Port Douglas

Early morning, I got a text msg from Jetstar informing that our flight back to Sydney were going to be delayed until the next filght (well not a surprise anymore) which we actually prefer.  I was springed out of the bed...  Got so excited!!!  We quickly get ready for our unexpected-trip to Port Douglas.  People suggested me to visit this place but we don't have enough time for this before, but since our flight was postponed so we can make it yayyyyy.....  Thank you Jetstar..  Sometimes bad news can bring a better thing to your life, don't you think so??

So we cleared out all the check-out process in a speed then rang the car hired company.  After that, we then got this little Kia Ria sedan car for $60 to drive up on one of the most beautiful scenic drive in Australia.  On the way cruising along to Port Douglas, the view was realllly spectacular, its like a postcard surrounding me, tropical breeze with lots of coconut tree along the road side.  I was really enjoy sightseeing it and took heaps of photos. 

In fact, we didn't have much time in Port Douglas, only a couple of hours since we had to rush back for our flight back home.  However, we managed to spend a little bit of good time to sneak into its famous Sunday Market.  This is a must thing not to be missed while you're up there.  Market is held every Sunday from 8 am to around 1:30 pm in Anzac Park.  Here you will find lots of local art and crafts, tropical souvenirs (no need to go overseas), heaps of clothing and accessories, cookware to fresh produces and more.  Here you also be able to enjoy the super fresh coconut juice from the real fruit that cracked open right in front of you to calm you down in hot balmy day.



Feel like I am in Bali



Tiny elegant Wedding Chapel by the sea



On the way back to Cairns, we just pulled over for abit because of those Hang-riders catched our attention (but we didn't try it though, I am a chicken sometimes, admit that).  Something also very interesting here, there was one local guy selling coconut drinks and 'The Works', which actually comes from the concept of having yourself refreshed from drinking the freshly picked coconut juice, then you also can eat the grated coconut meat from it and mix with chopped banana and strawberry, HANG ON !!  Still not even finished yet !!!  It then drizzled with sweet honey on top..  Really good in the hot sunny day like this.  I think, one is enough for sharing between the two of us as we got the juice and 2 half of the meat and cost only $8.

I strongly recommend to everyone who's going to visit Cairns to spare 1 quality day driving up to Port Douglas especially on Sunday as they have market there.  It only takes around 2 hours driving from Cairns and the view over there is absolutely breath-taking.  Port Douglas is just a small little town lies on the coral sea side, still not much population but pretty busy with tourist coming to explore this charming city.  Heaps of gorgeous looking restaurants and cafes, absolutely nice to walk around the city for a day or two.  For us, Cairns and Port Douglas is truly heaven, worth visiting and where the rainforest meets the sea.

Macaron Cafe, Cairns

This morning we haven't got any plan for where should we have our last morning breakfast in Cairns.  We wandered around the small city of Cairns and spotted this vibrant-looking cafe along the Ocean walk arcade.  I noticed that there was this lady making macaroons and cakes in the back door kitchen and they smelled so inviting.  I knew it right away that this is the one!!!!  The one which gonna fulfill the dragon in our tummy.

Macaron

62 Grafton Street, Cairns 4870, Australia

Ph: (07) 4028 3414

Opening hour:

Mon - Fri:	7:00 am	-	5:00 pm
Sat:	7:30 am	-	5:00 pm
Sun:	8:00 am	-	4:00 pm



drying out the macaroons

Authentic French cafe in the heart of Cairns that quite newly open its door, just last few months ago.  Modern and chic looking cafe with a few nice touch of decorations, woody floor and chairs with 4 food showcases lined up that nearly take half of the cafe's space.  It's a one-stop cafe where you don't need to look no further, as they serves ranged of savoury food for brunch, home-made brewed coffee and heaps of sweet delicious treats as well.



Chicken, avocado, tomato croissandwich $7.50 and Hash Brown $2.50

His dish arrived first and right away I can smell those fabulous buttery aroma from the croissant.  Not only it smelled divine, taste absolutely wonderful too.  Toasted croissant made the outer skin flaky crisp but inside still soft bread texture, freshly made and those filling was delightful and incredibly tasty.  Really can't wait for my dish to come around..



Bacon & Egg Croissandwich $6.50

Yayy..  My dish has arrived, it doesn't look as fancy as my hubby's one but yet the flavour not that far off.  Split open croissant with scrambled egg and bacon in between then lightly toasted to give it a crunchiness.  Simple but something to-die-for.  Those croissant is absolutely delicious, rich in buttery flavour in every layer of pastry.  The best croissant ever tasted, which you won't forget in a hurry.  Wish that I could have another one but I'm sparing other half-side of my tummy for some sweets.


