Located in the north-east state of Queensland, thousands of kilometers from the metropolitan centers such as Sydney and Perth, this tropical seaside town is the perfect location from which to explore the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. Positioned on a small peninsula surrounded by the Coral Sea, Port Douglas is a natural jumping-off point for a multitude of adventures, tours and day trips.

Once you’ve settled in, you can stroll along Macrossan Street where you will discover an abundance of specialty boutiques, restaurants and bars offering sundowner drinks. There is also an amazing Sunday morning Farmers Market which is easily accessible on foot from the town centre. To the south is Four Mile Beach where you will find hotels and a range of resorts, from budget to luxury.

During my visit, Mayor Julia Leu of Douglas Shire Council shared with me that, “Port Douglas’ economy is the environment.” With three of Australia’s greatest natural wonders situated nearby, this is the place to experience the best of wild Australia.

Here are my three top recommendations for visitors to Port Douglas.

Discovering the outer Great Barrier Reef

For year-round diving and snorkelling excursions, Port Douglas is the closest departure point for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Our tour began aboard a Quicksilver catamaran which took us to the Agincourt Reef at the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef. Helicopter travel is also an option. There, special reefs, known as ‘ribbons’, run parallel to the edge of the continental shelf and offer the best underwater viewing as the clear waters support rich coral growth and incredible marine life.

Quicksilver’s fleet of modern catamaran vessels offer comfortable air-conditioned indoor seating areas. Outdoor seating areas run alongside their dual deck Agincourt Reef platform which is the perfect spot for visitors to snorkel, dive and experience the natural wonders of the reef.

The floating platform is equipped with snorkeling equipment, driving platforms, an underwater observatory, semi-submersibles for coral viewing, helmet diving equipment for those who wish to keep their hair dry, a post office box, covered dining areas and helicopters which provide scenic tours of the reef from the air.

Guests are asked not to touch or feed any wildlife and to swim at least one meter from the coral to prevent any accidental breakage and damage to the reef. These are small prices to pay to enjoy such beauty from such proximity.

Exploring the world’s largest living entity, home to 1,500 species of fish, 400 different corals, 4000 species of molluscs, 10,000 species of sponges plus six of the seven types of sea turtles, is an experience unmatched in our world.

Witnessing the natural colors and feeling the wonder and life beneath the surface allows you to understand the importance of this natural ecosystem and of taking every action to protect it for future generations.

Mossman Gorge Centre Dreamtime Walk

The Mossman Gorge Centre is located at the southern end of the Daintree Rainforest which emcompasses steep mountain ranges, ancient rainforest and crystal-clear waters and is home to the Kuku Yalanji people.

Our private Dreamtime walk was hosted by aboriginal guide Mooks who was given the healing knowledge of the rainforest by his great grandfather.

Our journey into the Daintree Rainforest began along gentle tracks and cool meandering streams. As we passed ancient trees, Mooks challenged me to pick the leaf that would either kill or heal me. 

As visitors we discovered the rich and bountiful flora and fauna, including reptiles and butterflies. We learned about bark shelters and bush food sources and he shared stories of how his people fought and survived over the centuries within the rainforest.

We participated in a traditional “smoking ceremony” which cleanses and wards off bad spirits. That was followed by the making of bush soaps and ochre face paints and the enjoyment of some traditional bush tea and damper at the end.

People come from around the world to learn about the healing properties of the Daintree Rainforest and Mooks himself has been chronicled in books and in the New York Times.

To spend a couple of hours with Mooks, hearing his stories and legends of the Kuku Yalanji language offered me a real connection to the Daintree Rainforest. As with my trip to the Great Barrier Reef, I came away with a stronger commitment to looking after our planet and protecting its natural wonders.

Brett’s Outback Tasting Adventures

Brett’s Outback Tasting Adventures exposes guests to the wonderful flavours native to the Atherton Tablelands which lie to the southwest of Port Douglas. These tours offer visitors a unique taste of the bounteous and delicious food and spirits that come from the region’s rich maroon-colored volcanic soil.

My number one reason for travel is to satisfy my culinary penchant and my private foodie tour with Brett did not disappoint my gourmand’s heart. The tour was an eye opener with regards to the diversity and richness of the region. From coffee beans to mangos and macadamia nuts, it seemed there was no end to the Atherton Tablelands’ bounty.

Our first stop was the Tjapukai – which means Rainforest – Aboriginal Cultural Park where we walked across a bridge to feed the local turtles before being seated for a breakfast of local fruits. 

The next stop was the Jacques Coffee Plantation where the third-generation members of the Jacques family tend to 85,000 Arabica coffee trees which produce a smooth yet vibrant coffee particular to this region.

Lunch was held at a private farm house where we are served a range of dishes from chicken sandwiches made from locally farmed birds to regional fruits and vegetables.

The afternoon included a visit to a dairy farm to sample cheeses and a trip to Golden Drop Winery, the first commercial mango winery where we sampled mango wines, ports, sparkling wines and fortified liqueurs.

