Port Douglas Region Guide

Port Douglas is a quiet tropical town that prides itself as being the undiscovered jewel of Tropical Far North Queensland.

The locals of Port Douglas have tried for years to keep this prestigious waterfront-surrounded-town a secret but it didn’t take long for people around the world to catch on.

Although there are plenty of travellers from around the world and Australia that visit Port Douglas each year the visible tourist trail is hardly apparent.

Million dollar resorts and homes are built, seamlessly hidden amongst gardens and Palm trees keeping the scenery and landscapes of Port Douglas natural and pristine.

When strolling down the streets of Port Douglas you will not find a single chain operated fast food restaurant (as yet). The casual air of Port Douglas sees tourists blending into the natural flow of the town.

Many of Australia’s richest families, business people and celebrities frequent Port Douglas and come to escape the spotlight and pretention that is familiar to many other places so exclusive.

In Port Douglas millionaires and moguls enjoy the casual atmosphere and can relax on their yachts, on the beach or in the restaurants in flip flops and board-shorts while mingling with locals and tourists. 

Port Douglas has an array of exclusive five star resorts, luxury beachfront holiday homes, practical self-contained apartments and budget conscious hotels and hostels.

Many resorts sit beachfront on Four Mile Beach while many others are on the Marina Inlet, in the rainforest or nestled amongst tropical gardens. The main street Macrossan Street has several shops, restaurants and art galleries.

The Crytalbrook Superyacht Marina also is an established shopping area with boardwalk restaurants and reef boats that depart daily for scuba dive and snorkelling trips to Low Isles and the Great Barrier Reef plus the new YOTSPACE superyacht voyages to Lizard Island and the pristine waters of the northern Great Barrier Reef.

Port Douglas has some of Australia’s best golf courses and features the lovely Four Mile beach which stretches from one side of the town to the other. Four Mile beach is a wide sandy beach where you can swim, exercise and play; kids will love this huge beach which is a great place to spend the day.

Many businesses hold their conferences and meetings in Port Douglas and it is also a great incentive destination. There are several weddings held on a daily basis each year on the beach or at the luxurious resorts due to the beauty of the region and the usually reliable days of sunshine offered year round.

Port Douglas Location

Port Douglas is located about an hour north of Cairns and 50 minutes north of Cairns International Airport. Port Douglas is only 20 minutes away from the Daintree Green Tropics World Heritage Listed Rainforest and is a perfect place to base yourself while exploring the area.

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Port Douglas, in Tropical Far North Queensland Australia, is a holiday destination that exceeds all expectations. Once a sleepy fishing village, the small peninsula surrounded by tropical rainforest, golden beaches and cool freshwater streams has become a world famous vacationing destination.

With Four Mile beach, a world-class boat marina, golf courses, fine dining restaurants and hotels, Resorts, Holiday Homes self catering holiday Apartments Port Douglas has much to offer all visitors to the tropical north of Australia.

Although Port Douglas is often compared to Noosa Australia We believe it is better as it offers a diversity, and serenity while still having "A buzz" about it.

Dining in Port Douglas

Port Douglas is very well recognised as a foodies paradise with the bountiful produce that is available all year round in the tropics Port Douglas is also a chefs paradise. There are a number of events thruought the year that celebrate the food and wine from this region and some of these events end up as 10 day events like the Port Douglas Carnivale

See a list of the restaurants in Port Douglas 

Port Douglas Nightlife

If you are looking for a bit of action on your holiday and feel like meeting some new people or cutting a few moves on the dance floor with a local band or DJ playing music in the background then pop on down to Macrossan Street where you have a varied selection of pubs and bars where you can have a good time until the early hours of the morning.

Just keep in mind you are in the tropics so dress cool as it can get hot and sweaty grooving your way across the dance floor in amongst all those bodies.

Also keep in mind the alcohol may go to your head a bit faster than normal as you are more than likely exhausted after a big day snorkelling and scuba diving on The Great Barrier Reef or hiking thru the Daintree and Cape Tribulation rainforests. Keep well hydrated at all times even if you are not drinking alcohol

Central Hotel

9 Macrossan Street has big screens outdoors for the sports fans and live music in the evenings and afternoons, keno and pokies. This is the oldest pub in Port Douglas and it is also a wireless internet hot spot and a garden bar where the family can enjoy a meal.

Ironbar Saloon

5 Macrossan Street famous for its toad racing evenings which always attracts the Hollywood celebrities, Presidents and posh people from all over as they cannot believe we race dirty ugly cane toads for fun! Bistro menu for family and friends, blow some money betting on the TAB or have a quiet game of pool with a few friends.

Rattle N Hum

Just a great Australian pub experience in rustic surroundings with a great pizza and hearty steak menu, with music and ambience to match. A popular place to call into for a cosy drink at the bar after a day of being out snorkelling and scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef. Situated in the middle of Macrossan Street near the ANZ bank.

The Courthouse Hotel

Cnr Macrossan and Wharf Street is the iconic Courthouse Hotel. Operating since 1878 but totally re-built and refurbished its sits on the corner overlooking the Rex Smeal Park and the famous Port Douglas Markets which are held every single Sunday.

It has predominantly outdoor seating so patrons can watch and listen to the live bands and also watch the world go by whilst enjoying a cold beverage and enjoying a hearty pub meal from the extensive menu.

Upstairs the Sunset lounge is a little quieter than the main bar or the Wharf Street Bistro. Their claim to fame is having the best steaks in town and entertainment every night of the week. For the gamblers there is a TAB a gaming room with Keno and Fox Sports so you can blow some holiday money here too. 

