The Weekend Australian has featured Cooktown and Guurrbi Tours, Saturday 26th February 2010 

The Bama Way Discovery Tour combines three Aboriginal tours into a unique three day journey. Small group departures from Cairns and Port Douglas on the Bama Way Aboriginal Journeys with Adventure North Australia including Willie Gordon of Guurrbi Tours.

Come on out to the Daintree and join our tree planting celebrations. Help Rainforest Rescue plant 1000 trees and create a rainforest. An activity suitable for all ages. Bring the family. Help restore the natural environment.

Where: At Lots 21 & 28 Ironbark Rd, Diwan (off Cape Tribulation Road)

When: Tuesday to Friday 22-26 February 2010

Time: 9.00am - 12 noon

Cost: FREE

The Daintree Rainforest is the most significant tropical rainforest in Australia and sustains a unique range of flora and fauna. over the past 100 years parts of the Daintree hve been cleared to create land for farms that are no longer in operation. Replanting these cleared areas with rainfroest trees provides important habitat for the endangered Cassowary and 100 other rare and threatened species found in the Daintree.

Rainforest Rescue is a not for profit organisation commited to protecting our rainforests forever. For further information, please visit rainforestrescue.org.au or phone 1300 763 611 or email info@rainforestrescue.org.au 

This year we’ve planned a host of superb lunches, dinners and good time events to ensure you have a truly memorable Festive Season – Mirage style! Be sure to join us for Christmas Carols in the Daintree Lounge on Wednesday 23rd December with the Cairns Choral Society.

Experience Festive Season events with flair, for information and bookings please contact the Food & Beverage team on (+617) 4099 0845 or email F&BAdministrator.00370@sheraton.com

Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas is where colleagues gather. Experience tropical North Queensland for your next conference or incentive. Plan on success together with a myriad of venue choices, unique off-site events and exciting new theming options to deliver an exceptional experience every time.

To book your successful Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas conference or incentive, call the sales team direct on (+617) 4099 0864 or simply email salessmpd@sheraton.com

Port Douglas will be bursting with activity during the 2012 Solar Eclipse. This phenomenon will be best viewed from the Port Douglas area and is set to take place in the early hours of 13th November 2012.

A marathon has also been planned in Port Douglas to coincide with the Solar Eclipse and will attract 2000 competitors from the adventure marathon market. So start planning your 2012 getaway now to experience the solar eclipse!

We have recently installed a Building Automation System (BAS) which controls air conditioning and lighting systems throughout the resort using sensors and schedules - the new system even controls how the 100 golf buggies are charged!

This has been an asset in managing energy costs and is another integral part of our commitment to significantly reducing energy usage at the resort.

Experience the perfect wedding from ceremony to honeymoon at Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas and create once in a lifetime memories in our Crystal Wedding Chapel.

The glass walled chapel enjoys stunning views over the Coral Sea and a recent refurb ensures it is the fairytale venue for you to say your vows.

Sheraton Mirage 18 hole golf course has also undergone some enhancements with regular corring of the greens being undertaken. The tropical climate has helped as well with the “green season” rain greatly enhancing the fairways and greens to a lush splendor.

Stay and Play in Paradise! 

History is in the making as we give our world famous lagoons a “little makeover”. The 2.1 hectares of iconic lagoons, so loved by our guests are being restored to their full glory. The upgrade of the largest lagoon was completed in June (using a whopping 9000 litres of paint!).

The lagoon is 4,632 square metres and holds 6 million litres of chlorinated salt water from the ocean. It took 3 days to empty and 4 days to refill with seawater pumped in via a submersible pump. The new seawater passed through a sand filter before being chlorinated and pumped into the
lagoon. Our engineering and grounds teams have spent a lot of time and effort enhancing the famous lagoons and they are now sparkling as never before!

Stay at Sheraton Mirage Resort Port Douglas and experience the lagoons for yourself! 

Published results of a survey conducted in 2007 by Galaxy Research found that nearly $1Billion is spent on unwanted Christmas gifts each year. In a bid to rescue rainforests at the same time as Christmas, not for profit organisation Rainforest Rescue is running a ‘Rescue Christmas Campaign’ offering unique Rainforest Gift Cards, targeting those 'difficult to buy for' friends and loved ones.

Right now, rainforests and their inhabitants are under greater threat than ever.

In the Daintree of far North Queensland, large areas are situated on freehold land and laws and regulations to prevent development are inadequate. Securing and protecting rainforest habitat for the endangered Cassowary — of which only 1,000 remain — is urgent.  Meanwhile, only 1% of the most diverse ecosystem in New South Wales — The Big Scrub — remains. Planting and restoring this area is vital to the survival of over 38 threatened species of flora and 61 species of threatened fauna.

