Expert gardeners and novice green thumbs across the Shire will open their gardens to visitors, with the Douglas Shire Open Gardens event all weekend. This year’s theme is inspiring, sharing, and appreciating the art of growing and harvesting food in your own backyard, with a clear message from the organisers –Just Start.

Residents from Wonga, Cooya, Mossman, Cassowary, Oak Beach and Port Douglas will open their gardens to visitors on a journey of discovery and inspiration, as tips and tricks are shared, and innovative practises showcased.

Open Gardens Douglas Shire is presented by Biodynamics FNQ Inc, and supported by Douglas Shire Council and Mossman Botanic Garden.

The event is open to the public, with a $10 entry fee. Registration is essential, and guests can pre-register here.

Head for the hills on Saturday night, for the annual Mount Carbine Bull and Bronc Ride. Gates open at 10 am, events from 5pm and live music by Careless from around 9pm.

Online tickets for entry available until midnight tonight.

The fabulous Kiki Courtidis is also playing live tonight at the Daintree Bar at the Sheraton Grand Mirage, and locals, guests and visitors are welcomed.

Oaks Resort Port Douglas welcome back locals poolside, with another locals Sunday session this weekend, promising house DJs, live music and fabulous food and drink specials all afternoon.

If you’ve always wanted to “Give Golf a Go”, a free golf clinic is being held by PGA professional Dan Harrington.

With the impact of lockdowns keeping visitors away, now is a great time to get out and support your local businesses as best you can. There are a range of enticing specials for locals at the moment-we present a few of. these for you today. If you have, or know of any great local specials, please share them with us and we’ll help promote them for you for free.

Reef experiences

Sailaway Port Douglas is offering a two for one locals special.

Additionally, if you book a full day cruise to the outer reef or Low Isles, you receive a complimentary Sunset Sail .

Contact the reservations team directly to redeem this offer.

Wildlife experiences

The CaPTA Group (Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, Cairns ZOOM & Wildlife Dome, Rainforestation Nature Park and Wildlife Habitat) is offering a 20% discount for locals.

For even more savings, invest in their unlimited pass for all four parks – with a locals discount.

Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures, Kuranda Koala Gardens and Birdworld Kuranda are offering 20% discounts and local membership deals.

Spa experiences

Niramaya Spa has a fabulous August only special for $125 which includes a 60 minute massage or facial, pizza and a glass of wine with the option to lounge by their pool afterwards. Book direct.

Dining experiences

The Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort breakfast buffet is back, bigger, brighter and better than ever, offered at $30 for locals until the end of this month-book direct at https://linktr.ee/sheratongrandportdouglas.

What is the weather doing?

A high [1030 hPa] moving north of New Zealand maintains a ridge over northern waters. The ridge will weaken slightly over the next couple of days as the high moves east. Winds are southeasterly 20 to 25 knots till midnight, dropping to 15-20 knots for the rest of the weekend.

FRIDAY 13 AUGUST 2021

ENTERTAINMENT

CROSSROADS CAFE

Fish N Chips & Open Mic Night from 6pm

Crossroads turns it on again with their beloved fish ‘n chips and open mic night from 6pm.

MT MOLLOY HOTEL

Live music by 4 String Phil & the Jackpot Joker sitting at $600 with tickets from 5.30pm raising funds for the local Pistol Club. Meat tray raffle at 7pm. Enjoy Happy Hour and a transfer bus home.

EXCHANGE HOTEL MOSSMAN

Live Music 6pm & Meals on Wheels Raffles 5pm

CANE TOAD RACING

Chilly’s Pizza & Trattoria

5.15pm-6pm

PADDYS

5pm Raffles for the Port Douglas Crocs AFL team and Fraser Scott live from 7pm

COURT HOUSE HOTEL

Live Music from 7.30pm

CENTRAL HOTEL

Live Music

DAINTREE BAR, SHERATON GRAND MIRAGE

Kiki Courtidis live every Friday from 8pm-10pm. Guests, visitors and locals are all welcome.

THE TIN SHED

Raffles from 5.30-6.30pm

LADY DOUGLAS FRIDAY MUSIC CRUISE

Music Cruise package with the Yacht Club every Friday.

Enjoy a delicious Seafood Platter for two and a bottle of wine at the Yacht Club then dance the night away to Live Music onboard the Lady D. BOOK NOW on 0408 986 127

LIONS DEN

Jag the Joker

WINE & DINE

INN FRONT

Tapas & Drink Special 5-6 pm

MAMAN

Live Acoustic Music Fridays 4-6pm

HIGH FALLS FARM

Happy Hour 5-6pm & Dinner from 6pm

PORT DOUGLAS YACHT CLUB

Sunset Tunes & Seafood Session

WHET, CAPE TRIBULATION

Parmy Fridays

ELLIS BEACH BAR & GRILL

$10 Pizza Specials

SPORT & WELLNESS

DAINTREE YOGA

10am Buffs Hall, Mossman

ACTIVE8 FITNESS

Free Seniors Movement and Parkour

Mossman & District Gymnastics Club & Kindergym 10.30am

SATURDAY 14 AUGUST 2021

ENTERTAINMENT

OPEN GARDENS DOUGLAS SHIRE

Private gardens throughout the Shire

9am – 12pm Mossman Community Centre, Els’ Enchanted Garden, Curlew’s Corner Garden – all in Mossman township
12pm – 3 pm Kubirriwarra Yalanji Clan Estate, Cooya Beach; Alyson’s Tropical Plot, Port Douglas: Spirit of Limpet, Port Douglas

MOSSMAN HOSPITAL FRIENDS OF THE FOUNDATION BREAKFAST

Palmer Sea Reef Golf Course

Enjoy a sumptuous breakfast including pastries, muffins, tea and coffee and support your local Mossman Hospital. Raffles, a lucky door prize, auction and entertainment for $50 per ticket. Bookings to be made for tables of 10 people. Tickets are $50 per person with a total of $500 for the table when booking.Limited single tickets are available and these will be allocated to one table.Once you have completed your table booking please email Maria – mcatkinson62@gmail.com – with the list of names of those people at your table.