Paddy’s Irish Pub

Are you up for a Guinness and bangers and mash then look no further for some good pub meals and a range of Irish beers. Located at 8 Macrossan Street you cannot go wrong for a bit of fun book on 07 4099 5997

Barrier Reef Tavern

35/37 Reef Street Port Douglas call 07 4099 3655. A locals pub hidden in the back streets just a few minutes’ walk for the Pullman Sea Temple Resort and other holiday accommodation residences that has take-away bottle shop facilities.

The Port Douglas Yacht Club

There can’t be too many restaurants in Port Douglas that have such a perfect location in such a picturesque spot. Overlooking the waters and mangroves of the Dickson Inlet to the east and views across the Reef Marina and the waving masts of luxury yachts to the south. Located at 1 Spinnaker Close. Call 07 4099 4386 to book.

More info on the Port Douglas Yacht Club.

Shopping in Port Douglas

Most of the shopping in Port Douglas is based on Macrossan Street and at Marina Mirage Shopping Centre. The shopping in Port Douglas is on par with larger cities such as Cairns. Port Douglas has several boutique shops, jewellery stores, art galleries, surf shops, quirky souvenir shops, and many premium brand named stores.

Port Douglas has a full sized shopping centre as well as many bottle shops, internet cafes, beauty salons, Destination and Day Spas and much more…

Golf in Port Douglas

Port Douglas is a place golfers dream about. In addition to the several golf courses in nearby Cairns there are two premium golf courses located right in the heart of Port Douglas.

The Mirage Golf and Country Club, located at the Sheraton Mirage Resort, is rated as one of the world’s best courses. The Mirage Golf Course was designed by golf architect Peter Thompson and is an 18 hole course with a combination of par 3, 4, 5 and 6 holes.

The Mirage Golf and Country Club has practice putting greens and bunkers, equipment for hire, professional instructors and an aquatic driving range.

Palmer Sea Reef Golf Club has been rated one of the top 6 link-courses in Australia. This immaculate golf course has a beautiful clubhouse and features some of the most breathtaking views that you will find in Queensland.

And as the rumours go some resident crocodiles live in the lakes and watert traps so do not get to close to the water to retrieve your lost balls.

Relax on your holiday, and let us book your transfers and tee off time.

Port Douglas Tours

Port Douglas Tour Bookings and Information Centre

The Tour Specialists does not have an office in Port Douglas for tour sales or accommodation sales so it is advisable to discuss your tours, sightseeing and attractions with them when you make your holiday reservations so they can package these with your accommodation to save you money and also ensure you can participate in the tour of your choice during the peak periods. You can book your space and change the date of travel as it gets closer to the time.

Call The Tour Specialists and Cairns Holiday Specialists on 1300 761 612

The Climate in Port Douglas

The climate in Port Douglas has two distinct seasons: The Dry Season and The Green Season.

The Dry Season is between May and December and is generally characterised by low humidity, low rainfall and temperatures ranging between 24 and 29 degrees Celsius.

The Green Season is between January and April and is characterised by higher temperatures (reaching a maximum of 32 degrees), more rainfall and higher humidity although generally days are dry followed by spectacular thunderstorms in the evenings and then sunny clear days.

About Port Douglas

Port Douglas, in Tropical Far North Queensland Australia, is a holiday destination that is in high demand and popular with both Australian visitors and international guests from all over the world.

It was once a sleepy little fishing village that the locals had all to themselves up until the mid 80’s when Christopher and Pixie Skase discovered it and built the Sheraton Mirage Resort and the Marina Mirage boat harbour where the luxury live aboard and day boats leave to take tourists to the Great Barrier Reef.

These iconic developments then attracted other resort and commercial developers from all over to come and invest in the region and turn it into one of the coolest, hottest, hip destinations on the must see, must visit holiday calendars of the who’s who of the world. Nowadays you just never know who may be hiding behind those sunglasses or big sun hat it may very well be one of the rock stars or movie stars you follow on Twitter or Instagram or it could even be the cool greeny dude Sir David Attenborough. Port Douglas is alive with socialites, Prime Ministers, Presidents, super models, families, couples and even conference groups just love to meet up in Port Douglas Queensland Australia.

Annual Port Douglas Events attract visitors to join in on celebrations like the 10 day jam packed entertainment schedule of Carnivale and A Taste of Port Douglas in May each year, the Marathon festival in November, the Coral Coast Triathlon in May, Marlin fishing tournaments and much more thru the year bringing the whole town alive and in party mode which then has a lot of the holiday accommodation houses running at high occupancy.

There is so much to see and do in and around Port Douglas you can choose to just relax by the swimming pool with a kindle or you can jump into all the action of the things to see and things to do in the region. It really is a holiday destination to suit every person from all walks of life and it is a very safe destination also. 

Should you or any of your fellow travel buddies have some sort of disability there is accommodation to suit those in a wheelchair or other types of mobility issues and we also have Great Barrier Reef tours and rainforest tours that can also accommodate for your individual needs.

With Four Mile Beach, a world-class Crytalbrook Superyacht Marina , golf courses, fine dining restaurants and hotels, Resorts, Holiday Homes self-catering holiday Apartments and bed and breakfast Accommodation Port Douglas has much to offer all visitors to the tropical north of Australia.

Port Douglas is only 70 kilometres north ward from the Cairns International Airport along one of Australia’s most spectacular scenic coastal drives.