Guide to Port Douglas

Sail to Agincourt Reef on cruises departing Port Douglas Marina. There are more than a dozen dive sites, including Opal Reef’s crescent-shaped, beginner-friendly dives, and St Crispin Reef’s spectacular ‘Flower Gardens’ coral formations.

The neighbouring islands making up the Low Isles share a reef that’s home to more than 150 species of coral just 15 kilometres (9 miles) off Port Douglas. Spot parrotfish, clownfish and turtles while snorkelling its sheltered waters on a day cruise.

The Port Douglas region is rich in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage, which you can experience on tours ranging from guided walks through the rainforest to learning about traditional Aboriginal hunting and fishing techniques.

You’ll find the oldest surviving tropical rainforest in the world (it’s estimated to be 180 million years old) around an hour’s drive north of Port Douglas. Take in the awe-inspiring Daintree Rainforest on a hike, a river cruise or guided tour.

Daintree National Park’s lush Mossman Gorge is only a 20-minute drive from town. Follow walking tracks through dense rainforest or join one of Mossman Gorge Centre’s guided Dreamtime walks to hear the stories of its Traditional Owners.

From a leisurely stroll along Four Mile Beach and boardwalk trails through the rainforests of the Daintree to more challenging treks up hills to see hidden waterfalls, there’s a walking trail to suit almost everyone in and around Port Douglas.

With renowned game fish such as black marlin and wahoo speeding under the waves, the Coral Sea is an angler’s paradise. Share the boat with other guests or book a private tour with East Coast Angling for a memorable day of catch-and-release fishing.

The Port Douglas and Daintree region is Australia’s first Ecotourism-certified ECO Destination. From environmentally friendly lodges to reef tours that document coral health as you dive, there are plenty of ways to tread lightly when you visit.

With a string of hotels and holiday apartments running from the town centre down the length of Four Mile Beach, there are plenty of places to make your temporary home in Port Douglas. Take your pick from motor inns to luxury resorts.

On Port Douglas’s leafy Macrossan Street shopping strip is a thoughtfully curated Indigenous fine art gallery. Ngarru Gallery showcases paintings from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, as well as carvings, sculptures and jewellery.

See a giant saltwater crocodile propel itself out of the water to snatch food, or jump on a boat to get up close to these massive creatures at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures, a 25-minute drive from Port Douglas on the highway to Cairns.