Page 60 - Port Douglas Magazine 35

creating a relaxed luxury retreat.
“Long considered the “We are absolutely thrilled with the results Selena has achieved in
Whilst we had an idea of what we wanted to create; it was Selena who
‘Jewel in the Crown’ of “ elevated our vision to the next level.
It was crucial that we worked with a designer who we could trust
Queensland’s tourism implicitly, given we were interstate and had the added complexity of
border closures throughout the duration of the renovation process.
sites, the Daintree is Selena and the team at Azure Style have been fantastic to work with,
home to cassowaries and the whole team has certainly gone above and beyond.
tree-kangaroos, fan palm Stylishly designed interiors provide the perfect space for guests to “
relax and unwind. Drawing inspiration from its surroundings, Tropik
groves and isolated palm- features luxurious furnishings that celebrate the relaxed lifestyle that
Port is renowned for.”
tree lined beaches” Paradise awaits

Leesa & Wayne, Tropik, Port Douglas
PHOTO CREDIT David Clode Tropik-PortDouglas Tropik_portdouglas

“The Wet Tropics sustainable tourism plan focuses the Daintree. After five years, it’s hoped that the in fresh seafood, amazing ice-cream, tropical fruit
on looking at the protection of the area’s natural region will solely come under the management of tasting, and other foodie delights, or just bask in
and cultural values, rainforest aboriginal people’s the Eastern Kuku-Yalanji people. the rich lush deep green tropical rainforest by the
tourism opportunities, establishing a foundation for side of swimming hole.
cultural respect, building industry resilience, and “We want to be to be able to have sole management
delivering exceptional visitor experiences through of the National Parks,” Ms Grant says. “The work If the Daintree is the heart of the Wet Tropics,
guide programs and the world class presentation of we need to do now is to focus on the kids in schools, then it’s fair to say, with an experienced chair
so that pathways are available for their training and
like Chrissy Grant at the helm and increased
the area.”
work experience in the industry of management of involvement of local indigenous rainforest people
Another recent development supports this view. the National Parks.” in the management and preservation of the region,
In September 2021, ownership of the Daintree that the heart beats strongly.
National Park, along with three other National Parks Chrissy Grant encourages people who are staying in
in the far north, was handed over to the traditional Port Douglas to make sure they venture beyond the
owners, the Eastern Kuku-Yalanji rainforest people. town’s excellent dining experiences. wettropics.gov.au
Ms Grant explains what this means: “I would recommend visiting the world’s oldest
living rainforest, the Daintree, and immerse yourself
“There will be programs developed that will help in the sights and sounds of nature and learn about
Kuku-Yalanji people to develop their own economic the rainforest from an Aboriginal perspective,” she
businesses through tourism operations,” she says.
says.
With the development of a new tourism hub,
training for Eastern Kuku-Yalanji people to work The southern area of the Daintree National Park ABOUT THE AUTHOR
in the tourism sector, programs for indigenous is easily accessed at Mossman Gorge where visitors
tourism enterprises and the creation of a Tourism can access beautiful freshwater swimming holes, Bill Wilkie’s first book, The Daintree Blockade: The
Advisory Group, the handover will see increased take the rainforest circuit walk, and have genuine Battle for Australia’s Tropical Rainforests, won the
indigenous experiences with local guides at the
indigenous involvement in the management of the Premier’s Award at the Queensland Literary Awards
National Park as well as an increased presence in the Mossman Gorge Centre. in 2017. His next book is about the Cedar Bay
tourism industry. North of the Daintree River the options expand. police raids of the 1970s. He lives by the sea north of
Take a tour, or better still, stay a few nights, drive Mossman. IN ASSOCIATION
Over the next five years, the indigenous owners will WITH
work with National Parks in joint management of the four-wheel drive only Bloomfield Track, indulge Dan Price
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62 tourismportdouglas.com.au