BMUP BLACK MOUNTAIN

Rossville, BMUP (Black Mountain Unplugged)- music and soul cuisine, weekend one of two.

CANE TOAD RACING

Chilly’s Pizza & Trattoria

From 5pm for 5.15pm start-6pm

PADDYS

Seachange live from 8pm

COURT HOUSE HOTEL

Laine & Levi live from 9.30pm, Laine and Levi are a foot-stomping feel good roots/rock duo from Busselton. Currently travelling the country in their vintage Winnebago on their first national tour, Laine and Levi will be stopping in at the Court House for some lively punter-approved acoustic electric sounds.

IRONBAR

MOFO Live from 11pm

MOUNT CARBINE RODEO

Gates open 10am

WINE & DINE

HIGH FALLS FARM

Lunch

THORNTONS BEACH CAFE

Fish & Chips

MARKETS

MOSSMAN 7am-1pm

ST CRISPINS 8.30am-1pm

MAREEBA from 7.30am

ARTS & CULTURE

DAB PERSPECTIVES EXHIBITION

A new exhibition “Perspectives” opens. DABsters have outdone themselves creating beautiful, quirky, and thought-provoking paintings, glass work, pottery, jewellery, drawings, prints, mosaics, sculptures, and items made of wool and plant fibres, all reflecting a wide range of perspectives on art and life.

Visit DAB Gallery and spend some time exploring the “Perspectives”.

Gallery is open 10am – 2pm Monday to Saturday at 11 Mill Street, Mossman.”Perspectives”

Exhibition runs until 28 August.

SPORT

All community sport for the Cairns region has been cancelled, included both Junior and Senior Cairns AFL competitions.

DAINTREE YOGA WITH SCHELL

9am Buffs Hall Mossman

MOSSMAN & DISTRICT RIFLE CLUB

Target Rifle Shooting Afternoon

FOUR MILE BEACH SOCIAL SWIM

A weekly social Ocean Swim around the buoys in front of the patrol hut, which makes about a 500m course. Meet in front of the patrol hut on Four Mile Beach at 9am. Please note this is a social swim without any organised water safety and you swim at your own risk. For safety reasons we swim in front of the patrol hut during lifeguard hours.

SUNDAY 15 August 2021

ENTERTAINMENT

OPEN GARDENS DOUGLAS SHIRE

Private gardens throughout the Shire open till 4pm

9am – 12pm Oaks Kitchen and Garden, Oak Beach; Anich Place, Cassowary; Longatude Latatude, Wonga Beach
12pm – 3pm Ford’s Orchid Park, Wonga Beach; Paul’s Patch, Cooya Beach; Tuhinga O Mua – Place of Nectar, Cooya Beach

OAKS RESORT PORT DOUGLAS

Locals Sunday Session by the Pool 12-5pm : House DJ, live music, food and drink specials

CROSSROADS CAFE

Sunday Sesh / 11am-4pm, live piano with Nikolaos, draught beer, wine, coffee, cake, cheese platters and lunch served.

TURTLE ROCK CAFE

Safari Sundays are back! Live tunes and great food and drink specials.

PADDYS

Simmo from Front Ear 5-8pm

BARRIER REEF TAVERN

Sunday Session Live Music with Seachange 1-4pm

Weekly Pool Competition from 2pm

PLANTATION RESORT

Sunday Session by the Pool with live tunes by Yahdoh from 4pm

BARBADOS

Sunday Seafood Session

Seafood Specials from 3-5pm

Live Music from 4-6pm

THE TIN SHED

Live music from 1.30-4.30pm and Members Draw from 4-5pm

COURTHOUSE HOTEL

Live music by Yahdoh from 12-3pm

ELLIS BEACH BAR & GRILL

$1 Oysters & Live Music from 1-4pm

MARKETS

PORT DOUGLAS 8am-1.30pm

SPEEWAH from 6.30am

WINE & DINE

PALMER SEA REEF GOLF CLUB

Sunday Roast from 11.30am-2.30pm

HIGH FALLS FARM

Lunch will be served

COMMUNITY, ARTS & CULTURE

Flow Art Course starting this Sunday 15 August – so let us know if you’re keen to play Course runs Sundays 15-29 August, 9.30am – 12.30pm.Explore two different techniques of flow art each week to produce flowing, swirling colour on canvas. Each student will complete six canvases during the course.Cost $150, member’s discount price $135. Includes paints only. Participants need to bring 6 canvases either 30cm X 30cm or 35cm X 25 cm. To enrol, contact DAB on 4098 3337, or email info@dabmossman or pop in to DAB 10 am -2pm Monday to Saturday.