Port Douglas, Tropical North Queensland - complete travel guide
Port Douglas: The Tropical Noosa of Far North Queensland
Grab a glass of something cold, because we're heading to Port Douglas. This chic little coastal village in Far North Queensland has stolen our hearts twice now, and we reckon it might just be the tropical answer to Noosa. Below you'll find all our photos, tips and honest opinions from our time exploring Four Mile Beach, the Daintree, Cape Tribulation and everywhere in between, plus the food, the wine and a few stories we still laugh about. Scroll on and start planning your own trip to this pocket of paradise.
Getting there
Port Douglas is about 68km north of Cairns. Fly into Cairns (domestic or international), then either pick up a rental car or hop on one of the shuttle services, it's about an hour and the drive along the coast is genuinely beautiful. When you're ready to head home, the shuttle takes you straight back to the airport.
The dry season runs May to October, warm and sunny with less rain, and it's the pick of the year to visit.
Four Mile Beach
Four Mile Beach is actually seven kilometres of golden sand backed by thick palm foliage, not a building in sight the whole way along. It's calm, warm Coral Sea water and a genuinely undeveloped backdrop. The northern end is patrolled year round with stinger nets in summer and a dedicated swimming area, and Flagstaff Hill Lookout at the northern tip gives you sweeping views over the whole beach. You can hire chairs and umbrellas right there too. We walked along the beach nearly every morning as it is wide and flat and it is so nice to enjoy the morning sunrises.
At the northern end of Four Mile Beach, a short walk up to Flagstaff Hill rewards you with one of the best views in Port Douglas. A viewing platform at the top looks out over the full sweep of the beach, palm trees lining the sand all the way down, with the Coral Sea stretching out beyond. It's an easy add on to a beach walk and a great spot to catch your breath and take a few photos before heading back down.
Macrossan Street
The main street is only 350 metres long, running from the marina at one end to Four Mile Beach at the other, shaded by African mahogany and palm trees. No traffic lights, no parking meters, just a relaxed strip of cafés, boutiques, a supermarket and a well stocked liquor shop.
Our favourite restaurants along here are Nautilus (spectacular deck, go for sunset), Wrasse and Roe, and Salsa Bar and Grill just off the end of the street. Book ahead, especially in peak season, some places take a deposit that comes off your final bill. Other good options include Watergate, Rattle and Hum (pizza and burgers, family friendly), Melaleuca, Star of Siam for Asian fusion, Sea Bean Tapas opposite St Mary's by the Sea Chapel, and Casa de la Mama just off the main street.
For a casual drink, the 1878 Central Hotel and the Courthouse Hotel are classic outback style pubs with big timber decks. Down at the marina, Hemingway's Brewery does a great gastro pub over the water, and the Tin Shed looks like nothing from outside but sits right on the water, perfect for a sunset drink.
Mossman Gorge and the Daintree
A short drive from town, Mossman Gorge has crystal clear water tumbling over granite boulders, a 2.4km loop walk with elevated boardwalks, and an award winning eco tourism centre at the entrance with an indigenous art gallery and guided tours, which we'd genuinely recommend. We also did the river tube tour down the Mossman River, a fun, mellow float (just keep your hands on the raft the whole way, we learned that one the hard way).
Cape Tribulation
Cross the Daintree River on the cable ferry (about 5 to 10 minutes, roughly $45 AUD return) to reach Cape Tribulation, the only place on earth where two World Heritage sites, the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef, meet. There's an easy boardwalk at Kulki, or the tougher Mount Sorrow Ridge Trail if you're after a proper hike. Ocean Safari runs snorkel trips straight off the beach here too. Keep an eye out for cassowaries and crocodiles, we spotted both and never felt unsafe, but it's genuinely wild country.
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef
Port Douglas is a brilliant base for getting out on the Great Barrier Reef, with everything from half day snorkel trips to multi day dive courses on offer. We decided to knock over our PADI open water certification with Quicksilver Dive, a few days of pool sessions and theory followed by four training dives out on the Outer Reef aboard a custom built catamaran. The course pushed us more than we expected, but earning that certification made it all worthwhile, and it means we can dive pretty much anywhere in the world now. If diving isn't your thing, a snorkel trip is a brilliant (and easier) way to experience the reef, with plenty of operators running day trips out to different sections depending on what you're after.
We had an absolute ball in Port Douglas, and if you couldn't already tell, we'd go back in a heartbeat. From the reef to the rainforest, the markets to the marina, it's a spot that genuinely has it all, and we can't recommend it highly enough for your next Queensland getaway. Above are a few of our favourite moments from the trip.