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What a view | Star Treatment
What a view
Tropical North Queensland is home to one of the most incredible natural environments on earth. Not one single environment but layer upon layer of remarkable ecosystems – reef, rainforest, outback. No other place in the world can you experience this fusion of Mother Nature’s handiwork.
I must thank Skysafari - Personalised Air Touring Australia for giving me a deeper appreciation of the area. Personalised is the key word. This young and dynamic team of pilots are driven to ensure each person who climbs aboard one of their three helicopters or two fixed wing aircraft steps off with an unforgettable North Queensland experience.
My personal adventure begins when I arrive at their Port Douglas air base, hopping out of the courtesy pick up vehicle to see a young English couple disembark the canary yellow Robinson 44 and turn to embrace their pilot, Bradley. The connection is as obvious, as the smiles on their faces, but I am curious how such a ready relationship could form after only a three hour tour – is it really that great an experience?
After refuelling, completion of an aircraft safety check and a to-the-point safety instruction session, it is my turn to join Bradley for Skysafari’s unique Taste of the Outback experience. My first time in a helicopter, I am unsure what to expect. One thing I immediately appreciate is the astonishing visibility aided by convex windows, incredible windscreen and mini sunroof. Seated next to the pilot, it feels as though there is almost nothing between you and the ground below. The Robinson 44 really is a remarkable aircraft. About the size of your average family sedan, the half-a-million dollar machine is surprisingly comfortable – maybe it is not so surprising when you consider the Robinson family of helicopters was originally designed to allow wealthy U.S. business identities to fly to and from work!
As a helicopter flight virgin, Bradley gently recommends keeping hands relaxed, taking deep cleansing breaths and going with the turns much like you would on the back of a motorcycle. The way he explains it brings back memories of my masseurs at a recent spa outing however he is on the money. In order to get the most of the experience you must breath it in – this not only helps avoid any potential physical unease but also assists to open your mind and soul to embrace the experience at hand.
And what an experience it is. As mentioned earlier we are in remarkable country and Bradley seems to know every inch of it. Yes everyone must experience flying out and on to the secluded sandy cay on the Great Barrier Reef, perhaps even deciding to include a heli-deck landing and overnight stay on a delectable luxurious catamaran following the thrill of viewing magnificent oceanic wildlife from overhead. But what is equally remarkable is to fly west over dramatic landscapes that are quintessentially Australian.
After enjoying the compliment of being greeted at my hotel lobby by a Skysafari pilot who then safely chauffeured me to the Skysafari Port Douglas base, five minutes drive north of the coastal resort town, our first part of the flight over the picturesque Dickson Inlet enables me to get comfortable with the new flight sensation. Ready to kick back and savour the panorama below I am struck by the view of the Sheraton Mirage Resort’s five and a half acres of saltwater lagoons and its dollhouse-like residences. As we cruise over Four Mile Beach, Bradley reveals that the sprawling sand was Port Douglas’ original airport with Charles Kingsford Smith even selecting it on occasion ascending in his infamous ‘Southern Cross’ aeroplane.
Turning inland it is literally only a matter of minutes before we fly past fields of sugarcane and mangoes, ponds of prawn and barramundi farms and over the densely forested Cassowary Ridge and the stunning Mowbray Valley to leave the distinctly manmade environment behind.
Absorbing the scene below Bradley recounts tales of the Gold Rush era and how thousands of immigrants battled their way through the unforgiving terrain on horseback or with wheel barrow in hand, foot driven by their dream of ‘striking it rich’. You wonder if they would have bothered if they had been able to view the country from up here – the land even today appears raw and untamed with no signs of inhabitants as far as the eye can see.
It is not long before Mount Mulligan looms in all its glory. The ochre, almost sunburnt appearance of the towering cliff faces is awe inspiring. We draw close and I can almost feel the veins carved into the rock by rain over hundreds and thousands of years. Under the shadow of the mountain there are few remnants of a once thriving mining town. The scene of Queensland’s worst ever mine disaster, the Mount Mulligan coal mine flume stands silently as an eerie memorial to the 75 miners who lost their lives in a massive underground explosion in 1926.
Turning back towards the coastline we fly over a cluster of Braham cattle who call the many thousand square kilometre cattle station home as do the many wild horses and wallabies that dart away at the thought of our approach. Aware that I am now well and truly comfortable with the flight, Bradley makes a steep turn to take a closer look. “Holy cow” I squeal in delight to which we both laugh at the accidental and feeble joke!
With my head spinning from the thrill and incredible sights, I am more than ready to touch down at our outback picnic spot and digest the experience, as well as some lunch. And what a spot! The granite stones that frame the river’s pulsing waters sparkle like silver in the sunlight. Part of a pastoral lease, Skysafari is the only operator to have the owner’s permission to land at this incredible site. As we approach the area I glance over to Bradley wondering where on earth he is planning to put this baby down. To my surprise we descend closer to a massive granite boulder and ultimately gently ‘kiss’ the monster rock as we touch down.
