The Cairns Post

New owner dives in

- MARK MURRAY

A FORMER scuba diving resort will be transforme­d into the latest boutique hotel at a Far North town riding the post-pandemic investment wave.

The Uyoung Diving Resort in Port Douglas has been sold for an undisclose­d sum.

Its new owner is expected

to rebrand and launch a new resort offering for the holiday town.

The 17-unit property sits on an acre block and is just 500m from Four Mile Beach.

Selling agent David Cotton said the buyer was from Sydney and owned several other motels on the east coast.

“They have been looking

at the property since late last year and have come to an agreement with current owners several weeks ago,” Mr Cotton said.

“They will no longer be running it as a dive resort, but more a boutique motel.”

The owner, who did not want to be named, said the timing was right to invest in the idyllic tropical town.

“We very excited to get into the Port Douglas market (and) can only see continued growth in the area.”

The property, at 123 Davidson St, has a large outdoor swimming pool, parking and gardens.

The sale comes with the diving equipment and airtank compressor from the previous owner, and a spacious

restaurant.

All the apartments have airconditi­oning, flat-screen television­s, fridges and private bathrooms, making a rebrand relatively easy.

The resort was popular with internatio­nal visitors before the pandemic, with scuba diving and snorkellin­g lessons and training conducted on site.

 ?? ?? Uyoung Diving Resort in Port Douglas has been sold to a Sydney buyer, who intends to rebrand it into a boutique resort. Picture: Supplied
Uyoung Diving Resort in Port Douglas has been sold to a Sydney buyer, who intends to rebrand it into a boutique resort. Picture: Supplied

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Australia