Page 118 - Port Douglas Magazine 44

ROAD TO

paradise

WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY Shaun Hollis

When former AFL star NICK SALTER landed in Port Douglas - having
weaved his way up the coast from Sydney on a surfing adventure
with no real destination in mind - he didn’t know there was a vibrant,
diverse community that called this paradise home.

“When I first came here I didn’t actually “It is a lot easier than anywhere else I “But if you’re here for a while, you’ll fit in. If
think anyone lived here … I thought it was have lived. Why that is, I don’t know. I think you’re into fishing, there’s always a group of
just a tourist place,’’ says the now senior there’s probably enough work for everyone blokes who will do that, or camping or just
coach of the Port Douglas Football Club, but you can sort of pick what market it is going away on weekends, whatever you’re
the wonderfully named “Crocs”. you want to get into and go for it.’’ into there’s a little niche for everyone.’’
“I was living in Sydney at the time and I But it is the community vibe, and just The most challenging part of a move
got a bit sick of the rat race, the high speed how easy it is to convince visiting family to the Douglas Shire region is finding
lifestyle and how expensive it is,” Nick said. and friends that Port Douglas is actually accommodation, Nick added.
“There’s no real community feel in paradise, that has Nick won over. “I was pretty lucky but we’re going
Sydney. I thought I would just go on a bit of “In Sydney, you can go a whole day through that with recruits now. It is the most
a surf trip up the coast. I was in Byron and without saying hello to anyone. No one is challenging part, finding a rental,” he said.
rang a friend of mine who was in Cairns. really friendly and everyone is in a rush,’’ he “A lot of the guys probably won’t find
“I didn’t really have a destination in mind, says. exactly what they want at the start, but it is
so when he asked if I was still playing footy “Just driving in here, driving to work a start. They can get in and look more and
I thought I’d make the Cairns region my everyday … no traffic. You can have a chat to more when they get here.’’
target. people at the coffee shop. There’s no stress And there are plenty of younger people
“I’d never been to Port Douglas but from to get anything done. You’re just a lot more like Nick who have moved to the region and
the moment I arrived I just felt relaxed and relaxed. started their next chapter in life, finding it
the anxiety and the stress of Sydney had “I’ve had friends come up from Adelaide impossible to say goodbye to Port Douglas
gone and I thought, this might do me.’’ and Sydney and they just say instantly that permanently.
Now, after three years in Port Douglas, they just feel so relaxed. “A lot of guys stay… why wouldn’t you? It is
the boy from the Clare Valley in country “It is more the little things. You go out for a pretty easy place to live,’’ Nick says.
South Australia who saw the heights as a brekkie and you don’t have to leave an hour Overcoming those challenges, or at
professional athlete playing footy across early and still have trouble finding a park. least convincing friends and family to
seven seasons with Port Adelaide, has You’re wearing no shoes and you can walk themselves try to make the move to FNQ,
seemingly set anchor in Port Douglas, living around with no shirt if you want. is helped by a few tips on how to show the
on some land at Mowbray and recently “It’s just everything. They get up here and best of Douglas. And Nick has a couple of
starting his own plumbing business. feel so relaxed and get into it and don’t favourites.
“Definitely, it helps having a trade. We want to go home.’’ “The beach is obviously awesome. Silky
get footballers up here … electricians and However there are some challenges, Oaks is pretty special and a tube float down
chippies and it is very easy to find them a such as finding a home in a place he the river,’’ says the guy whose favourite
job,’’ Nick, 37, says of the fundamentals of thought was simply full of tourists, settling place to eat in Port is Star of Siam.
making a life after football in the Douglas in to find a solid friend group with such a
And for a highlight trip to win them over:
Shire region. transient population and accepting the fact “Tell them to camp on the Sand Cay … It is
“A lot of the builders here are looking for “you’re a long way from anywhere” are top like an island. It never goes under water. It is
guys. Even just labourers … they’re really of the list to navigate. just sand. Check conditions, then pull your
screaming out for anyone. It is an easy “It’s not easy to just go catch up with boat up on it and camp the night there.’’’
place to come and find work. mates on a weekend or just head home,’’
Nick said.

120 Port Douglas Magazine & Travel Planner