Disembarking the aircraft I pause to consider my surroundings. Here is a place where true serenity resides. The absence of man-made noise is deafening in its impact. Walking along the water’s edge I come across a bed of polished quartz river sand crafted into gorgeous patterns by the water flow – a perfect example of a natural zen garden. I hate to disrupt the picture with my footprints. However upon closer inspection it appears a small furry marsupial has beaten me to it!
Turning back to absorb my surroundings I see Bradley (turned barefoot waiter extraordinaire) setting up a gourmet picnic complete with my favourite wine (How did he know?). Once the feast is laid, Bradley confirms my comfort and discreetly withdraws upstream to allow some privacy reassuring me he is only a walkie talkie coo-ee away. As I relish the physical and mental refreshment time gently drifts by. I wash away the final remains of stress from my urban life with a quick dip in the largest of three flowing swimming holes. I hate to draw on a cliché but as I am massaged by the river current I can’t help but think – “this is the life!”
Revitalised and basking in the sun I am drifting off when Bradley mentions it is time to return to the sky and home. I feel a bit guilty when I see he has already packed up but when I start apologising Bradley says not to worry about it as he loves serving as much as he loves flying. A complete furphy I know but I am too relaxed to care.
I hate to leave the riverbank but I can start to feel a chill creeping into the breeze as the sun starts to fade. It is time to return to the tropical heat of the coastline. Back in the air and flying towards Port Douglas it doesn’t take me long to realise Bradley still has more surprises up his sleeve. As the bush below thickens and transforms into ancient rainforest, Bradley turns and descends to take us over the famous Mossman Gorge. I have bushwalked through the gorge many times however viewing it from the air it is as though I am seeing this stunning environment for the first time.
The experience is almost at an end. We pass by the historical Mossman township and local waterfalls and then trace the coastline back to the base. Minutes from landing we spot another famous North Queensland icon – a crocodile swimming offshore and hover overhead to get a better look. Let’s just say that while it was great seeing this prehistoric relic I think I would have been happier to have more than air between us.
As we finally land I feel an incredible gratitude towards Bradley for sharing this new and exciting version of Queensland with me. It must be wonderful to be responsible for taking people from all over the world on such a remarkable adventure. Mind you it has ruined me - forget the tour bus, car, bike and boat – it is a helicopter for me from now on. It is simply the only way to go. I give Bradley a hug and say goodbye…until next time.
The Star Treatment
Have you ever wondered what it might feel like to be a movie star or millionaire for the day? Someone who has the world at their feet and the red carpet rolled out wherever they go? I have. Who in their right mind wouldn’t want to experience the best of the best and be pampered within an inch of your life?
With Tropical North Queensland set for invasion by the stars and crew of Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks’ epic mini-series, ‘The Pacific’, I thought I might enjoy the local sights the way Hollywood royalty, or the very fortunate, might see it and take to the sky.
So what are the essential elements in an uber-luxury experience in the tropics? There should definitely be a chartered plane or helicopter involved and personalised and attentive service to my every whim. There is no going past the Great Barrier Reef as the ultimate destination and what better way to top it all off than by retreating to a luxury spa?
Sound impressive? It was in every way and I suggest it is an experience everyone should enjoy once in their lives.
Skysafari looked after every detail of my lavish adventure which began with a pick up service from my Palm Cove resort. From there I was whisked along the magnificent coastal drive to Port Douglas gasping at the magnificent day bestowed upon us.
Upon arriving at SkySafari’s Port Douglas base and catching my first glimpse of my chariot for the day, a canary-yellow Robinson 44 helicopter, I must admit I had a slight rush of nerves with the idea of soaring across an ocean becoming quite confronting.
I reluctantly confessed my fears to my pilot Bradley, who responded by listing the safety features of the helicopter in significant detail with a welcome touch of humour. Up to speed on features such as the helium floats, GPS tracking systems and the fact that the Robinson 44 is statistically the safest helicopter in the world, I felt more at ease and climbed aboard with my cool, ‘movie-star’ façade relatively intact.
As the rotors started to spin, Bradley calmly talked me through some steps I can take to ensure I remain comfortable during the flight. Simple things like keeping hands open and relaxed as well as leaning with the helicopter help ensure you have the best flight possible. ‘Just breath in the experience,’ Bradley said as we took to the sky.
We flew out over Dickson Inlet and Port Douglas and headed towards the two islands that make up the Low Isles – Woody Island with its mangrove ridge and Low Isle with its picturesque lighthouse and gracious palms. According to Bradley we were following the course set by many a charter boat and even ambitious Port Douglas kite surfers. As we passed over the lush Low Isle, I saw the beach was lined with visitors from one of the daily reef cruises preparing to start their snorkelling adventure. It was an idyllic scene however wa not the first stop on our luxury adventure.
