About Port Douglas
Closer than any other Australian town to the Great Barrier Reef and only 65km from Cairns International Airport, Port Douglas has been attracting visitors for over a hundred years.
This sophisticated coastal port is an ideal base. Whether you want to laze away your days or sample all the delights of nature on offer in Tropical North Queensland.
Imagine sharing the same latitude as Tahiti… Discover Port Douglas. Recognised internationally as Australia’s best holiday destination. Escape amongst the beauty of such wonders as the Great Barrier Reef and the World Heritage Protected Daintree Rainforest.
Year round, you can enjoy sidewalk cafes, world class restaurants, local shopping or visit the spectacular Great Barrier Reef and the famed World Heritage rainforest of the Daintree / Cape Tribulation area.
For the mariner, to the north is the last ‘Great wilderness’, with pristine tropical islands surrounded by the cobalt waters of the Coral Sea, such as Lizard Island, the Black Marlin fishing capital of the world.
There is so much to see and do… Take a leisurely stroll down famous Four Mile Beach… Snorkel or dive the stunning reef… Relax by the pool sipping a cocktail… Swim amongst ancient boulders at Mossman Gorge… Watch the sun set over the magical mountain backdrop before departing to your favourite restaurant…
THINGS TO DO IN PORT DOUGLAS…
Enter the earth’s oldest surviving rainforest where primitive species which existed 150 million years ago still flourish. Take a self-guided tour along a boardwalk, join a guide to discover the secrets of the ancient Daintree rainforest or go spotlighting at night when the rainforest comes to life with animals. www.wettropics.gov.au
Get all the facts on the Daintree rainforest at the Daintree Discovery Centre, a world-class interpretive centre allowing easy access to the rainforest wilderness via boardwalks, a 23m-highcanopy tower, aerial walkway and comprehensive display centre. www.daintree-rec.com.au
Sailaway’s new afternoon tour runs from 1pm to 6.30pm and is an adults only luxury sailing experience. It offers quiet snorkelling off the beach, as well as a
glass bottom boat tour before sunset sailing back to Port Douglas enjoying coastal views of the Daintree, with a complimentary drink in hand. www.sailawayportdouglas.com
Once an Aboriginal trail and later a crucial link between Port Douglas and the hinterland for settlers and miners, the Bump Track is now a popular trail for walking, mountain biking and horse riding. The steep track passes through a range of forests from rainforest to dry eucalypt scrub. www.nprsr.qld.gov.au
Is it a bird? Is it a bat? No, it’s a new rainforest species – the jungle surfer. See the rainforest without your feet touching the ground, zooming through the canopy on a flying fox zipline and stopping at five platforms for a bird’s-eye view of the Coral Sea. www.junglesurfing.com.au
Considered one of Port Douglas’ hidden gems, Wildlife Habitat is a small wildlife immersion park located at the entrance to Port Douglas. With YOUR Wildlife Habitat, one of our passionate keepers, takes you on a intimate journey allowing you close interaction with some of Australia’s cutest and scariest animals. www.wildlifehabitat.com.au
Join the Kuku Yalanji people on their Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk to hear the legends of Mossman Gorge and be welcomed with a traditional smoking ceremony. Visit a sacred ceremony site and learn how to make soap and ochre paint. www.mossmangorge.com.au
Enjoy a romantic picnic on a private beach beneath the palm trees! Book a deluxe picnic hamper at Thala Beach Nature Reserve and we’ll deliver a choice of gourmet hampers, fresh linen and a picnic blanket to beachfront Herbies Beach Shack. www.thalabeach.com.au/port-douglas-resort/picnichampers-australia
Discover how peaceful the rainforest can be in your own tree house. Eco resorts in the heart of the Daintree rainforest feature private timber tree houses and a
hammock on the verandah perfect for two. www.silkyoakslodge.com.au
The best things in life can be free, especially if you enjoy sailing! Every Wednesday afternoon the Port Douglas Yacht Club invites visitors aboard to sail at no cost with members. Kick back at the club afterwards and enjoy its superb waterfront location. www.portdouglasyachtclub.com.au
Sit under the stars and watch a new release film or a golden oldie on the grass at QT Port Douglas. Open during the Tropical North’s warm winter months, the Moonlight Cinema is a magical evening of entertainment.
Hire a bicycle and ride the length of Four Mile Beach to watch the kitesurfing action. From there visit the historic cemetery, then pedal along the bike path
into town to treat the kids to an ice cream before heading to the marina to watch the reef boats return.