Last Updated on April 30, 2021 by worldoftravelswithkids
There are so many things to do in Port Douglas! Like other hotspots in tropical North Queensland, Port Douglas makes a great destination for your Cairns holiday – with or without kids. From the stunning golden sand of Four Mile Beach to its palm tree-lined streets, Port Douglas has an awesome tropical vibe. And there is something for everyone, little kids and big kids alike!
Whether you’re planning a Port Douglas family holiday or travelling solo, our list of Port Douglas must do activities has you covered. Read on for our list of the BEST things to do in Port Douglas with kids – or without!
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Things To Do In Port Douglas: 19 of the BEST Port Douglas Activities For Families
Cairns Vs Port Douglas
The first question you might be asking yourself when planning your Cairns holidays is – is it better to stay in Cairns or in Port Douglas? Well, of course, it really depends on what you like to do and what kind of Cairns holiday you’re after!
Generally speaking, if you’re looking for a more fast-paced, activity-filled adventurous sort of holiday in a vibrant atmosphere, then Cairns is for you. Read our post about visiting Things To Do In Cairns With Kids. As the biggest city in the area, Cairns just naturally has more to offer, including a greater variety of accommodations, restaurants and activities for all budgets.
On the other hand, Port Douglas is a great home base if you like to relax while on vacation, surrounded by nature. It is still an excellent place from which to visit the Great Barrier Reef, with many options for snorkelling, scuba diving and boating tours. In fact, you’re even closer to the Great Barrier Reef in Port Douglas than in Cairns city!
Bottom Line: For action and adventure, choose Cairns; for a more relaxed vibe, choose Port Douglas.
Of course, you don’t have to choose! There is SO much to see and do in the area. You can easily plan an extended Queensland holiday and spend time in both places. For an idea of what that is like, check out our itinerary in our Cairns and Port Douglas family holiday post.
Getting There: The Cairns To Port Douglas Scenic Drive
The Great Barrier Reef Drive is part of the Captain Cook Highway, and one of the best coastal drives in the world. It’s a great way to get from Cairns to Port Douglas if you have a car. The distance between Cairns and Port Douglas is 67km and takes about an hour to drive.
There are many interesting places to stop along the way. In this case, the journey itself really is the destination!
Wangetti Beach
This beach is a curious natural phenomenon that has been added to by tourists over time. You will see lots of rounded rocks that have been made into towers (Cairns) by people passing by. Hikers in the high Andes will be familiar with the habit of carrying a rock to the top of the path and placing the rock on the path!
These days, rock stacking is somewhat controversial, though. Scientists warn that the practice can actually harm wildlife and damage local ecosystems. We recommend appreciating the Wangetti Beach rock stacks from a distance, and avoid adding to them.
Thala Beach Reserve
The Thala coconut plantation has become Insta-famous in recent years, thanks to its gorgeous coconut-tree lined vistas and tropical vibes. It is also home to one of Australia’s most decorated eco-friendly resorts.
The Thala Beach Nature Reserve Resort is located just 15 minutes south of Port Douglas on 145 acres of native forest and a secluded beach. As a family-owned wildlife retreat, the resort offers guests complimentary experiences including stargazing, nature walks, talks from local experts and the Coconut Odyssey tour. You can also enjoy a treetop dining experience at the on-site Ospreys Restaurant!
The luxury accommodations are truly spectacular: wooden bungalows sit atop stilts within the forest canopy, providing guests with their own private window onto nature. With breathtaking views of pristine coastline, you won’t want to leave!
Check here for more information about the Thala Nature Reserve or to check the latest prices.
Other places you can stop include Ellis Beach and Palm Cove. We cover Palm Cove in our post Where To Stay In Cairns With Kids: The 13 BEST Cairns Family Accommodation.
The day we drove along the Great Barrier Reef Drive it was raining, unfortunately. Having read about the dangers of this road my eyes were firmly on the tight curves and not on the scenery! The next time we go, I’d love to take a more leisurely drive along this stretch to take in more of the sights.
Safety Concerns On The Cairns To Port Douglas Scenic Drive
While one of the most beautiful, the Captain Cook Highway is also one of the most dangerous. The highway lacks a decent shoulder, pull-outs for slow drivers are not really long enough, and there are few places to overtake. A mix of inpatient locals and distracted tourists sharing the road create ideal conditions for accidents, and serious incidents have occurred when tourists veered into oncoming traffic or off the road.
If you drive along this road from Cairns to Port Douglas, stay safe! Keep your eyes on the road while driving, and admire the views when you stop.
Best Time To Visit Port Douglas
There doesn’t seem to be any major differences between Cairns and Port Douglas weather. For an in-depth guide to the best time to visit Port Douglas and Cairns (including a season-by-season breakdown), check out our Ultimate Guide To Family Holidays In Cairns.
