Page 110 - Port Douglas Magazine 42

Bec & Bennett

NECTAR AÇAI BAR

the hot tropical climate in Port Douglas, they recognised an opportunity
to offer something unique: an açai bar, serving refreshing and healthy food
and drinks in a fun, lively atmosphere.
They found a small vacant spot on Macrossan Street, where they joined
forces to create the vibrant space you see today. Bec using her experience
in interior design to design the space and Bennett using his trade in
carpentry to bring this vision to life. Bec also infused her artistic touch
into the interior design, painting the shop’s iconic mural that adorns the
walls.
In late 2020, they opened Nectar, a lively establishment that embodies
their vision: a vibrant and welcoming space where customers can engage
in conversation and enjoy good music while leaving with something
delicious and wholesome. Their inspiration for Nectar went beyond just
the food; it was all about creating a unique vibe that resonates with the
community.
Bec and Bennett love working in hospitality, enjoying every day spent
alongside their fantastic team. They embrace the fun and laughter that
comes with the job, knowing they can make people smile with their
beautiful food. Their commitment shines through in customer reviews
that often highlight the friendliness and helpfulness of their team.
Working together as a couple, their complementary strengths make
their partnership successful. Bennett excels at problem-solving with
his pragmatic and logical approach, often seen as the ‘Mr. Fix-It’, while
Bec is creative, an altruistic people’s person, with a strong attention
to detail. Their success comes from recognising the positives in one
another and focusing on what each of them does best. Their deep trust
and commitment to one another are key, being able to rely on each
other 100 percent; neither could imagine doing this with anyone else.
When asked what exactly attracted them to Port Douglas, they smile
and joke, “What’s not to like?” The warm weather and lifestyle truly
suit them and they embrace the laid-back lifestyle. They appreciate
the diverse population of Port Douglas and how the town maintains
its close-knit community while welcoming new influences. Meeting
people from around the world brings them joy, and they value
the opportunity to collaborate with team members from various
tep inside Nectar, Port Douglas’ açai bowl and smoothie bar, backgrounds.
and you’ll be immediately enveloped by its sunny atmosphere. A Recently, the couple purchased a home in Port Douglas. They love
Sfavourite among locals and visitors alike, this vibrant hotspot is spending time together in their ‘tropical oasis’ alongside their
the result of the creativity and teamwork of Bennett and Bec, a couple adored cat Maus. Listening to music, cooking and sharing meals
who have poured their hearts into bringing something special to our with friends,swimming in their pool. In their spare time, Bennett
quaint little town. enjoys fishing and playing guitar, while Bec finds joy in reading,
Bennett and Bec’s story begins in the beautiful Yarra Valley, Victoria, where practising yoga, and exploring creative activities like painting.
they both grew up in neighbouring towns. Having been together for fifteen To balance the sometimes stressful demands of running a
years, they have shared countless adventures. With Bennett’s background small business, they make it a priority to embark on new travel
as a carpenter and Bec’s experience in interior design, they spent many adventures and take time away, recognising the importance of
weekends renovating their first two homes together in Victoria. taking time off from their hard work. These adventures truly bring
In 2018, they made a significant leap by quitting their jobs and leaving meaning to their lives and make everything feel worthwhile.
Victoria to explore Australia in their four-wheel drive. Their travels Grateful for the life they’ve built in Port Douglas and proud of
eventually led them to Port Douglas, where they quickly fell in love with Nectar’s success, Bec and Bennett have turned their dreams into
the town’s vibrant charm. As they continued their travels across Australia, reality by establishing a vibrant business in a new place, far from
everything changed when the pandemic struck while they were in Asia in family support. Through hard work, love, and teamwork, they
March 2020. With uncertainty in the air, the couple were required to make continue to thrive in their tropical paradise.
a decision on where they were now going to base themselves.
The pair decided it best to return home to Australia, with Port Douglas
being the clear choice. With state borders closed and part of the country nectarportdouglas.com.au
in lockdown, they quickly discovered that they made the right decision
and Port Douglas was exactly where they wanted to weather the storm and
settle down. A decision they are forever grateful for.
Hungry for their next adventure and with encouragement from close
friends who are local restaurateurs, the concept of Nectar was born. With