By Thirzah White

Sitting on Port Douglas’s front door step is the second ‘Best Place in the World’. It is of course, The Great Barrier Reef, as ranked by The Lonely Planet, the worlds leading travel media company.

Pipped to the post on The Lonely Planet’s list of 500 Best Places in the World 2015, The Great Barrier Reef tops the list for places to visit in Australia, coming second after Temples of Angkor, Cambodia.

Australia scored ten times on the worlds all-time best places to visit list, but The Great Barrier Reef in Far North Queensland raised the winning cup.

Port Douglas’ enviable location has also been nominated on travel website, Experience OZ + NZ ‘Top Australian destinations to experience in 2015’. The nomination is summed up as “the perfect base to explore some of the best natural wonders that Australia has to offer – namely both the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest which both lie at its doorstep - all wrapped up in an aura of exclusivity and quality”.

The nomination for Port Douglas makes comparison to its next door neighbour, “If Cairns is one of Australia’s best spots for those reef-goers in their 20’s, then Port Douglas can claim the same for the 30+ market - it may cost slightly more, but the quality is unmistakeable”.

The natural beauty and high quality of the area aren't the only areas receiving nominations, goodfood.com sites Port Douglas on its Best Places to Eat and Drink 2015. “Now, with the likes of Michelin-trained local chef, Spencer Patrick and the annual Taste Port Douglas food festival (held in August) drawing big names and adding extra pull, Port  is stamping its name on the map as a food destination worthy of the trek”.

Described by goodfood.com as “part small country town, part nautical village and part high-end tourist resort, Port - as it's known to locals - appeals to a surprisingly broad demographic”. With nominations and rankings like this it seems like the secret is out.