Lazy Sunday in Queensland

After a swim in the hotel's salt-water lagoon pool, our first port of call is a cold one in the down to earth Central Hotel, a classic Aussie pub, cold beer, pokies, and plenty of room to eat and watch the footie. We take time to discuss what we want to do for the next couple of days. But for today it's time to relax and soak up the heat and a few schooners as well.

Eventually we end up in the Courthouse Hotel, sitting outside listening to a lively band and watching the antics of the recently victorious local footie team as they celebrate with a pub crawl, dressed in their mothers' finest sunday dresses. We get the impression that Port Douglas is a mix of well-heeled tourists with a solid heart of 'colourful' locals.


After some food we pop in to the Iron Bar to witness 'Cane Toad Racing', unfortunately we're too late for the full spectacle, but we do get a look at the contestants.

This is my first close-up look at the most hated creature in Australia, and it's hard to deny that they are ugly. But we'll be back in a couple of days to witness this slice of Australiana in it's full glory.