We think everyone should visit Port Douglas, at least once in their lives. A great place to kick back and enjoy a relaxing winter break. Situated in a truly beautiful (and warm) part of tropical Queensland, Port Douglas is one for the bucket list, one of those ‘must visit’ locations in Australia.
Some years ago we flew to Cairns with our family for a ‘conference’, hired a car and explored the area. A fantastic time. It was Port Douglas however, which stuck in our memory as ‘the place’ we needed to revisit when we had more time.
We returned (sans kids) to Port Douglas last year while touring Far North Queensland (FNQ) in our caravan. We chose to stay at the BIG4 Port Douglas Glengarry Holiday Park, just outside Port Douglas. Nestled into the rainforest, this is a stunning holiday park with easy access to Mossman Gorge, the beautiful Daintree Rainforest and, of course, the magnificent Great Barrier Reef.
Caravanning, for those who have not tried it, brings a new dimension to holidaying. Enjoy the freedom to go where and when you like, in comfort. Pick up tips on what to see and where to stay from fellow campers. Others ‘on the road’, are more than happy to share their secrets and lessons learnt. You soon feel part of this RV community and be surprised at the fun you have and the lifelong friends you will meet.
Back to Port Douglas. This area is particularly popular with lovely weather and plenty of attractions - something for everyone. We stayed for several weeks at the BIG4 holiday park however, there are other caravan parks, many motels, resorts and apartments to choose from in and around Port Douglas. Some are walking distance to town and some can be found in nearby towns such as Mossman, Palm Cove and Cairns. Maybe even stay in the Daintree itself.
There are several ways to visit the Great Barrier Reef and we chose to take one of the snorkeling trips with a marine biologist to gain a better understanding of the various ecosystems and marine life found in this unique part of Australia. Totally worthwhile and highly recommended.
One highlight of our trip was a visit to the Markets held each Sunday. There was a great vibe, with locals selling homemade and organic goodies. Better head to the markets before lunch, as you will need ‘the room’ to experience all the interesting tastes. We just had to try the cacao coated frozen bananas and the ice blocks made from 100% strawberry, kiwi and mango. Amazing. Then we found the Fruit Pooh stall, serving up real fruit sorbets – delicious. A day to remember.
Port Douglas has a large range of cafes, restaurants and bars along the main street. All well patronized with daily specials on offer.
We asked a local where to have lunch and was directed to the Port Douglas Surf Club overlooking Four Mile Beach. Great food with an interesting variety - we had pulled pork in breadcrumbs with bean salsa with green tea dipping sauce, and battered coral trout served in tortillas with avocado dip, salsa and sweet potato chips. After lunch, we headed up Flagstaff Hill to take in the amazing views out to sea, along Four Mile Beach and over the town. We needed the walk!
A visit to Port Douglas is not complete without spending a day or two exploring the Mossman and World Heritage Daintree National Park. Only a short drive north of Port Douglas is the beautiful Mossman Gorge. You could easily spend a day here enjoying a range of rainforest walks (some wheelchair accessible), relaxing by the river or swimming in the gorge. The Mossman Gorge Centre offers a range of Aboriginal artworks, meals and ‘good’ coffee from their café. We found ourselves in the town of Mossman for lunch and chose the Junction Café – highly recommended.
We enjoyed
the ‘laid back’ atmosphere in Port Douglas and the Daintree. Not as commercial
or as busy as Cairns, Noosa or Bryon Bay. Maybe it’s the tropics, the charm of
FNQ and the folk it attracts. Hope to see you there one day.