Best locations to unwind
Kick back, relax, in FNQ style
ONE of the best things about living in a leisure destination is that you have easy access to all the things that draw holidaymakers to the Far North.
This is especially important when you just need to chill.
Here is a shortlist of some of the best things to do to get some much-needed R&R in the tropical north. HAVE A MASSAGE AT PALM COVE Palm Cove is one of Cairns’ most famous beaches, for a very good reason: it looks and feels like paradise the moment you step foot on the sand.
There is a great selection of day spas in the resorts and hotels lining the beachfront.
Some are even devoted to wellness and massage therapy to ensure you a blissful visit. POOL HOPPING AT PORT DOUGLAS Port Douglas is easily the best destination for spending time lounging by the side of a pool, sipping on cocktails.
Best of all, you don’t actually need to be a guest staying at many of the resorts that have some of the best pools in the town as they welcome day visitors. Just make sure you buy a drink and/or food if you decide to visit. PADDLE YOUR WOES AWAY There can be gusts of more than 15km/h on the marine coast, but you are always assured of calm conditions for kayaking on Lake Eacham or Copperlode Dam.
You can easily spend a day at both of these freshwater locations paddling around their sheltered fringes and taking in nature.
For the ultimate bliss-out experience, grab a stand-up paddleboard, lay down on it, and gently float across the lake. RETAIL THERAPY, FNQ STYLE This time of the year, you struggle to find a weekend where there are not markets being held somewhere in the Far North.
Local markets, held either on beachfronts (check out Holloways Beach), next to botanic gardens (Tanks Markets); or even in the rainforest (Kuranda) can be a very relaxing experience, particularly checking out locally made arts and crafts and gorging yourself with incredible food. CONQUER A MOUNTAIN There is no shortage of peaks to conquer across the Far North, with Queensland’s highest mountain, Bartle Frere, an hour’s drive south of Cairns.
Spending time hiking through rainforest, where you are shaded from the elements, can be very calming.
And that feeling when you finally reach the summit can give you the momentum to go on to conquer any obstacle in your life.