Cairns and Port Douglas are your gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. But that isn’t the only reason to put this on your itinerary. You should also consider Port Douglas because you can visit the oldest rainforest on planet Earth – The Daintree National Park.
We spent three amazing days in Port Douglas and I dream about going back. We took two small group tours that we highly recommend and also had a day off to relax and walk around town with no specific plans. It was the perfect rest between the go-go-go in Sydney the prior four days and our journey to Ulluru and Melbourne afterward.
Most people traveling to the Great Barrier Reef stay in the more populated city of Cairns but we got great advice to stay just north in Port Douglas. It’s a sophisticated and low-key escape in what felt like a tropical paradise. Shopping, amazing restaurants and access to both the Great Barrier Reef AND the rainforest make it no brainer.
Our travel advisor recommended the perfect hotel – Peninsula Boutique Hotel, just across the street from 4 Mile Beach. In fact it’s the only hotel with beach and ocean views. And it’s an adults-only hotel experience. We went as “just parents” with no kids attached so that worked out just fine with us. All rooms are suite-style so you feel like you are living in luxury! It certainly didn’t hurt that we got a free drink each night at the bar.
Day One
Let’s assume that you arrived the day before in the late afternoon and this is the first full day. First off you will want to split your days into (1) Great Barrier Reef and (2) Rainforest. You can’t really do them both in the same day and since you are there, you might as well dedicate your time to really enjoying these two very different experiences.
So let’s start your first day with a small group day tour to the Great Barrier Reef. We highly recommend a Full Day Low Isles tour which as you might guess is a full day cruise. We chose a tour on a catamaran that included morning and afternoon tea and a full buffet lunch. All of the snorkel gear was also included and they will help give you instructions if you haven’t snorkeled before. You can check out tours like this one Low Isles Sail Cruise. Now to be fair, we chose the closer location to see the Great Barrier Reef called the Low Isles. Having been snorkeling before, it wasn’t the coral paradise we thought it would be. If you want to truly see the amazing coral (or what is left of it), you have to go to the Outer Reef. If you are a good swimmer and have the time, go to the Outer Reef. The Low Isles is great for families, or just more shallow swimming.
The Low Isles does have a beautiful coral bay with white sandy beach. We really enjoyed walking around the small island and exploring the heritage walk. There is also a lighthouse on the island.
Enjoy dinner at your hotel or in town. We ate at the Nautilus Restaurant – not only is the food amazing but the overall ambiance was beautiful. This restaurant has been around since 1954 and sometimes can be a hard reservation to get. We were lucky to get in so keep trying or call ahead a few months before your trip.
Day Two
Rest up, relax on 4 Mile Beach. To work off all of that great food you had the night before, we recommend you walk to the top of the Flagstaff Hill to see the view of 4 Mile Beach. At the end of the beach, you will find steps that take you up to the top. The climb isn’t hard and well worth the wait.
Spend time walking around the town, shopping in the boutiques and finding a place for lunch. We found some beautiful jewelry in Port Douglas that was very unique. You can find the main shopping area on Macrossan street, just a few blocks from Four Mile Beach.
Day Three
Adventure awaits you – this may have been our favorite excursion! We started our day traveling to Cooya Beach just north of Port Douglas. This is the traditional fishing ground of the Kuku Yalanji people and we met one of their brothers on the beach. He taught us how to spear fish and told us all about the mangroves. It was low tide so we were able to walk quite far out. No fish were caught so we need to go back for more lessons. He then invited us back to his family home across from the beach where we had a snack and learned more about his culture.
From there, we journeyed to Mossman Gorge where we saw a traditional “smoking” ceremony conducted by the Aboriginal people. It was meant to protect us on our journey. We then entered into the Daintree National Park. The walk was easy and we went across several bridges seeing several waterfalls and ranges. Our guide was with us and gave great detail about the ecosystem of the rainforest. We even went for a “cold” dip in the swimming hole encased in the rainforest. Lunch was also provided and was so delicious. Check out this tour similar to the one we took: Daintree Rainforest Tour.
This beautiful area with its rich cultural experiences and breathtaking Great Barrier Reef is a place everyone should put on their bucket list. With a tropical climate, Port Douglas can be visited at any time of the year, providing travelers with flexibility in planning their trip. Port Douglas exudes a laid-back, tropical atmosphere, making it an ideal destination for those seeking a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Check out our two week itinerary for Australia.
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