Family-friendly holiday in Queensland’s Port Douglas

This seaside village is a paradise between the reef and the rainforest – and it’s only a three-hour flight away.

by Carla Caruso

Far North Queensland is one of those places that you visit, where you think I could move here in a heartbeat. 

There’s a lot to love about the region: oodles of sunshine, swaying palm trees, yummy tropical fruit, and pristine beaches.

It feels as exotic as if you were in Bali or Fiji, without actually leaving the country.

Recently, we went on a family trip to Port Douglas up there – a chic yet relaxed seaside village “where rainforest meets the reef” – and thought we’d share a few of our must-dos.

For a five-day getaway in August, it was just the holiday we needed to bookend Adelaide’s winter. (The Far North’s dry season is from March to October.)

The township itself

It’s worth noting that Port Douglas is about an hour’s drive from Cairns, which is closer to many of the touristy activities. So, if you’re wanting more of an action-packed stay, then that might be a better bet.

But if you’re after a more relaxed holiday, where you can luxuriate in hanging out at your resort’s pool and meandering around the local township, then Port Douglas will be just up your alley.

We hired a car to make getting around a little easier (although there are shuttle buses you can catch) and stayed in a two-bedroom apartment at the Oaks Resort Port Douglas.

The resort had all the usual perks, including a lagoon-style pool, swim-up bar (where you could get pizzas, cocktails, and the like), a restaurant and bar, games area, day spa, and more.

It was about a four-minute drive from our resort to Port Douglas’ main strip, Macrossan Street, which is teeming with cafés and boutiques. On one end of the street is the famed Four Mile Beach while on the other is Market Park.

For a breathtaking view of the beach, it’s worth heading up the short walking trail to the lookout.

We didn’t go for a swim while there, however, as marine stingers can be present all-year-round – and crocs! (Due to the prevalence of such species, you should only swim at patrolled beaches in between the flags. Stinger season runs from November to May.)

For a spot of shopping (including of the food variety), the Port Douglas Markets are also fab. They’re held every Sunday, from 8am to 1.30 pm, at Market Park.

As well, we enjoyed dining at various family-friendly eateries in the vicinity, such as Paddy’s Irish Pub and Grill and the waterfront community club, The Tin Shed Port Douglas.

If you’re after something more swish, and can get a babysitter, Nautilus on the main strip does a degustation menu in a lush outdoor oasis.

One warm evening, we also did a 25-minute stroll from our resort to hidden gem Barrier Reef Tavern. There, we tucked into scrummy crab and prawn spaghetti, yellow curry seafood, and more.

Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures

Port Douglas is known for its 4 Cs – coconuts, cane sugar, cassowaries, and crocodiles!

The iconic ‘zoo’, Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures, is a 20-minute drive from Port Douglas in Wangetti.

A highlight for us was doing a boat cruise along its croc-infested waters and seeing the large aquatic reptiles jump up for a feed.

It’s also worth sticking around for the 3pm ‘crocodile attack’ show, where a handler entices a croc to do ‘death rolls’ and more.

There are other wildlife presentations too, beyond crocs, and you can also do a tour of its crocodile farm. (Crocodile meat is often on the menu at local eateries.) If you’re feeling peckish, Hartley’s has an on-site café, as well.

Mossman Gorge

The drive from Port Douglas to the awe-inspiring Mossman Gorge takes about 20 minutes, weaving through tropical scenery.

Begin your rainforest journey at the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre, then catch the shuttle bus up (for a small fee) to the scenic valley.

Here, you can either do an Indigenous guided tour or explore the beauty of the Daintree Rainforest on your own.

We did the circuit track hike (without a guide), which took about 45 minutes and included a walk over the Rex Creek suspension bridge.

It’s worth wearing your bathers beneath your exercise gear as you can take a dip at the swimming hole at the end. The water there is cold but so clear and refreshing – oh, and very Instagrammable!

Afterwards, we enjoyed trying some damper, drizzled with bush honey, at the cultural centre’s Mayi Café.

Kuranda

The mountain village of Kuranda, near Cairns, is about an hour’s drive from Port Douglas. And, with its hilltop, hippie vibe, it feels like a cross between the Adelaide Hills and the Sunshine Coast hinterland. 

There’s plenty to do here for travellers, including hand-feeding birds at Birdworld, and checking out the huge butterfly flight aviary next door, the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary.

Up for some epic views? Take a ride on the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway or the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway – or both. (Check the times before you depart though, and perhaps book ahead, or you might get there too late, like we did, and miss out!)

Palm Cove and Cairns

Other spots worth visiting while in the Far North include Cairns – the region’s major city – and the tiny beachside village of Palm Cove (about 40 minutes’ drive from Port Douglas).

In Cairns, its lagoon on the esplanade is an uber-popular swimming spot. The scenic coastal drive to get to the city, along the Captain Cook Highway, is also up there with cruising along Italy’s Amalfi Coast.

Palm Cove, meanwhile, is an enclave of luxury hotels and fine-dining restaurants, sitting alongside a palm-fringed beach. Hire a kayak or e-scooter, hang out at the beach or head to a day spa. You’ll be getting Home and Away vibes.

A few things we missed during our Port Douglas adventure, but hope to do next time, include a ferry ride to Fitzroy Island, where you can snorkel or view the Great Barrier Reef via a glass-bottom boat, and meandering around Spanish-style castle Paronella Park.

Port Douglas, we’re missing you already!

Discover  all the Best Playgrounds for Toddlers

See our Top Parks & Playgrounds Around Adelaide

For more information, please visit the Port Douglas tourism website here.

What:  A family-friendly holiday to Queensland’s Port Douglas

When:  Anytime

Where:  Port Douglas, Tropical North Queensland

Who:  Everyone

All photos by James Elsby for Play & Go Adelaide 

At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.

As per all our Play & Go reviews, this is not a sponsored post and our review is done completely independently. All photos are by Play & Go (unless specified).

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