Our day concluded at the Platypus Hut, which sits on a private 160-acre private property, where we enjoyed more regional food and drink – wine, beer, spirits, cheese, chocolates and fruits – and hoped for a sighting of the elusive platypus in the river below. The perfect end to a delightful day.

For your next visit down under, I strongly recommend that you skip the major cities and head to Port Douglas to experience the natural wonders of Australia.

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On opening night, Douglas Shire Council Mayor Julia Leu stated, “our economy is the environment”.

EFWA Master of Ceremonies Angie Ayers concluded four fabulous days of eco-friendly designer shows with a heartfelt challenge that even the smallest gesture can make a difference. Stated passionately, we must take care of our oceans for future generations.

The highlight of the evening was Zuzana Hrubosfrom Prague who present European chic outfits accented with led lighting. Made from natural textiles, including sustainable fabrics, all are made in Europe. Her look would not be out of place in Berlins’ stylist street scene.

Another inspiring fashion show was The Junk Weaversfrom Carins who hold workshops on how to create fashion accessories such as handbags from recycled wrappers and other materials.

The final runway show of the evening was fashion art by Studio Membrane. Titled “The Claws of Clothes”, if clothing had claws, how would this change their state of existence? The garments are created without any sewing and made from wool and wool resin which is biodegradable.

The crowning achievement of EFWA was the support of over 30 Australian and international fashion designers and another 60 plus volunteers producing a world class eco-fashion show in Port Douglas, demonstrating their support for the Great Barrier Reef restoration and the Daintree rainforest.

EFWA founder Zuhal Kuvan-Mills and her talented team now return to Perth for an even bigger set of eco-fashion runway shows at the Fremantle Community Bank Oval from November 15 – 19th.

Bravo to all you all for making a real difference!

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Eco Fashion Week Australia (EFWA) third evening of runway shows demonstrated that sustainability and high fashion goes hand in hand.

Eight fashion designers presented in Port Douglas, home of the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Raintree Rainforest. Showcasing Australian made artistic print activewear and chic organic dresses from Barcelona to elegant hand-crafted couture.

Above:Classic Couture Vintage and Bridalgarments are made with precise drafting and dress making. All ethically produced in the tradition of couture. Photo: Style Drama Edward Quan

Here is preview from EFWA last evening.

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Eco Fashion Week Australia has been successful in bringing together both established and emerging fashion designers as well as artists, activists, media, businesses, local governments and the broader community to raise awareness for environmentally conscious fashion in both Australia and on a global scale.

Now in its second year, Eco Fashion Week Australia’s expansion to a traveling, two-city runway show is all due to the efforts of Zuhal Kuvan-Mills, founder of EFWA and eco-friendly luxury fashion designer. Through both her own line Green Embassy and EFWA, Kuvan-Mills promotes sustainability and slow fashion with passion and determination.

Above photo: Green Embassy collection by Zuhal Kuvan-Mills | Model Lauren Di Meglio – Dane Selby Modelling Agency |Make-up Jessica Vlog | Photo Aiden Green

Port Douglas: Fashion for the Rainforest

Home to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef – the world’s largest reef system – and the vast tropical biodiverse rainforest of Daintree National Park, Port Douglas is the perfect location to bring home Eco Fashion Week Australia 2018 message of how beautiful and yet fragile our environment is and how we must consume less fashion in our daily lives in order to protect our planet.

After Port Douglas, the show travels to Fremantle, the port of Perth, for a second week of designer fashion shows. Both venues will feature business and educational programs, eco seminars and mending workshops, providing opportunities for each of us to learn how we can make a difference in our world.

As a media sponsor, Style Drama will be reporting on the latest eco fashion news from the front row and offering up luxury travel stories on the best of Port Douglas and Fremantle’s hotels, restaurants and attractions such as wellness, adventure and shopping options during the week.

Sustainability is the New Black

Zuhal Kuvan-Mills will be introducing Green Embassy’s new collection which is inspired by the Carnaby’s Cockatoo, an endangered species in Australia whose numbers are declining rapidly.

With their natural habitat of native vegetation cleared by urban development, this species is expected to be extinct in less than a decade. As the population declines, they are no longer breeding in up to a third of their breeding sites.

The cockatoos form lifelong pairs and live up to 50 years in the wild. But with a large portion of the population past breeding age, and very few younger birds to keep the species from declining, this bird’s days appear to be numbered.

Zuhal Kuvan-Mills created her Carnaby’s Cockatoo collection using a myriad of fabrics such as Australian merino wool, alpaca fiber, organic cotton, silk as well as cheesecloth and recycled window dressings. This represents just a sample of her collection which will be featured at both locations.

Eco Fashion Week Australia 2018

With the goal to inspire us to change our perspectives on fashion, Eco Fashion Week Australia showcases the most creative, artistic and beautiful designs while remaining socially and environmentally responsible. Need proof that environmentally conscious fashion doesn’t have to be drab? Look no further than Style Drama. Our coverage of the exquisite and fashion-forward collections at Eco Fashion Week Australia 2018 will make you an green fashion convert.

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