Rainforest Rescue are protecting rainforests with projects that re-establish habitat through planting, maintenance and restoration programs, as well as purchasing and protecting high conservation value rainforest. Amongst other project outcomes, this year Rainforest Rescue successfully planted over 10,000 rainforest trees and acquired their 11th property in the Daintree.

With their 'Rescue Christmas' Campaign, Rainforest Rescue are promoting Rainforest Gift Cards devoted to a range of projects that allow purchasers to nominate number of trees planted, or square metres / hectares protected. For example, $25 will save five square metres of the Daintree Rainforest which Rainforest Rescue will purchase and protect on the Gift Card recipient’s behalf. Each card details the gift with a special front cover photo or exclusive Leunig cartoon along with an inner description of the project outcomes achieved.

“Gift Card sales will make a significant contribution to both our Daintree Buy Back and Protect Forever Project and the Plant a Rainforest campaign. This year more Australians are recognising how we need to make a difference when it comes to our environment.” Said Kelvin Davies, CEO of Rainforest Rescue.

Rainforest Rescue Gift Cards can be sent directly to a recipient anywhere in the world with a personalised message inside or they can be sent to the giver's address for personal delivery.

Critically endangered species like the Daintree's Southern Cassowary and Indonesia's Orangutans are among many who have little to celebrate this Christmas. And with deforestation causing 25% of global emissions, protecting rainforests is really a gift for everyone. Through their 'Rescue Christmas' campaign, Rainforest Rescue urge all those concerned for our planet to consider this easy and affordable way to find the perfect Christmas gift for everyone.

Orders can be placed online at www.rainforestrescue.org.au or by phoning 1300 763 611.

According to our friends at The Wet Tropics News, the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) will be replacing the existing access track at Mossman Gorge with an elevated boardwalk. When completed, the boardwalk will provide a world-class experience, with wheelchair access to the World Heritage listed Mossman Gorge section of Daintree National Park.

Construction will be in two stages. The first phase began on Tuesday 10 November and will take approximately three weeks. The second phase will commence after the wet season and is expected to take seven to nine weeks.

The project is being funded under the Australian Government's Jobs Fund. QPWS will work closely with tourism operators, Cairns Regional Council, and the community to maintain  levels of access. QPWS will advertise closure and disruption details prior to works commencing. Should you have any queries, please contact Senior Ranger Tina Alderson on 4098 2188.

The world's first Solar Eclipse Marathon will be held in Port Douglas, Queensland, on 14th November 2012.

Event ambassador and Australian marathon legend, Steve Monaghetti, is flying in this weekend to launch the running festival, which will include a 42.195km marathon and a half marathon. He believes the local environment and the significance of the eclipse will present a highly desirable combination to runners everywhere.

"The concept of a marathon and half marathon in the pristine environment of Port Douglas and The Daintree is terrific. An endurance run provides a great personal challenge but to share the adventure with like-minded people on a significant day in a special place will be astronomical! I love to run and I love the beauty of the Australian rainforests so this event is a winning combination for me," said Steve Monaghetti.

The event is being presented by Traveling Fit, Australia's only specialist travel agency catering to the running community. Spokesperson Michael Walton said the event will provide Australian and international runners with a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

"Linking the eclipse and the marathon festival is all about the experience the competitors receive here. For example, we are timing the race start just as the first rays of sun re-emerge from behind the moon, creating the first ever intergalactic starting gun!" he said.

The event is expected to attract around 3,000 visitors including support crews and families into Port Douglas, and organisers are confident at capping the running competitors at 2,000.

Event organisers Traveling Fit and their international travel partners, Albatross Travel, together with their destination management company Port Douglas Event Management, will present details of the running festival to the tourism industry at the launch this Friday night in Port Douglas.

"This has the potential to be the largest single international event ever staged in in the Port Douglas and Daintree region," said Michael Walton. "Having the support of the local tourism and business communities is essential for the success of any venture and we are fortunate to have Port Douglas and the Daintree as the focal point for this unique event".

Tourism Port Douglas + Daintree executive officer Doug Ryan said the marathon would have a significant impact on the region's tourism industry, as well as the wider community.

"This marathon will be a great addition to the eclipse event, which will see the region prosper in what is normally a quiet period. It is exactly in line with the Cairns Regional Council and and the area's strategy to develop major events. The organisers have indicated the marathon has the potential to be developed into a biennial event, which would be an excellent outcome. We hope Events Queensland and the Cairns Regional Council will both support this opportunity for Port Douglas and the Daintree," he said.

The marathons will cater to participants of all levels of ability and the event will have accommodation components to suit every budget and requirement, from single runners to large families looking for an extended holiday. The organisers are offering fully hosted tour and holiday packages to enhance the marathon, and it promises to be the largest event ever staged in the region.

Over the past few weeks, we have had regular sightings of Male Cassowarys on our guided boardwalk tour.  Join us on tour and you to may have a chance of seeing these beautiful rare birds.