Exploring the World

Port Douglas is part of the region many refer to as Far North Queensland. It is tropical, which means hot summers, warm winters and a wet season from December to March. It is known as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree National Park. It is often referred to as the place where the forest meets the sea.

We have now holidayed in the Port Douglas area six times since 2009. We love it. The sunshine & warmth, the beaches & forests, the food & laid back lifestyle all appeal to us no matter what time of year we visit.

Most of our visits have been around Easter or at the end of August / September. We also enjoyed a winter break in the sun one June long weekend (although it wasn’t warm enough to swim). Each time we savour every single minute of our stay. The Port Douglas region has become one of our all-time favourite places in the world.

A huge part of our time in Port Douglas is about relaxing, walking along the beaches and working out where to eat dinner each night. But if you require more to do than that, below are some of the things we have done over the past six visits and highly recommend.

Things to do:

• Arrange a shuttle bus with your accomodation or hire a car from Cairns airport. We prefer to hire a car so that we can be more mobile and flexible.
• Depending on your flight, plan a lunch stop at Palm Cove. Leave yourself enough time for a walk along the beach before heading further north.
• In Port Douglas try a sunset cruise – The Lady Douglas river boat or the Shaolin sailing boat are both great choices, but there are more options.
• Flagstaff Hill lookout walk – it’s a hill, so there are quite a few steps. We recommend starting at Rex Smeal Park so that you can finish at Four Mile Beach with a swim (always check for the latest stinger update).
• Take an early morning walk along Four Mile Beach.
• Book a massage (or two)!
• Check out the markets in Rex Smeal Park every Sunday.
• Day trip out to the reef for a snorkeling experience (the reef sprinter options are great if you have a tendency towards seasickness).
• White water rafting on the Barron River.
• Mossman Gorge is a great half day excursion. Do the long walk (about 2 hours) it’s worth it. The natural pools are very popular on a hot day, so be prepared to swim with a crowd of others.
• We include a day trip to Cape Tribulation every time. We love the ferry trip across the Daintree River, it’s peaceful beaches and shadowy, green canopy. Depending on how much you like to fit into one day, we recommend:
  • A crocodile tour from Daintree Village
  • Visit the Daintree Discovery Centre
  • Book an Indigenous Tour Guide (half day or full day)
  • Walk the three boardwalks (Kulki, Dubuji & Madja)
  • For the more adventurous, try zip lining with Treetops Adventures
  • There are only a few places to eat lunch, so pack your own or be prepared to grab a table at whichever one has a spot available.
  • Stop off at the Walu Wugirriga Lookout on way back to ferry (it’s usually too busy in the mornings, so save it for the return trip).
  • Pack sunscreen, hats and a tropical insect repellant. Sand flies are tiny, but their bites are mighty!
• Depending on your flight, drive back to Cairns via the inland route via the Mulligan Highway. Depending on how much time you have, stop at Mareeba for some good coffee and visit Kuranda (all the various walks and local lookouts are worth a visit).
• If you have a little more time up your sleeve, drive down to Atherton, drop by Lake Tinaroo, before making your way back up to Cairns.

Eating out:

In this post-Covid world, bookings are essential if you want to want to eat at your favourite restaurant especially if you are visiting over the weekend (including Friday & Monday nights). Most restaurants are having trouble attracting enough staff, partly due to fewer backpackers but also due to not enough affordable housing for those who do work these jobs. Be patient.

It’s always possible to get fed at one of the 3 local pubs and there are plenty of takeaway options as plan B, but with so many delicious restaurants in Port Douglas, it does pay to plan ahead. We particularly love Wrasse & Roe, Melaleuca, Watergate, Zinc, Tin Shed and Nautilus.

Peeling your own fresh prawns with a bag of hot chips on the beach, or whilst sitting under a palm tree on the headland are also great things to do.

Traditional Owners:

The Eastern Kuku Yalanji Aboriginal people are the Traditional Owners of Daintree National Park and the Great Barrier Reef (from Cedar Bay north of Cape Tribulation down to Port Douglas). The Yirrganydji people are the Traditional Owners of the region from Port Douglas down to Cairns.

• Visit the Ngarru Gallery in Port Douglas
• Mossman Gorge Indigenous Art Gallery
• Janbal Gallery, Mossman