Port Douglas

Port Douglas is a town in Far North Queensland, Australia, it is approximately 70 kilometres north of Cairns.

The Port Douglas Township was established in 1877 after the discovery of gold at Hodgkinson River by James Venture Mulligan. It grew quickly; with the construction of the Mulligan Highway it serviced towns as far away as Herberton. A cyclone in 1911 which demolished all but two buildings in the town had a significant impact to the decline of the towns population.

Today, Port Douglas is a beautiful town filled with exclusive holiday resorts, golf course, marina and a selection of shopping boutiques.

Port Douglas has a tropical climate with warm summers and warm winters, with heavy rainfall mainly occurring January through March. It is a great place from which to explore the northern Rainforests of Cape Tribulation and the Daintree, as well as for trips out to the Great Barrier Reef.

Four Mile Beach is the main beach along the coastline of Port Douglas. A short walk from here is the large Sheraton Mirage Resort which was backed by Christopher Skase who developed the complex and then left the country leaving over one billion dollars of debts.

At the tip of the port is Trinity Bay, which you can get great views across from the top of Flagstaff Hill Lookout. Also on the tip is Anzac Park, where there is a great Sunday Market. There is also a pier on the western side of the park where you will find the interesting Ben Cropp's Shipwreck Museum. Another great place to visit is the Rainforest Habitat which is an artificial rainforest.

Other attractions around Port Douglas include diving courses, which are the perfect introduction to a trip out to the reef and the beautiful islands around Port Douglas.

You can also join tours to the spectacular rainforests of Cape Tribulation within the spectacular Daintree National Park.

The main shops and restaurants around Port Douglas are mainly situated along Macrossan Street. Accommodation can be found all over town, you just have to decide which part of town you would like to be near.

There is a variety of accommodation including apartment and resort style accommodation, hotels, motels and hostel accommodation.

You can easily get to Port Douglas either by Coach, car or alternatively take a catamaran between Cairns and Port Douglas.

Port Douglas Accommodation