Instead we turned towards Batt Reef, one of the most significant reefs in the Great Barrier Reef system supporting a fantastic array of life including rays and dugongs. Trying to spot one of these majestic creatures from the air I commented on the size of the clean reef break to Bradley who in turn mentioned the reef is to be part of a ‘heli-surfing’ tour in the not too distant future. Tropical North Queensland really is the ultimate playground!
All too soon we flew away from Batt Reef’s amazing network of life and headed further out to sea. I quizzed Bradley on the wildlife he has seen from his amazing ‘office’. Huge 12 foot long sea snakes, manta rays and sharks of all shapes and sizes all rated a mention however it was his description of the whales he sees at least a dozen times a year which made me green with envy. How wonderful it must be to share such an experience with his guests.
My jealousy was soon replaced with awe as we approached Undine Sand Cay. An important nesting ground for sea turtles, Undine Cay is open for visitation five months of the year and even then it can only be visited by one group each day. The white sands of the cay sparkled in the sunshine like a rare ocean jewel with its surrounding crystal clear waters offering up all secrets of the coral gardens below.
As Bradley gently landed our chariot on the remote haven, I just couldn’t believe this piece of paradise was mine and mine alone to enjoy for the next few hours. Deciding there was no better time to kick off my shoes, I stepped on to the sand as though dipping my toes into a warm bath. The texture of the sand was surprising and deliciously coarse between my toes. I immediately gravitated towards the water and was delighted by its temperature. I turned to ask Brad where he thought I should start my swim and saw he had already set up an oasis for me with beach umbrella, towels, snorkelling equipment and refreshments. Even though the deep blue beckoned I paused to select and enjoy a refreshing drink from the hamper of gourmet goodies before stripping down to my swimsuit, grabbing a mask, snorkel and flippers and submersing myself in the water.
Beneath the sea I discovered an astonishing world of colour and life. Drawing close to a brilliant array of corals and anemones I was surrounded by wrasse and parrotfish seemingly unperturbed by my presence. Absorbed by the visual smorgasbord I swam further out to where the cay drops off into the sea and am treated to the sight of giant clams and a gracious sea turtle. With hunger finally winning over my appetite for more, I made my way back on to the beach and reclaimed my shaded oasis and enjoy a lunch of …..
Appetite sated and feeling the wonderful laziness that comes with complete satisfaction I spent the remainder of my time on the cay peacefully bobbing on the surface of the water suspended by my new friend the pool noodle. Time passed all too soon and it was time to go.
As we flew away from Undine I was buoyed by the fact that I still had one more stop to make before reacquainting myself with reality. It was not long before the blue of the Coral Sea underneath us was replaced by the lush green of the superb Daintree Rainforest.
The canopy of this ancient world is thick and deceptively hides the true magnificence of its stature. It is only as we began our descent into the grounds of the Julatten Mountain Retreat that I comprehended the rainforest’s real height with the surrounding trees dwarfing our helicopter as we finally landed.
I was at the Julatten Mountain Retreat to enjoy two hours of blissful pampering at the Red Lily Day Spa. I felt like a celebrity as I left the helicopter and was warmly welcomed by the retreat’s team. As we made our way to the main house of the retreat via its waterside pavilion I realised a couple enjoying their gourmet lunch actually filmed our arrival and felt quite the celebrity!
Thankfully the disturbance of the helicopter to the retreat’s tranquil atmosphere didn’t last long. Nestled on a hillside overlooking Black Mountain, the retreat enjoys a climate described by National Geographic as on of the top four in the world. The temperature here rarely goes above 30 degrees Celsius and the humidity is delightfully lower than the coast. After my few hours in the sun the coolness of the air was a delight on my skin – only the first of many I enjoyed at this wonderful, earthy sanctuary.
I met my two lovely therapists for the afternoon and was given a quick tour of the Balinese-inspired spa. Far from the almost clinical atmospheres of urban spas, the Red Lily Day Spa has a warm simplicity that is enticing. Upon being guided to one of their picturesque treatment rooms I was invited to select from two of their handmade scrubs. I selected the delicious smelling lavender and mandarin scrub and although reluctant to wash the sand of my beloved cay from my feet, I surrendered myself completely to the girls’ soothing touch.
The feeling of four hands as they firmly but gently massaged my body with warm coconut oil can only be described as divine. I felt any residual tension from my body melt away as they worked their magic using long rhythmic strokes to introduce the invigorating lavender scrub. My bliss was heightened by the soothing flow of the vichy shower which I later learnt uses a combination of pure rainwater and water from the nearby cascading creek. It is incredibly soft without the chemical additives in town water and left me feeling completely soothed and refreshed.
The nurturing experience eventually came to its inevitable conclusion and I emerged from the spa a new woman. I farewelled the girls and faithfully promised to return with husband in tow to enjoy one of their couple’s treatments.
As Bradley and I returned to the sky for the short trip back to Port Douglas I marvelled at my incredible day and questioned why I thought this kind of ‘star treatment’ was exclusively the domain of celebrities. Everyone deserves this level of service and experience and I know now in Tropical North Queensland it is only one phone call away.
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