Traveling with kids - Port Douglas - a jewel in front of the Great Barrier Reef

Ask an Australian about Queensland and, there are always mentions of beautiful white sandy beaches, tropical weather, friendly people, activities galore and of course bugs... lots of bugs. Local mosquitoes are abundant and vicious in their tenacity, so a good repellent is an absolute must in your suitcase and with it, an anti-itch cream or spray.

We visited Port Douglas, about an hour’s drive from Cairns. We rented a car, and took off for the little but charming Port Douglas. The road was very good but it was quite curvy, and it be quite the tummy turner, as we experienced unfortunately. A distraction, like a DVD player or a hand-held video game might have been a good thing to bring along.

Once arrived at your destination, my advice to other globetrotting parents is to:

ONE - find the grocery store (Coles); it is conveniently priced, abundantly stocked with Australian and international products, and it stays open until 9pm.

TWO - pick up brochures and promotional material for a myriad of tours and attractions available locally.

THREE - relax at a cafe and meet the friendly locals, who are more than willing to give you all the 'insider information' about their beloved town.

Our stay in Port Douglas was short, but we made the most of it. We strolled down Four Mile

Beach, looking for seashells and visited the Wildlife Habitat, which is truly a gem of a zoo. AU$110 paid for one adult and three kids' tickets (three days), including an all you can eat lunch buffet (one day) and photo opportunity with the Habitat's Lorikeets… an amazing deal! Inside the Habitat, we had a chance to feed kangaroos and wallabies... a truly once in a lifetime experience.

Port Douglas is on my list to re-visit very soon.