Today was our free day in Port Douglas, and it felt nice to finally be able to sleep in. Well, Nate got up for sunrise pictures while Ashley slept in.
However, it was going to be the hottest day we had here, peaking in the mid 90's. But, unlike Tampa, a stiff breeze coming off the reef would help.
We lathered up on sunscreen and walked down to 4 Mile Beach. The Welcome sign explicitly informed beachgoers to only swim in the stinger nets to avoid the box jellyfish. Salties (saltwater crocs) and bull sharks were also known to come along the beach. As an additional precaution, vinegar was provided at several spots along the beach in case of a sting. Needless to say, we quickly realized that all swimmers were taking the warnings seriously and were only swimming in the stinger nets.
The beach itself was 4 miles long, with a bend about 3 miles down from the start in Port Douglas. The sand was soft but a darker color than Florida's. We chose a spot along the beach near the lifeguard stand and stinger nets.
After 20 minutes, Ashley started commenting on how the sun felt different (hotter). Anytime the breeze stopped for a moment, it felt as if we were in a parked car with the windows up. We didn't know it at the time, but there is a hole in ozone that covers parts of Australia and Antarctica. That meant we both would be red and sore for a few days despite being on the beach for only 2 hours.
We both tested out the water (while in the stinger nets), but didn't stay in long because it was so warm.
With our skin burning, we left the beach for some afternoon shopping. Ashley was excited to check out the boutiques and look for souvenirs and watercolors. On our way through town, we also had a quick stop by the Target Country (a mini Target) to see what it was like.
Lunch was at Mocka's Pies, a winner for top pies in Queensland. Australians like their pies, which are their street food, much as the US has hot dogs. Pies come in many varieties, and they are similar to a small, hand-held pot pie that has meat and a light sauce. We both had an original steak and thought it was pretty good.
We walked through town and the shops until we got to the Marina. The marina is located in an estuary, and we had been told by several locals that salties (saltwater crocs) are seen fairly frequently in the area. Unfortunately for us, we had no such luck spotting one today.
For dinner, we had saved the best for last. Salsa is a popular, casual restaurant in town that serves modern Australian fare. Nate enjoyed the kangaroo dish, which he was gamey like elk.
All in all, the day was a good day to relax and fully get into vacation mode. Tomorrow, we'll be leaving Port Douglas for Sydney and New Years.
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