Port Douglas
A resort town one hour north of Cairns, with Four Mile Beach and a Sunday market. It is also the best base for visiting the outer Agincourt Reef and the Daintree.
Port Douglas lies 67 kilometres north of Cairns, about 1 hour by car. Along the way, the Captain Cook Highway, one of Australia's most scenic coastal roads, passes Rex Lookout, where you can stop to take in the view. It is a more refined and quieter resort town than Cairns, and many travelers use it as their base. The core of the town is the 4-kilometre Four Mile Beach (the Flagstaff Hill lookout at its northern end offers a panoramic view) and the restaurants and bars along the main street, Macrossan Street. The Port Douglas Markets are held on Sunday mornings in the seaside park, with tropical fruit and handicrafts on offer. At the Wildlife Habitat zoo, you can interact with kangaroos and cassowaries. Port Douglas is the departure port for Quicksilver boats to the outer Agincourt Reef and the starting point for half-day snorkeling trips to the Low Isles. You can also join tours to Mossman Gorge and the Daintree rainforest. Accommodation is mainly resorts and apartments, and the Sheraton Grand Mirage is a classic choice. The town has no airport. From Cairns Airport, you can take a shuttle bus (about AUD 50) or rent a car. In the wet season, swimming at Four Mile Beach is prohibited outside the stinger-net swimming area, so watch the signs.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Macrossan Street
- Port Douglas Sunday Market
- St Mary's by the Sea
- Flagstaff Hill Lookout (Trinity Bay Lookout)
- Four Mile Beach
- Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas
- Mossman Gorge
- Low Isles