing important and significant habitats for conservation of biological diversity.
The Daintree is easily accessible from Cairns, Palm Cove and Port Douglas, and it can be toured independently, however for groups there are plenty of great companies that offer tours that really do make the most of the available time.
Walking tours, four wheel drive tours, crocodile spotting on the river and hiking can be combined to give groups the best experience of the Daintree Rainforest in the time available. And the majority of them are highly affordable and value for money.
Cape Tribulation is located within the Daintree Rainforest and has for many years been a popular holiday destination. It is in fact the closest point on the coast to the Great Barrier Reef.
Roads are sealed as far as Cape Tribulation before they turn into dirt, and often muddy tracks that are only accessible by 4WD (and often not accessible at all during the wet season).
Cape Tribulation is also home to what is arguably the loveliest beach in all of Tropical North Queensland.
For those groups who demand ultimate seclusion Cape Tribulation Resort, managed by Ocean Hotels, may be just what you are looking for. The property is a true eco-certified retreat set amongst the ancient Daintree Rainforest. The property is said to be ideal for business retreats and meetings with a difference.
A word of warning though: it is only open between May and November each year.
Secluded yet accessible, eco-friendly with relaxed sophistication, Cape Tribulation Resort provides superior service and facilities for memorable incentives. Small conferences and executive retreats are perfect with delegates expected to revel in brainstorming in a meeting room with natural light and a private verandah for refreshments.
The property has 66 contemporary eco-retreats which are scattered throughout the rainforest. Guests at Cape Tribulation Resort are surrounded by the sights, sounds and ambience of the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef.
Themed events, with a little help from the natural backdrop, are a feature. Aboriginal dancers and a didgeridoo player welcome guests to the Whispers in the Wilderness event where cocktails and dinner are served on a boardwalk deck under the rainforest canopy.
Dine on the deck from the fabulous a la carte menu surrounded by tourches reflected in the lagoon pool, and end the day with a relaxing massage in the Day Spa.
An evening of Casual Sophistication combines Australian fine dining, an elegantly decorated private dining room and ocean and rainforest views to create an exclusive tropical dinner party.
The Southern Cross and the dramatic star-filled sky of Cape Tribulation are the natural features of Tropical Stars, an evening of al fresco dining with a live band.
Crocodile, kangaroo, emu, reef fish and lamb are on the menu of the Aussie Rainforest BBQ. The DJ makes the dance floor centre stage for a memorable night Down Under.
Nature is the main attraction for visitors to this part of the world and high adrenaline tours abound. In the tropics Mother Nature is at her outrageous best. The butterflies are blue, crocodiles live in the estuaries, cassowaries and dragons wander the rainforest and turtles and fantastic coloured fish swim in the turquoise water that surrounds the Great Barrier Reef.
In the mountains west of the resort, the waterfalls and jungle streams are bordered by exotic ferns including the world’s largest, the King Fern (Angiopteris).
At Cape Tribulation the sealed road ends and the 4WD adventure begins on the famous Bloomfield Track. Other options include:
• Snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef is an intimate encounter with living coral, turtles and fantastic fish only 25 minutes off the beach.
• Rainforest walks with knowledgeable local guides interpret the rainforest treasures and nocturnal guided walks introduce the rainforest wildlife.
• Become a Rainforest Champion, plant rainforest species that will feed and shelter the wildlife of the rainforest and contribute to slowing global warming.
• Soar through the rainforest canopy on flying foxes. See the rainforest from a new and exhilarating perspective in the tree tops.
• Meet Aboriginal guides and learn about their culture on a half day 4WD tour on the Bloomfield Track.
• Meander through the jungle on horseback. Ride through crystal clear mountain streams, under the lush rainforest canopy and along the beach.
• Taste exotic fruits usually grown in the Caribbean, the Amazon and South East Asia and see the amazing trees that produce them.
• Paddle a sea kayak above the fringing reef where turtles, stingrays and dugongs live.
To learn more visit www.oceanhotels.com.au.
 
With a fresh perspective and a different view on how resorts should be run new owner of Silky Oaks Lodge, Paul Van Min, is setting about reinvigorating, improving and enhancing the property which sits within the Daintree Rainforest just a short distance from Port Douglas.
Silky Oaks Lodge has gathered an international reputation for being a unique product. With its main reception area, restaurant and bar perched high about the Mossman River in the rainforest canopy, and its 50 accommodation “treehouses” scattered throughout the rainforest, joined to the main building via meandering paths and bridges, it holds a special place in Tropical North Queensland for those who enjoy the peace and serenity of nature.
The treehouses have stylish interiors with warm natural tones used to create a relaxed and soothing living space. Floor to ceiling glass doors open onto a wide verandah where a hammock is positioned to make the most of the views. Interiors are spacious and attractively furnished with a range of contemporary comforts including a daybed, and the rooms have a large bathroom which includes a spa bath.
Since he took over the reins Mr Van Min has carefully been refurbishing accommodation rooms to exacting standards, created an inviting new reception area, and refurbished function rooms.
Work continues to bring the property in line with Mr Van Min’s vision of creating a high-quality, exceptional experience where guests can relax and unwind in a truly unique setting.
The property can comfortably cater for up to 100 conference delegates, and offers some really special spaces for special events. Right beside the riverbank is a great place for a group lunch, dinner or cocktail reception, while the nearby Billabong offers a setting where guests can relax on a small sandy beach surrounded by the sights and sounds of the gentle waterfall in the background.
To learn more visit www.silkyoakslodge.com.au.
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