Latest Port Douglas News

Port Douglas Property Boom!

Once a sleepy village, Port Douglas is now seeing a boom in new real estate development. Record prices are being paid for waterfront land such as in the new Sea Temple Resort & Spa with price tags of up to $1.8 million.  Sea Temple is being developed by Sunshine Coast - based Juniper group which has, or is, developing similar resorts in  Palm Cove and  Magnetic Island.   More recently, the Juniper Group has purchased The Links, regarded as one of the finest golf courses in Tropical North Queensland.  It has been  re-branded as The Sea Temple Golf & Country Club.  The Sea Temple Resort & Spa at Port Douglas overlooks the golf course, and opened to the public in May of 2006.  It is a magnificent resort featuring swim-out residences, a spa and gourmet restaurant,   For more information go to: http://www.mirvachotels.com.au/hotel_detail.asp?hotel=28

Another new property is the  Peppers Beach Club, Port Douglas.  This 50 million dollar property features 100 elegantly furnished villa-style suites.  The resort's elegant open-air design is reminiscent of a Mediterranean villa. Calming water features and lush gardens of tropical flowers and palms surround guest accommodations, creating a relaxed and inviting atmosphere.   For more information go to:   http://www.peppers.com.au/Beach-Club

Most recently was the much anticipated opening of the first phase of Balé. Designed by Grounds Kent Architects, this Balinese styled resort will be managed by Peppers. Balé Port Douglas offers a new dimension in exclusive luxury escapes in Tropical North Queensland. This stunning upmarket holiday experience is unsurpassed in luxury and style and inspired by the pavilion accommodation found in South East Asia.

Taking advantage of the natural elements surrounding this inspiring resort, the pavilion style accommodation offers privacy, without giving up the attention to detail you would expect with a premium leisure experience.

Guests can choose from a range of beautiful 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom pavilion homes all with plunge pools, poolside pavilion with lounge, internal and external spaces throughout, and full kitchen, lounge and dining facilities. The property will include a Day Spa, a Signature Restaurant (Sassi at Balé), a FItness Centre, a Resort Pool, a Yoga Pavilion and a Club Lounge.

Other developments in progress include a revamp of the Sheraton Mirage and Volante (which will trade as Grand Pacific Resort, Port Douglas).

In all, over $350 million worth of projects are under way in Port Douglas. The area has attracted the attention of investors from both Melbourne and Sydney.

Latest Music News

Featured Artists

Norah Jones

Sultry vocalist and pianist Norah Jones has been singing since the age of five. The daughter of legendary Indian performer Ravi Shankar, Norah was born in New York but raised in Dallas, and began singing inspired by her mother's love of Billy Holiday.

At the University of Texas she studied jazz piano, but then went on to New York and began to perform. Eventually in 2002, at the age of 22, she released her first album 'Come Away With Me' on the Blue Note label. This album was a runaway hit and earned Jones eight Grammy Awards, including best new artist and Record Of The Year ("Don't Know Why"). This album includes classic tracks such as Hank William's "Cold Cold Heart", and John D. Loudermilk's "Turn Me On".

Nora went on to release her follow up album "Feels Like Home" in 2004. In a similar style to her first album, 'Feels Like Home' combines blues, country, pop, folk and mellow jazz. This album features 13 tracks & a host of special guests including Dolly Parton, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson of The Band, Jesse Harris, Robert Burger and Tony Scherr.

The Lounge will feature a number of Norah Jones singles including her hits "Don't Know Why" and "Come Away with Me". 

Enya

Enya was born Eithne Ni Bhraonain to a musical family in Dublin in 1961. In 1976 she joined her family's band "Clannad" playing the keyboard. In 1982 she recorded the score for a BBC series which became her first solo album. Her next album "Watermark" was a huge success, and one of iit's singles "Orinoco Flow" ("Sale Away") became a number one hit. Her style blended haunting, mystical, folk melodies, with New Age and Celtic influences. Her song "May It Be " from the movie "Lord of the Rings: the Fellowship of the Ring" was nominated for an oscar. The Lounge plays a number of Enya tracks including "Only Time" and "Wild Child".

Peter White

Peter White was born in Luton, England to an English father and a French mother in 1954. He learned many musical instruments growing up, but was especially fond of the electric guitar. When this was burned in a fire White took up the acoustic guitar and has never looked back. His early musical influences were The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Jethro Tull, Crosby Stills and Nash, James Taylor and Joni Mitchell. Soon White was touring England and America with Al Stewart and co-wrote the hit song "Time Passages". In 1979 White moved to Los Angeles and then toured with his brother and Basia. Around the same time, inspired by the group Acoustic Alchemy, he released his first solo album "Reveillez-Vous". He continued to release more albums including "Caravan of Dreams", "Promenade", "Songs of the Season", "Perfect Moment", "Glow" and "Playin' Favorites". Tracks playing on The Lounge include "Play Your Guitar for Me", "Caravan of Dreams" and "Romance Dance".

Michael Bublé

Michael Bublé is a well known singer-songwriter and actor who was born in British Columbia. At an early age he was exposed to the music of the Mills Brothers, Ella Fitzgerald, Bobby Darin, Louis Prima, Frank Sinatra, and others.

His big break came when he was caught working as a wedding singer for the former Canadian Prime Minister's daughter by producer David Foster (Barbra Streisand, Céline Dion). His first self-titled CD was released in 2003, and featured jazzy takes on old standards as well as some newer classics. This CD reached number one in Australia. "It's Time" was released in 2005 and reached number 2 on the ARIA Album Charts in Australia. Two live albums followed: "Come Fly with Me" was released in 2004, and "Caught in the Act" was released in 2005. Both albums were very successful in Australia. His third main album "Call Me Irresponsible" was just released in 2007. This album boasts more of Bublé's buoyant, modern interpretations of standards from a variety of eras, including songs by artists such as Leonard Cohen, Eric Clapton, Cy Coleman and others. The first single from the album is a self-penned love song called "Everything" which is already a big hit on the Adult Contemporary charts. Michael has won numerous awards and has also had many acting roles. Tracks you will hear on the Lounge include "Everything", "Always On My Mind", "Lost", and "Home".

Oregon

Jazz and eclectic world music group Oregon was formed in 1970 by members Ralph Towner (guitar, piano, synthesizer, trumpet), Paul McCandless (woodwind), Glen Moore (double bass, violin, piano) and Collin Walcott (percussion, sitar, tabla). They were originally members of Paul Winter's "Consort" ensemble in the 1960's. Towner and Moore had net while students at the University of oregon. Towner studied classical guitar in Vienna and Moore studied classical bass in Copenhagen. The first album to be released was titled "Music of Another Present Era". the group continued to release further albums which blended classical, jazz, folk and space music. Walcott was killed by an automobile accident in 1984 and the group temporarily disbanded, but reunited in 1987. Soon, a new fourth member, Mark Walker was added. The group has played extensively throughout the world and recorded with the Moscow Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra. This work earned four Grammy nominations. Their most recent CD "1000 Kilometers" was released in 2007. The Lounge features a number of tracks by Oregon, including "If" and "Pepe Linque".