Where to Honeymoon in QLD.

merlin · 04-01-2006, 08:55 AM

Looking for a HoneyMoon location at present. Pretty much decided on Tropical North Queensland as we want to be able to drive there and the honeymoon is in May so other states are too cold.

Number one at present is the Sheraton Mirage at Port Douglas. Anyone stayed here before? Is it any good? Alternativley tell us about any other great resorts hotels you have stayed at in North Queensland.

As I want ot drive (love roadtrips) if anyone can say how many hours/kays approx from Sydney and what landmarks to check out on the way as well.

Cheers.

blue fairy · 04-01-2006, 09:02 AM

Having just honeymooned myself, I can not reccomend The Lakes Resort & Spa in Cairns enough.
I'm not too sure about what to stop and see on your way up, as we flew to Cairns. But you should definatley stop at Paranella Park. Approximatley 1.4 hours South of Cairns.

Are you taking any tours whilst on your honeymoon, or are you just kicking back and relaxing?

merlin · 04-01-2006, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blue fairy

Are you taking any tours whilst on your honeymoon, or are you just kicking back and relaxing?

Just planning on relaxing, though will check out the great barrier reef one day hopefully.

HOON69 · 04-01-2006, 09:26 AM

best bet is to look up
www.whereis.com and research what way you plan on going etc
as for landmarks
www.google.com
look up qld landmarks and see what interests you

good luck

HOON69 · 04-01-2006, 09:28 AM

2758.71 km 38 Hrs 38 Mins

thats alot of driving

i do from brisbane to canberra in 13hours ;)
min stops and fuel etc

so double that if you plan on eating in and site seeing etc

parawolf · 04-01-2006, 09:31 AM

I'm pretty sure that Cairns (Port Douglas is north of Cairns by 30 minutes drive or so) is about double the distance Melbourne to Brisbane, so driving Sydney to Port Douglas will be a long trip (2+ days?).

Now, if you want more of a 'nightlife' (note not clubs, but just more to do) with more people around stay in Port Douglas, you can get trips out to the great barrier reef which I completely recommend, and there are lots of little cafe's to have late breakfasts at and other things.

If you want the REALLY calm time, check out Palm Cove. Could be more $$$ for a comparable place to what you are thinking about, however there is nothing much to do apart from eat at the hotel restaurants and lounge on the beach or beside the hotel pool.

MYVYSS · 04-01-2006, 09:41 AM

www.travelmate.com.au use the map maker and distance calculations on the bottom right of the page....

All the very best...

AUSGTI · 04-01-2006, 09:57 AM

OMG!! everyone comes up this way, and they dont even say hi......

makes me a sad panda

flappist · 04-01-2006, 10:14 AM

Mirage Port Douglas is absolutely amazing although expensive. If you have not been to FNQ before it is a good place for a honeymoon, lots to do when you are not doing lots

fatxagt · 04-01-2006, 06:37 PM

If ya wanna shop and party go to Cairns. If ya wanna relax and only leave the resort to go to the beach or Pub/restaurant go to Port Douglas. Hope ya going in winter cos it is damn hot up there now.

mustang · 04-01-2006, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatxagt

If ya wanna shop and party go to Cairns. If ya wanna relax and only leave the resort to go to the beach or Pub/restaurant go to Port Douglas. Hope ya going in winter cos it is damn hot up there now.

yes i couldnt agree more bout the heat. but he does say he is comin up this way in may time

: my parents own a cafe up @ cape tribulation which is bout 50 minutes north of port douglas. lovely area heaps of things to see and do between cairns, tablelands and cape tribulation. but as you asked its all about how much moneys you have to spend for your honeymoon

: if u send me an email or pm then i can send you a heap of prices for accomadation up here.

:

Rapid260 · 04-01-2006, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by merlin

Looking for a HoneyMoon location at present. Pretty much decided on Tropical North Queensland as we want to be able to drive there and the honeymoon is in May so other states are too cold.

I have done this trip a few years ago, i went to bathurst & then drove from there to gold coast, & flew to Hyman island, stayed a week & flew back to Cairns, stayed around cairns & went as far north as our hire car would take us(Commadore), then drove back to Gold coast, it was the best 3 weeks we have had in the east,( we are from W.A), we stopped everywhere along the way that we liked, & port douglas was very high on our list as favorite places.

I can tell you this, dont go to the Islands for any length of time, a waste of money in my books, there is so much more to see on the main land & your not restricted, to resort life.

