"Tropical Delight Close To Great Barrier Reef" Top 5 Page for this destination Port Douglas by Mikebb

Port Douglas Travel Guide: 227 reviews and 586 photos

Quicksilver Returning From Great Barrier Reef

Our visit to Tropical North Queensland was for 6 days during July 2011. We were lucky to have 4 nights in Port Douglas during mid winter when the weather is perfect with no humidity and maximum temperature of 26C.

Upon arriving at Cairns International Airport at 5am we picked up our hire car and and enjoyed our day with overnight accommodation in Cairns. Refreshed the next morning we then drove to Kuranda in the highlands where we stopped for a few hours before continuing the short drive to Port Douglas where we enjoyed the next 4 days.

Our last visit to Port Douglas was in 1990 and on arrival we were amazed with the number of Resorts which have been established. The town is the major point for day trips to the Great Barrier Reef with numerous boats catering for visitors who wish to snorkel or dive the reef.

Our final night was at Palm Cove, one of the more recent tourist destinations located approximately 40 minutes drive south of Port Douglas and close to Cairns Airport.

Crocodile on Bank of Daintree River

Port Douglas is also the gateway to the Daintree National Park and many other tropical rainforest parks proving countless guided tours, river tours, balooning etc etc.

Nature abounds with crocodiles, magnificent birdlife, amazing fishing , either ocean or river and some excellent wildlife parks.

Four Mile Beach was on the doorstep of our resort and is very popular with visitors.

Mossman National Park - Dry Season

Pros and Cons

Pros:Sunny Days, Beautiful Beaches, Tropical Rain Forest

Last visit to Port Douglas: Jul 2011
Intro Updated Sep 4, 2011
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Reviews (15)

Barron Gorge National Park. Off The Beaten Path (5)

Whilst visiting Kuranda you must not miss the beautifull Barron Falls, only 3km from Kuranda. We drove there but there... more travel advice

Aboriginal Didjeridu Musican - Kuranda - Port Douglas

Day Trip To Kuranda Off The Beaten Path (5)

Our day trip to Kuranda also included a visit to the nearby Barron Gorge National Park. Kuranda is south of Port Douglas... more travel advice

View From 5th Floor Novotel Cairns Oasis Hotel - Port Douglas

Novotel Cairns Oasis Hotel Hotels (2)

We booked one night at the Novotel Oasis as our overnight flight arrived at Cairns International Airport and we thought... more travel advice

View From Palm Cove Beach - Port Douglas

Palm Cove - Tropical Beach & Resorts Things to Do (8)

We visited Palm Cove which is a beachside resort and residential area located approximately 40 minutes drive south of... more travel advice

Comments (5)

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tiabunna Nov 10, 2011 at 2:19 AM

G'day Mike, it's even longer since we visited Port Douglas than it was for you: we'd be lost by the sound of it! Pity you missed a photo of the lady on 4 mile beach. :) Like you, I've never seen the Barron falls in the wet season. Cheers.
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Greggor58 Oct 2, 2011 at 6:12 AM

Looks like this area has it all...I could enjoy some time here!! Too bad about the hotel room because the grounds of the property look terrific!
Did you notice how smoothly worn the large rocks in the Gorge are worn..Lots of water passing over them for lots of years..Enjoyable pages Mike..next time you book here...let me know and Ill meet you guys here :o)
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Yaqui Sep 26, 2011 at 7:15 PM

The birds, charming St.Mary's, and that gorge is gorgeous! You are quite the adventurer. Keep it up Mike! Excellent page!
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balhannah Sep 7, 2011 at 7:10 PM

Excellent page! It brought back many happy memories of our time there.
We loved Mossman gorge, Kuranda, Daintree, Quicksilver trip, the list goes on. It really is a little piece of paradise in Australia.
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Nemorino Sep 4, 2011 at 6:20 AM

I had to look this one up on the map and find that it is closer to Papua New Guinea than to most places in Australia. This sounds like a great place to visit, with the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree National Park and Four Mile Beach.