Weather-wise, the best time to visit Port Douglas is hands-down the winter season, June through September. However, this is also the peak tourist season in Northern Queensland, so you can expect crowds and busy attractions.
To avoid the crowds (and possibly score some deals), we recommend travelling during the shoulder season – April-May or October-November. The weather is usually still good at this time (though it can be a bit hit-or-miss), but the crowds will have died down.
The time to avoid travelling to Port Douglas is really November through March which is the wet season. Since it’s summertime, that means the temperatures can be unbearably hot and humid, and there is the chance of heavy rains.
Summertime is also stinger season in Port Douglas. Stingers – the local term for jellyfish – are prevalent in the waters around Port Douglas during the wet season, and some of them can be really dangerous. If you do find yourself in Port Douglas during the summer, there are stinger nets at Four Mile Beach. This is a safer area in which to swim, providing a high degree of (but not 100%) protection against the most dangerous Box Jellyfish. When stingers are around, some beaches may also close.
Top Things To Do In Port Douglas
For both active and relaxed activities, Port Douglas has great options. The following list of Port Douglas activities are great whether you’re travelling with kids or not (for more things to do in Port Douglas with kids specifically, see below!).
Visit The Great Barrier Reef
No trip to Northern Queensland is complete without a trip to the Great Barrier Reef! This world heritage listed natural attraction is an amazing sight to behold with 400 types of coral, 6 species of turtles, 1,500 species of fish, and so much more. Check here for Great Barrier Reef Facts For Kids.
Given its proximity to the Reef, Port Douglas is a great base from which to do Great Barrier Reef tours. Compare this: it’s just over an hour from Port Douglas to the outer reef. While from Cairns, it’s at least twice that to reach Agincourt Reef.
The most accessible Reef island from Port Douglas is Low Isles. A Low Isles Cruise from Quicksilver Cruises is a great option if you’re on Port Douglas holidays with kids, especially if they are particularly young or not great travellers. If they are first-time snorkelers, they’ll get to learn in a shallow, sandy bay, where the corals are just off the beach.
Quicksilver Cruises are pioneers of the Great Barrier Reef cruise in Port Douglas and offer daily departures on their spacious catamaran to an exclusive platform on Agincourt Reef.
Don’t forget we have a comprehensive post Amazing Great Barrier Reef Tours And Tips For Snorkeling In Cairns. Read it to take the mystery out of the best way to visit the reef while in Port Douglas.
Port Douglas Markets
If you like craft fairs and farmers’ markets, then a stroll through the Port Douglas markets should definitely be on your list!
The Port Douglas markets operate every Sunday morning from 8 am to 1:30 pm. The markets are located on the waterfront at Anzac Park (also known as Market Park).
Vendors come from all over northern Queensland to fill over 100 stalls. Thousands of people come every week to browse their wares, from jewellery and glassware to coffee, fruit, vegetables, books and more.
Don’t let the early morning dissuade you! It’s well worth getting out of bed for. Among the bustle of vendors and market-goers, you can also take a moment to enjoy the idyllic setting: crystalline ocean waters, gentle breezes and gently rustling palm trees. It’s actually a great way to spend a weekend morning!
Lady Douglas River Cruises
The Lady Douglas is a restored steamboat that chugs up and down the pristine mangrove channels of Dickson Inlet. The attraction here is the chance to learn about the estuarine habitat and search for crocodiles and other wildlife!
This idyllic river cruise on gentle waters offers a relaxing and informative time. In addition to learning about the local wildlife, you will also be regaled with fascinating and funny Port Douglas history!
Take Note: If you are keen on seeing wildlife, the best time to visit Port Douglas seems to be during the cooler seasons. While the Lady Douglas itself says that crocodiles can be spotted on 95% of their outings, the crocodiles seem to shy away when the temperatures are especially hot.
Shop The Boutiques On Macrossan Street
Macrossan Street is the main road that runs through the centre of town, leading to the marina, and is one of the best Port Douglas attractions in its own right. Packed full of stylish boutiques, independent eateries, local art galleries and cafes, it’s more than likely that you’ll be walking down Macrossan Street every day for one thing or another!
If you love window shopping and browsing artisanal boutiques, you cannot miss this Port Douglas activity.
Watersports
Have you got adventurous older kids or teens? An adventurous adult? Then why not try kitesurfing! Other heart-pumping water sports on offer in Port Douglas include stand-up paddleboarding (SUP boarding), tubing, and wakeboarding.
Don’t feel like hopping in the ocean? You can also explore the rainforest river via SUP.
For long-lasting memories for you and the kids, you can’t beat a bit of watersport action!
River Drift Snorkelling
One of the more unique things to do in Port Douglas is river drift snorkelling. This is another great way to introduce your kids – or adults! – to snorkelling before heading out on the reef.
