Bec & Bennett – Nectar Acia Bar

Words by Jamie Jansen

Step inside Nectar, Port Douglas’ açai bowl and smoothie bar, and you’ll be immediately enveloped by its sunny atmosphere. A favourite among locals and visitors alike, this vibrant hotspot is the result of the creativity and teamwork of Bennett and Bec, a couple who have poured their hearts into bringing something special to our quaint little town.

Bennett and Bec’s story begins in the beautiful Yarra Valley, Victoria, where they both grew up in neighbouring towns. Having been together for fifteen years, they have shared countless adventures. With Bennett’s background as a carpenter and Bec’s experience in interior design, they spent many weekends renovating their first two homes together in Victoria.

In 2018, they made a significant leap by quitting their jobs and leaving Victoria to explore Australia in their four-wheel drive. Their travels eventually led them to Port Douglas, where they quickly fell in love with the town's vibrant charm. As they continued their travels across Australia, everything changed when the pandemic struck while they were in Asia in March 2020. With uncertainty in the air, the couple were required to make 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 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 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.