With a bundle of joy on the way, more and more couples are keen to get away on a ‘babymoon’ – one last, idyllic holiday before the new chapter of parenthood begins. While it’s true that being pregnant on holiday is a very different experience to holidays you’ve enjoyed in the past (goodbye cocktails and hello early nights), a babymoon might be the last chance you get to indulge and truly relax, at least for a little while. Port Douglas offers the perfect mix of sunshine, indulgence and unparalleled natural beauty, making it one of Australia’s best destinations for a babymoon.
Get pampered
Since a babymoon is all about relaxing before your little bundle of chaos (and love) arrives, a spa treatment should definitely be on the menu. One of the best pregnancy massages in the region can be found twenty minutes out of town at The Healing Waters Spa at Silky Oaks Lodge. Nestled on the edge of the beautiful Daintree Rainforest, the spa rooms here overlook the lush tropical foliage just metres away. Book a couple’s treatment and the therapists will tailor a unique experience for each of you based on your individual needs – perhaps a gentle and soothing pregnancy massage for you and a deep tissue massage for your partner. All of those aches and pains from growing a new life will just melt away.
Afterwards, have lunch at the gorgeous Treehouse Restaurant, perched high up in the rainforest canopy and overlooking the clear, pristine Mossman River below. Dine on local fish and be sure to sample a delicious mocktail or two.
Image credit: Silky Oaks Lodge
Laze away the day
Let’s be honest, the gorgeous weather in Tropical North Queensland makes it a pretty attractive babymoon destination. Whether you take a morning dip in the famous Four Mile Beach or float away the hours in your resort’s pool, there’s no better feeling than weightlessness in the water.
If your babymoon plans involve not much more than parking your bump poolside, there’s no better place to do so than by one of the The Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort’s two hectares worth of sparkling lagoon pools. Be sure to keep the drinks and snacks coming on repeat (pregnancy cravings are real, we know) and, for an extra treat, reserve one of the luxurious shaded cabanas. Your pregnant skin is more sensitive to UV rays so remember to slip, slop and slap with a safe, chemical-free sunscreen.
Do as much or as little as you like
Located on the cusp of two UNESCO World-Heritage areas – the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest – Port Douglas is an ideal base for exploring these famous natural wonders. The good news is that even if the waddle is strong, it’s all still completely accessible no matter what stage of pregnancy you’re in.
While you’ll have to say no to scuba diving (for now), if you’ve got the energy, don’t pass up a chance to head out to the reef. Luckily, there are lots of different ways you can still experience it, from a classic snorkelling tour, a day trip out to the nearby Low Isles or even a sunset sail on the Coral Sea. Babymoons are all about creating some extra special memories together as a couple before you become a party of three. There’s also something pretty special about stepping foot in the oldest rainforest in the world, the Daintree, when pregnant. This is where all rainforest on earth began. You can either opt for a group tour or, if you have a set of wheels, explore it on your own terms. Some of the most beautiful, easy places to stop in at include the Daintree Discovery Centre, Cape Tribulation and, of course, the Daintree Ice Cream Company.
If your babymoon plans involve not much more than parking your bump poolside, there’s no better place to do so than by one of the The Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort’s two hectares worth of sparkling lagoon pools. Be sure to keep the drinks and snacks coming on repeat (pregnancy cravings are real, we know) and, for an extra treat, reserve one of the luxurious shaded cabanas. Your pregnant skin is more sensitive to UV rays so remember to slip, slop and slap with a safe, chemical-free sunscreen.
Indulge in the freshest cuisine
Food and water sanitation can be a top concern in pregnancy but in Port Douglas you can rest easy knowing that the region is famous for its fresh, local produce. With the fertile Atherton Tablelands nearby combined with its long history as a fishing village, this is certainly a place where you’re going to eat very well indeed.
Port Douglas has the perfect balance of upscale restaurants perfect for romantic evenings as well as laid-back, casual eateries. Get your antioxidant hit and start the day with a smoothie bowl at Nectar Port Douglas and, for lunch, stop in at The Little Larder for a harvest bowl or an Israeli pumpkin salad. Come sunset, head to dinner at Salsa Bar & Grill for a plate for their famous tableland red claw linguine. No matter where you choose to dine, your pregnant appetite will well and truly be satisfied!
