A Port Douglas day can start on the sand, continue out on the water and finish with a cocktail beside a lagoon pool that winds through the resort. Pullman Port Douglas Sea Temple Resort and Spa puts the reef and rainforest within reach, but it also gives you a good reason not to rush straight back out. Here’s what to look forward to between adventures.
The lagoon pool sets the pace between adventures
At the centre of the resort, a 3,000sqm lagoon-style pool winds between the stylish rooms, sun loungers and Aluco’s terrace. The scale makes it easy to find your own corner: take a dip, settle into the shade or order something cold without leaving the water’s orbit.
Some Swim-Out Apartments open directly onto the lagoon from a furnished terrace, so a morning swim can be the first thing you do. If you’d rather have your own pool, the Plunge Pool Apartments come with a private, fenced courtyard pool and an outdoor pavilion with a barbecue.
You can choose your own relationship with the water
The accommodation ranges from Studio Spa Rooms to apartments and three-bedroom villas, so the main question is how much space – and how much pool – you want. Studio Spa Rooms have a king bed and double spa bath. Swim-Out Apartments give you direct access to the shared lagoon, while Plunge Pool Apartments trade that for a private courtyard pool.
Travelling with family or friends? The Three-Bedroom Villas add a private plunge pool, outdoor dining and barbecue facilities, plus a spa bath in the main ensuite. There’s a fully equipped kitchen as well, handy if you want a slow breakfast before the day begins.
Aluco brings local seafood to the lagoon terrace
At Aluco, you’ll find the freshest produce with a distinctly Mediterranean flare – miso marinated salmon with pickled ginger, pan-seared barramundi and creamy seafood pasta. Not to mention you’ve got Aperol, Hugo and Limoncello spritzes in spades, the perfect pairing with your delectable dish of choice.
You can settle in for breakfast before heading out, return for dinner, or make an evening of the flame-lit lagoon terrace and a cocktail. It’s an easy place to wind down after a day outdoors, whether you linger over dinner or come down for breakfast before setting off. Start the day onsite, spend it exploring and return for dinner without needing to plan another drive into town.
Vie Spa gives you a rainforest-inspired pause
When a day on the reef or beach calls for a slower finish, Vie Spa offers massages and facials, including treatments that draw on the region. The Earth & Ocean iKOU ritual combines a native-aromatic back scrub, body and scalp massage, hydrating facial, foot and lower-leg mask, and organic body souffle.
For a shorter spa visit, the Hydra-Cloud Facial uses a hyaluronic-acid mask and includes massage for the neck, head, hands and feet. Keep an afternoon free after a reef trip, or come back from the beach and let the pace slow before dinner.
The reef and rainforest make two very different day trips
Pullman Port Douglas Sea Temple Resort and Spa sits at the southern end of Four Mile Beach, with direct beach access. Palmer Sea Reef Golf Course is adjacent – about a 10-minute walk or a two-minute drive – and was designed by Peter Thomson, Ross Perrett and Michael Wolveridge.
Reef trips depart from the Port Douglas marina, while Mossman Gorge is about 20 minutes north by car. Give the Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation a full day, and check current tour and road conditions before you go. With the coast, reef and rainforest all on the itinerary, you can make the days as active – or as poolside – as you like.
