If you like sand,sun and sea with swaying palm trees and clear skies, combined with a great selection of fine regional food - Port Douglas is your place, especially for 10 days from May 18.
The Port Douglas Carnivale starts with a slap up series of feasts that will challenge your appetite and endurance on one weekend (May 18 -20), perfect for a
quick, indulgent getaway.
The opening weekend includes the -
Sheraton Mirage Longest Lunch May 18
Audi Plates of Port - dinner May 18
Food, Wine and A Taste of Port - dinner May 19
Meridien Seafood Extravaganza - lunch May 20
I visited Port Douglas in March for a sneak preview of what's on offer and it's good, very good.
Sheraton Mirage Longest Lunch
This is the ideal excuse for a very, very long lunch. There’s pre-arranged seating under a beautiful lakeside marquee, and table service of a highly anticipated, three course menu showcasing fresh local produce accompanied by the very best of Australian wines and Asahi beer.
Think treats like Daintree tea smoked duck breast and melt-in-your
mouth grain fed Tableland beef.
Executive Chef Klaus Keller has put together a fabulous
spread.
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| Sheraton Mirage Executive Chef Klaus Keller |
This year, organisers Events NQ are tipping a colour theme inspired by the candy coloured flavours of Italian Gelato, and say guests will be able to try their hand at bocce while they enjoy welcome drinks!
I've tasted the menu and viewed the venue - you will be impressed. You might even be lucky enough to score a personal visit from one of the 'special' guests. Yes Gertie the python is completely harmless, even though the look on my face might say otherwise. She's a long standing guest at the lunch and has never misbehaved!
More information
Check the accommodation/lunch deal available at the Sheraton Mirage - great value!
Audi Palates of Port
7.30 - 11pm, May 18, Flames in the Forest
Held deep in the rainforest at Flames of the Forest, a secret rainforest glade, eight of Port Douglas’ finest restaurants and their chefs will gather to create a stunning eight course degustation under the stars with matching wines sponsored by the Red and White Wine Portfolio.
One of the courses will be Flames in the Forest Head Chef David Spencer's beetroot-cured atlantic salmon with sorrel salad and citrus salsa accented with bush lemon and lime - a wonderful palate pleaser.
This year’s theme “Music to Dine By” means each chef has been inspired by a piece of music when creating their signature dish. This year the restaurants involved are Salsa Bar and Grill, Bucci, Bistro 3, Port Douglas Catering, Flames of the Forest and the Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas Resort and The Beach Shack.
The evening includes return transfers from six dedicated pick up points in Port Douglas
More information
Food, Wine and a Taste of Port -
5.30pm -11pm, Saturday May 19, Rex Smeal Park.
Food, Wine & A Taste of Port is an outdoor food and wine festival that takes place seaside under striking illuminated palm fronds on the foreshore at Rex Smeal Park. As well as the food and wine, there’ll be a fabulous line up of entertainment on the main stage throughout the night with Dragon as the headline act fitting with the 70s theme.“Take me to the April sun in Cuba’ sang the band. And they kept on singing, making the 70’s ring with their hits.
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Meridien Seafood Extravaganza -
10am -4pm May 19, Marina, Port Douglas.
This is a day for families, couples and friends to come together and enjoy free entertainment and great seafood all along the boardwalk at the Marina. Stalls offering the ‘fruit of the sea’ will be plentiful, and you can also buy seafood direct from the trawlers in the marina. Kick back with a coldie, listen to the band on the deck of the catamaran, and tuck into a bucket of prawns, or fish and chips. Free entry
If you need any more inspiration to travell to Port Douglas, take a look at this.
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Disclaimer: E,d+bK travelled courtesy of Tourism Port Douglas and Daintree