I spent the final three nights of my July Far North Queensland trip staying in Port Douglas. My accommodation was at the Port Douglas Motel which was very central, really clean and tidy and had funky decor.
Here are the Port Douglas attractions to visit if you only have a limited amount of time.
Port Douglas attractions
Swim at Four Mile Beach
One of the key Port Douglas attractions for me was the beach. I saw some beautiful unpatrolled beaches during my far north queensland travels which were sadly not safe to swim at due to the risk of crocodiles. I loved swimming at the sandy and palm-tree lined Four Mile Beach in Port Douglas where there were lifeguards who are trained to spot crocodiles as well as water hazards and people getting into danger in the water.
Follow the Flagstaff Hill Walking Trail
The Flagstaff Hill Walking Trail starts at Four Mile Beach and runs up the hill along the coastline to Anzac Park (Rex Smeale Park) and is helpful to get your bearings. The steep steps up from the beach to the lookout make for a tough start but with water on three sides of Port Douglas, there are views in multiple directions from lookouts including of the Daintree Rainforest, Coral Sea, Snapper Island and the Low Isles along the way.
Soak up the views from Anzac Park (Rex Smeale Park)
I spent several hours sitting and reading under a palm tree at the edge of Anzac Park. Unfortunately my stay did not align with outdoor movie night schedule which looked like a nice way to spend an evening.
Browse the boutiques, cafes and markets
Maccrossan Street is the main street in Port Douglas and is the local destination for shopping and dining. There are cafes, clothing boutiques and sweet stores selling gifts, homewares and the famous Daintree Tea, and friendly outlets to make tour bookings. There’s also a supermarket, pharmacy, bottle stores, pharmacy and a K Hub (mini Kmart).
As I didn’t spend a Sunday in Port Douglas I missed the opportunity to explore the famous Port Douglas Sunday Markets which are held each week in Anzac Park. Here you can expect to find fresh produce, crafts, products from small businesses, and street food.
Grab a sun set drink by the water
The Tin Shed had a happy hour from 4pm with 20% off cocktails, house wines and beers. The deck looked over the water and was perfect for watching boats come in. Hemmingway’s Brewery is in the Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina and has plenty of craft brews. Both had relaxed vibes.
Take a day trip to the Daintree Rainforest
Keen to visit Mossman Gorge, the Daintree and Cape Tribulation, I took a day trip with Down Under Tours. The tour took in the following key sites.
1. Mossman Gorge
One of the oldest continuously growing rainforests in the world (over 160 million years), the Daintree Rainforest has been a UNESCO world heritage site since 1988. The benefit of a guided tour meant that we had the unique flora and fauna pointed out and explained to us.
At the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre we boarded a shuttle bus into Mossman Gorge where we were taken on a guided walk along the boardwalk through the rainforest where we learnt about this unique environment.
People used to swim in the Daintree River here however it is very dangerous and since several people have been swept away and never found there are warning signs in place.
After our walk we took the shuttle back down to the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre where we were all served damper with jam and cream, coffee and Daintree Tea.
2. Daintree River Cruise
We took an hour-long wildlife cruise on the Daintree River which was excellent for understanding the environment, seeing birds, searching for tree snakes and spotting crocodiles in the wild. As they’re not fed by the guides they took absolutely no interest in us.
3. Cape Tribulation
After stopping for a delicious lunch at Heritage Lodge, we drove on to Cape Tribulation, the only place in the world where two natural World Heritage Sites meet – the rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef.
Cape Tribulation has a beautiful rainforest beach and coastline however it’s not safe to swim there due to the resident crocodiles. We walked to the Kulki lookout for photos.
4. The Daintree Ice cream Company
Daintree Ice Cream Company makes delicious fruit ice creams using exotic fruit grown in the orchard on the property. It cost $7.50 for the four-flavour ice cream cup which changes daily. The day I visited it was Coconut, Strawberry, Wattle seed and Jackfruit.
Port Douglas features natural beauty and diverse attractions and I highly recommend adding it to your Far North Queensland itinerary. Whether you’re looking for adventure or relaxation, you’ll have an unforgettable experience in this beautiful part of Australia.
