A few years back we had a fantastic holiday at Port Douglas, north of Cairns in Far North Queensland. We snorkelled the Great Barrier Reef, visited the amazing Daintree rain fores and saw the area through the eyes of local aboriginal people. Read about it here.

Our base for that trip was the gorgeous Pink Flamingo Resort in Port Douglas. Its a lusciously refurbished motel with outside showers and courtyards and gardens.  It was a joy to stay in.

The Pink Flamingo is owned by women, and have long had women managers, the latest being Gigi Legenhausen and Adrea Groemminger We loved staying there, and I am sure you would.

The Pink Flamingo is funky and luscious – what more can a girl say?

Getting there…

It had been a mild New Zealand winter, Ngaire and I had had a stream of wonderful guests to stay at Waihoihoi Women’s Lodge at Waipu in sub tropical Northland, New Zealand. Despite the fact that we already lived in paradise, it felt time for a holiday – a chance to recharge the batteries before the summer.

I had added the Pink Flamingo at Port Douglas to our Womentravel NZ links page, and North Queensland felt like an ideal place to escape to in a New Zealand winter – 27 degrees, beaches, the Great Barrier Reef – all very tempting. A search for airline seats and an email or two later we were booked.

Although there are direct flights from Auckland to Cairns, we went via Sydney and had a few nights there to catch up with old friends. Arriving in Cairns we knew we were in the tropics – the woman in front of us with knee length ugg boots must have been melting! Since we were also still dressed for Sydney weather we were grateful for the air conditioned shuttle that the Pink Flamingo girls had waiting for us at the airport.

Cairns and North

A 50 minute drive took us along the Captain Cook Highway dotted with alluring beaches and tempting hideaways, and we arrived at the Pink Flamingo in the tourist town of Port Douglas. Sam showed us to our lovely (economy) garden studio, but when she showed us one of the private villas which was also available, we did the sums, and soon decided to take the plunge and stay there.

Definitely the right choice. Two rooms inside – a bedroom and lounge/kitchen area, and two rooms outside – both totally private. One set up with a dining setting and hammock and one with a candelabra and outside bath and shower. All of this was painted brilliant tropical colours, and surrounded by lush tropical gardens – and nearby of course was the swimming pool.

For more: snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef, the elusive Cassowary, The Daintree Forest and more….