Iced Chocolate

Lemon Meringue Tart

 

Clockwise from top left: Passionfruit and Banana, Coconut, Raspberry and Rose Water, Tim Tam, Green Tea, and Blackberry Macaroon

The price of macaroon here is considerably cheap comparing to Sydney.  The small one costs only $2.20 each, which full of flavours and most of them comes with the glittery topping.  On the other hand, the big one which nearly triple in size costs $ 5.50




I'm so glad that we found this place.  The best of the best cafe I have ever eaten...  Why don't we have something this good in Sydney!!  Or probably we have but I just haven't discovered it yet..  Any recommendations???

Keep on reading for the last day in Cairns (Port Douglas):

http://octieappetie.blogspot.com/2011/12/port-douglas.html

Marina Bay and Ocean Spirit Dinner Cruise, Cairns

We actually tried to run away from the bustling Sydney life to enjoy the peaceful tropical haven in Cairns but when we're there for the first 2 days the weather was naughtily teasing us.  Rain..  then even more heavy rain..  then stop sometimes..  until today the sun started to sneak out...  We're be able to enjoy this beautiful bright sunny day after couple of days of gloomy wet days.  Yeah!!!  this what Cairns ought to be!!!!!

We finished off with the zoo pretty early today...  earlier than what we actually planned then we just sat back and chilled out in the hotel room just for a time killing to our buffet dinner in the cruise tonight but feeling abit bored and hungry too after awhile, so we decided to walk around the Pier and hunting for some food.  Ehmm... not a big meal to be exact just some small dessert would do me cos tonight's buffet gonna be enormous so better not missed a thing.

We glanced this Japanese restaurant in the Pier, M. Yogo Restaurant and their dessert menus looked quite enticing.  It was still around late afternoon and the restaurant was barely empty, we asked one of the waitress whether we can have only desserts???  Yup, surely we can.....

M. Yogo Restaurant
Shop G9 Ground Floor "Pier Shopping"
Pier Point Road  Cairns QLD 4870
(07) 4051 0522

In fact, they got a few nice-looking desserts in the cake showcase but I have to make up my mind, thus I choose that seems to be the most stand-out cake, Green Tea Opera and my hubby went for the rich Boysenberry Chocolate cake, well as usual.  Loves this Green Tea Opera which is layered of soft sponges and sweet green tea buttercream then topped with green tea glaze.  Nice contrast between the sweetness from butter cream with slightly bitterness from the green tea.  Boysenberry cake is also a very rich indulgence and delicious little cake.  For a slice of cake and a drink is cost only $7.50.  What a fulfilling petite afternoon treat for me!!!

Ocean Spirit Dinner Cruise
Fortunate enough that our hotel right next to the Pier so we only need about 10 minutes walk to where the dinner cruise is departed.  It's called Ocean Spirit Dinner Cruise and departs from 7pm and back to the shore at 9.30pm.  At that time they have a special price which will finish this year though at only $140 for the two of us.



A glass of sparkling wine to start with



Breads and choices of warm soup





Cold seafood section





Hot food section

They got lots and lots of different things to keep you busy for all night long from typical pasta, Moroccan chicken, to the most popular fish fingers that gone in a flash but not to worry, they keep filling up the food tray... 

The sailorman's chef  is slicing up the roast beef

Those ham and roast beef are the 'killer'.  They are really good, perfectly roasted so the meat itself still tender and succulent with the yummy companion sauces to go with.



Desserts

At the first glance of those fresh fruits and whipped cream, I thought I gonna have some of the sweet treat of my old pal Pavlova but when I look closer, couldn't see no fluffy meringue there.  Hiks :(  but still plenty of dead-licious chocolatey temptation to dig in though ....


Overall dinner cruise tonight was pretty good, the food itself, to be honest, it was pretty average but to compensate that the tonight's solo performance from the gentlemen ensuring us to end the night on the high note.  We just loved the way he entertained and picking his guitar, in the mean time he always can captivate all eyes on him.  He played most of the 70's hit songs, easy to listen and harmonise the atmosphere in the cruise.  Hence, we had a big smile on our face when we came back to the shore.  What a great and memorable night to cherish!!!!

Thank you to read my blog and Octie Appetie folks...



Keep on reading for the last day in Cairns (part 1):

http://octieappetie.blogspot.com/2011/12/macaron-cafe-cairns.html