9 Very Good Reasons Why You Should Escape to the Tropics this Winter

So you might be thinking, “Duh – it’s obvious why I need to go to the tropics during winter. It’s warm, people are frolicking on beaches with not a care in the world, and it certainly beats sitting by the heater wearing Ugg boots and an Oodie...

Well, strap yourselves in - there’s a whole bunch of reasons why you should need to make that tropical haven of Port Douglas and its surrounds your winter base. Before you know it, your shoulders will relax and the corners of your mouth will turn up and you’ll think to yourself “why has it taken me this long to get here?”

Palm Trees Are More Useful Than You Thought

Sun too bright while you’re laying on the beach? Palm trees. Want a stylish woven basket to carry that beach treasure you found? Palm fronds. Need a makeshift table runner for afternoon beachside snacks? Palm leaves. Need a fancy little drink that tastes good and is good for you? Coconuts (from surrounding palms).

Zero questions.

Not Enough Sunshine May Literally Be Killing You

We all know the perils of too much sunshine, but is it possible that a sunshine deficit may be just as bad? Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a real thing, caused from not seeing enough sunlight during winter months. Mood swings, anxiety, sleep disorders, general grumpiness – ain’t no one’s got time for that. In the tropical north, there’s still 12 hours of sunlight each day, and the balmy days are still way warmer than most places around the world in the height of summer.

Sand VS Snow

For one, you don’t need to rug up to lie down in it, and no one’s telling you (as if you’ve never heard it before) not to eat the yellow version.

ADVANTAGE: Sand

Seafood Over Slow Cooks

Sure, slow cooks are delicious. But so are prawns fresh off the back of the trawler, with a nice crisp glass of pinot grigio overlooking the Coral Sea.

Santiago is the boat moored every other weekend where you can collect as much seafood as you can see (or carry) direct from the people who caught it. And if you’ve missed the boat, locally caught prawns are also available at Malone’s Butchery, Port Douglas Seafood, Port Douglas Markets, Seashells on Grant Street and Maranos.

Best enjoyed at sunset overlooking the majestic Daintree Rainforest from Rex Smeal Park. BYO pinot grigio.

Cocktail Umbrellas Save Lives

Science shows that much like regular umbrellas stop the heat cooking our skin, cocktail umbrellas prevent the alcohol out of drinks being evaporated by the heat. It could be said that if you’re leaving your drink in the sun that long you’re doing it wrong, but we’re not here to nit-pick. Viva la cocktail umbrella.

Break Out Your Resort Wear

We know you’ve been thinking about your bedazzled Camilla kaftan and counting the days until you can wear white linen and dangling coconut earrings. You miss tropical resort wear. It’s so comfy. So stylish. We understand. And hot damn, you look good. Ask yourself, how are sand-shell necklaces not an everyday thing?

The Tropics Make You A Friendlier Person

There's plenty of info out there conducted by very smart people on how more sun exposure apparently makes you more cooperative, harnesses attention better and enables better performance on cognitive tasks. It also makes you laugh more and is correlated with generous tipping… but that’s probably because your friendly waiter is happier in the tropics too.

Sitting On The Beach Is Better Than Sitting In Traffic

Do we really need to explain this one? Get out of peak hour traffic with your heater on and get into beach hour(s) with your bikini on.

... And A Super Obvious One

Just look at this picture and try not to start looking up flight prices. We dare you.