Myself, i love road trips as well, so go for it merlin, nothing better than driving long distances with your girl having a laugh all the way.

Have a good honeymoon.

Kev.

zetec · 04-01-2006, 07:51 PM

I'd highly recommend Laguna Quays near Proserpine also if you get a chance and if you're a Golf lover... magical.

Noosa is worth a stopover for a night also on your way up, perhaps The Sebel or Netanya on the beach for some waterfront romance. Always a favourite place for couples the old Noosa.

MNM96 · 04-01-2006, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rapid260

nothing better than driving long distances with your girl having a laugh all the way.
Kev.

MMMMMMM Highway Head

: :eclipsee_

64compact · 04-01-2006, 09:50 PM

only one place to honeymoon and that is The Horizon at Mission Beach, In May it will be perfect and it is easy to get to every where like the Crock Farm, The TableLands, Dunk Island, Or Just laze on the beach, We had ours there and it was fantastic, and not too Expansive. and the Food is Great. It is a very Quiet Location. I think they have a web site but look them up on Google.

merlin · 05-01-2006, 08:24 AM

Cheers for the input I'm definatley taking it all on board :-)

We might stay 3 nights or so in Surfers Paradise on the way up - anyone know if what the temperature will be like? We are going in early May.

05-01-2006, 08:32 AM

My Guess is around 24-27 deg with lows of 14-15 at night

Ringo · 05-01-2006, 08:39 AM

Hi - We had our honeymoon in Port Douglas 18 months ago. Night life in Port Douglas doesn't get to much more than the pub but the retaurants are great as was just touring around and driving the road up to Cape Trib - Amazing Country. We are planning to go back to Port Douglas as soon as we can. Highly recommend it for a relaxing 'get away from it all' kind of place.

Tips from us:

Don't bother going out to the Outer Reef for snorkeling unless it is absolutely still. The big 'Quicksilver' catarmaran looks like it would give a smooth ride but after 70 min of rolling I wanted to hurl. Locals told us to go to the inner reef and get more time to snorkel with exactly the same coral / fish etc

Take money - Port Douglas is not a cheap place.

Go to the fish co-op (?) at the mouth of the river for a $10 little bucket of fresh prawns and chapagne / wine / beer and watch them feed the biggest f_cking groper fish in the world - every day @ 5pm.

We stayed at the Radisson Tree Tops Resort - $$$ but food was top notch as was the hotel itself...the breakfasts where great......mmmm breakfast

If you can try to book in at a restaurant called 'Nautalis' - $$$ but the most unbelieveable experience. Its the closest you can get to eating in a rain forest - it sourrounds you. Food was sooooo good. Took my wife there for a surprise on the final night....got rewarded later I can tell you... ;)

deesun · 05-01-2006, 04:33 PM

I took the family to Cairns and Port Douglas a couple of years ago,we drove from Port Macquarie. Firstly the roads aren't great driving roads. Straight yes, single lanes from sunshine coast basically and mile upon mile upon mile of cane fields and then more cane fields. Good enough for 120kph though. Very boring for passengers. As a family we needed a relativly cheap holiday and we went off season,as a couple I think you should fly and enjoy the extra time,plenty of cheap flights around from capitol cities. In Cairns and probably PD most things are within walking distance or tours are all pick up from motel . You probably won't find a bad 4/5* motel they will all be great but not too cheap. Check out Cairns and PD tourist centres on the net they will send so much ИИИИ you won't be able to digest it all look for off season deals there will be heaps at that time of year. Cape Trib needs a couple (2or 3) days to appreciate its beauty and serenity.Bucketloads of places to eat at PD and Cairns, there are better, but for value we liked The Courthouse pub in Cairns main area, walk around town, good ambience,not a dive. All the usual tourist things were up to what we expected, Cairns has them all reef,Atherton Tablelands,beaches, jetty walks, Aboriginal Culture, Parranella Park was worth the drive, croc parks,go-kart tracks. PD is not huge and really only has the reef as far as attractions are concerned,but as newlyweds you may not need attractions,but its a long way so you won't be going back in a hurry so enjoy them while you are there..If you have been to Surfers before don't bother this time and spend more time in C/PD. Check for QLD,NSW school holiday time and go after them, no need to book too early for that time as there will be more deals than you can poke a stick at. Search net, weekday/end travel in the newspapers for deals. GOOD LUCK happy holidays.