Page 89 - Port Douglas Magazine 37

MAGICAL

MYSTERY TOUR

WORDS by Jacqueline Long

NO MATTER WHERE YOU START YOUR ADVENTURE on So many secluded swimming holes were found along the way too.
the water, whether it be wakeboarding, kitesurfing, SUP or onboard No rush, time never on your mind, perfect to cool off but also
an Epic Reef and Island Tours, if you intend to weave watersports switch off! And one of my personal favourites was the visit to our
into your holiday then you simply cannot go past Windswell and rainforest day spa. Sitting on our boards, we used small handfuls of
Brett Wright. A long term local, and self-professed water lover the granite sand to gently exfoliate our skin, before taking clay from
himself, Brett’s boundless energy, appreciation of marine life and the banks to apply a cleansing clay mask … or alternatively, for
his willingness to share his knowledge will ensure you have the best fun, the kids used it as tribal paint before we all rinsed off, soaking
day out. in the river - both options so easy and natural, instilling a feeling of
On a recent visit, Brett challenged us to try a new experience, a pure rejuvenation.
stand-up paddle board tour under the shady rainforest canopy of the Then in true spa style and perfectly timed Brett offered us a platter
Mossman River. Guaranteed to be a seclusive experience away from of delicious tropical fruit using only a paddle as his platter. Unaware
the crowds, we loved the sustainable appeal of this tour. Described
as bushwalking through ancient rainforest, leaving only a footprint we were even hungry, it was a welcome snack and seemed the perfect
and with promises of a dip in the crystal cool waters of Kuku Yalanji accompaniment as it continued to saturate the senses. I would
country, it sounded like the perfect way to spend the afternoon. definitely be recommending this day spa!
Having hired a car to make the most out of the Great Barrier Reef A short distance onward, a huge rope sat swaying in the light
Drive to Port Douglas from the airport, we took the short 10-minute breeze over our passage. The sunrays poking through the tree lined
drive north from Port to meet up with our fellow SUPers. (You can avenue tempted even the most faint hearted. A highlight for the
also organise a pickup from your accommodation if you prefer). kids, the adults took the time to soak up some rays, laying on our
All accounted for, swimmers adorned, Brett and his guides had our now paddle beds watching the action, chatting with the guides
equipment ready to go and we were off to immerse ourselves in about the importance of the wet tropic habitat surrounding us. We
nature. were learning more about the local indigenous community and the
natural custodians of this special place.
Arriving a few minutes later at our river destination, the guides
sprang into action and we were each passed a paddle board to settle Our final paddle took us past what appeared to be sky high stands
ourselves on to. Not new to SUP we lulled around soaking up the of bamboo before we reached our final swimming hole for the day
environment, immediately noticing the hive of birdlife activity and our point of return. When we were ready to head back, Brett
under the canopy and a Ulysses butterfly passing by overhead, as if quipped, “Now we’ve invented a new extreme sport, it’s called lay
on cue. Stunning. For those who were new to SUP, a short lesson on down paddle boarding!”
the beach, some handy tips and a little bit of practice and it wasn’t
long before everyone felt comfortable on these big, stable boards to Well, I’ve got to hand it to him, you must try it and it’s a real
venture upstream and deeper into this magical world. leveller! No standing or paddling required, simply lying on your
bed looking up at the canopy, soaking up the ancient rainforest. At
Now I say, upstream but with water barely knee deep, steadily some point on the way home, the group fell silent, each in awe of
flowing and these easy to navigate boards, the going was hardly
tough. It felt healthy, after all you were exercising - tick! - but it was this experience - letting go, a heavenly feeling as you put your trust
also therapeutic, soaking up the unfamiliar sounds of the rainforest, in mother nature to guide you safely back downstream.
with only a soft ripple of your paddle to compete as it made contact Magical, blissful, educational, refreshing and eco-conscious. We
with the river below. Just magical. enjoyed quality time with the family, and it was downright heaps of
Every so often we would make a stop for the guides to highlight fun. Arriving back at our pickup point, we all agreed we had just
points of interest, such as wildlife or exotic plants that we would experienced one of the coolest activities ever.
otherwise have missed. A particular favourite was a giant avatar tree We will definitely be back and, in our opinion, it should be added
covered in plants growing upon more plants (epiphytes). It created a to the “must do experience” list for anyone holidaying up north.
canopy that fully wrapped you up in the shade of the jungle. It was
like a scene out of Jurassic Park. windswell.com.au
88 Port Douglas Travel Planner PORT DOUGLAS MAGAZINE 89