We first stayed at Saltwater 2 years ago and it was great. We booked our wedding party into Mantra Heritage because Saltwater doesn't have any 1 bedroom apartments but cancelled our Mantra booking after a bad pre-wedding stay there, preferring to spend more than risk another mishap. As a confessed bridezilla with family travelling from overseas, I wanted the accommodation to be of high standard but most of all CLEAN.
Thank New Zealand for John and Carolyn! They were pleasant and helpful when we booked the accommodation (didn't roll their eyes at my neurotic bridezilla requests). 3 months later when we arrived in Port Douglas, just married, they had upgraded us free to the best apartment with the largest balcony, which the whole family enjoyed over the next 3 days. The 4 apartments we'd booked were all properly clean, not spit and polish. One of the shadier apartments smelt musty when initially entered, but once the windows are opened it was fine. We live in Cairns and musty damp smell is normal when windows are closed - it's the Tropics!!
I've read other reviews of Saltwater whinging about beach towels - if $5 is too much, you can buy 2 new towels from Target over the road for $15 and launder yourself. If that is the main complaint, it goes to show there's not much to complain about.
Central location, clean and bright, quiet (we didn't hear other guests very much but there's a little noise from the pub which you don't hear unless you're on the balcony). Yes it's a bit pricey but the apartments are classy and well equipped and you get what you pay for - quality and good service. John and Carolyn were lovely people and after our Mantra experience, we would only stay at Saltwater now because they've spoilt us for anywhere else. Many thanks.

We were 3 friends who thoroughly enjoyed staying at the Saltwater Apts. The 2 bedroom, 2 bath apt is very spacious; it is nicely furnished with a fully stocked kitchen and the apt has a washer, dryer. Since Port Douglas restaurants were a pit pricey we cooked some wonderful meals in the apts. John and Carolyn were always there to help out with great suggestions on where to go and what to do and helped with making reservations. I HIGHLY recommmend these apts, it was a perfect stay.

We stayed at the Saltwater in late November. We wanted to stay in the heart of Port Douglas.
We were within 200 meters of the pubs, clubs and Restaurants. Down the stairs from our room and we were in the middle of Macrossan street. The room was what we wantd, it was quiet at night time as our rooms faced Macrossan street. Never heard anything coming form the street.
The only thing that i didn't like was the pool. Very sterile area, a few chairs and a few potted plants. The pool was very small and as i said very sterile and with no imagination. If you had kids they would find this very boring compared to other accommodations that has shaded trees with comfortable chairs around it.
Would definetly stay again even though the pool was a shocker.

Family of 5 travelling from UK had a lovely 6 night stay in the Saltwater apartments. We stayed in a two bedroomed two bathroomed apartment which was spotlessly clean, very comfortable and exceptionally quiet. John & Carolyn were very helpful and organised in advance two day trips and gave us some very useful local recommendations for restaurants and things to do. The apartment was very central so good for browsing around town, 5 mins walk to the beach and 8min walk to the marina - really great location. The pool, although not very big, was ideal for the children (ages 7 to 11) and they enjoyed a cooling swim every day. Pool was nicely shaded so great for reading a book poolside.

We really enjoyed our stay and it suited perfectly our requirements of a central but quiet apartment close to the beach.