River drift snorkelling is exactly like it sounds: step into the cool, crystal-clear water and drift with the current as you explore life underwater. You’ll see fish dart in and around river stones, and maybe even the occasional turtle!
Small children – or adults – who don’t want to get into the water can also float down the river on large river sleds.
It’s a great way to stay cool in tropical climes, all while surrounded by lush, ancient rainforest.
Sweet Farm Tours
The Sweet Farm is run by 5th generation sugarcane farmers, although these days they have branched out into many other products, including vanilla bean, cacao and even eucalyptus, which they provide to Hartley’s Crocodiles for the koalas!
On a Sweet Farm tour, you can tour the mill to see the machinery up close, which is really cool. There are also presentations that describe the paddock-to-plate journey of sugar and cocoa, and tastings that are…sweet (excuse the pun)! Don’t forget to try sugarcane juice.
Located just 15 minutes from Mossman, it is well worth the trip, especially given what an important part of the area’s history sugar is.
Free Things To Do In Port Douglas
Port Douglas Sugar Wharf
The Port Douglas Sugar Wharf is one of Port Douglas’ most iconic spots and definitely worth a visit.
Although originally built for the transportation of cargo of all kinds – including gold and other minerals from the tableland goldfields – the wharf came to be associated with sugar as a result of the sugar boom of the late 1800s to early 1900s.
Built-in 1905 by the Douglas Shire Council, the Sugar Wharf remained in operation until 1958. Today it is a popular tourist attraction in Port Douglas and has been listed in the Queensland Heritage Register since 1992. With its picturesque views of the mountains towards Mossman and the Dickson Inlet, it is a fine place to spend a late afternoon, watching the boats come into port and the sunset behind Mt Lewis.
Though not exclusively a family-friendly Port Douglas activity, it is also a great attraction for children. Our kids had an absolute ball playing around in the mudflats at the base of the white building – only to read later that there were crocodiles in that area, so perhaps don’t do as we did!
Rex Smeal Park & Port Douglas Playground
Rex Smeal Park is a very picturesque park located at the end of Port Douglas. With some elegant waving palm trees, this place is just gorgeous and a free thing to do in Port Douglas during one of the balmy evenings you are sure to experience in far north Queensland.
With plenty of grass and a small playground, Rex Smeal Park is a gathering place for people at the end of the day to watch the sunset. The playground is suited to smaller children; our kids felt it was just a little bit babyish but there were some swings and a slide. The lawn area is always good for a throw of the ball or running around.
Pack the picnic rug, some drinks and nibbles and you have a wonderfully atmospheric place to spend the evening!
St Mary’s By the Sea
Follow the path that winds around Rex Smeal Park and you will come across another piece of Port Douglas history: St Mary’s By the Sea. One of the oldest buildings in Port Douglas, St Mary’s By the Sea is an absolutely gorgeous church with a distinctive window overlooking the ocean.
St Mary’s By the Sea was built in 1914 and echoes the pre-modern era before Port Douglas became a tourist destination.
St Mary’s church wasn’t always by the sea, though! It was moved from its original location in 1988 and given the name it has today. Currently, it is an extremely popular Port Douglas wedding destination! Although originally a Catholic church, it is now used for non-denominational and civil ceremonies.
Four Mile Beach
Another popular option for what to do in Port Douglas is to take a stroll along the Port Douglas Four Mile Beach. True to its name, Four Mile Beach is four miles (almost 6.5 km) of sand and palm trees. Strolling along the beach is fun for anyone, and you would not be remiss to take your kids with you, too!
You can swim and surf at Four Mile beach. In stinger season they set up a stinger-free enclosure to help protect swimmers from the potentially dangerous stingers. Our kids’ favourite part of this beach was admiring the beautiful patterns made on the sand by a little burrowing animal called the Ghost Crab.
Ghost Crabs are detritivores that feed on dead organic matter, especially that of plants. They are really important for the nutrient cycle, as their job is to help with decomposition and returning nutrients to the ground.
As Ghost Crabs sift through the sand and sediment looking for something to eat, they end up leaving behind trails of sand. This left-over sand they form into balls and deposit around the entrance to their homes. The patterns they end up creating are really quite beautiful and intricate and we loved looking at them!
Things To Do In Port Douglas With Kids: Top Family-Friendly Port Douglas Activities
There is a lot in Port Douglas for kids, too. Although most of the activities in Port Douglas we’ve already covered can be done whether or not you’re travelling with kids, this next list covers the specific activities that we think can’t be missed on a Port Douglas family holiday.
Without further ado, here is a list of things you’ll definitely want to do in Port Douglas for families.
Bally Hooley Train
The Bally Hooley Train is a converted sugar cane train that runs a loop around Port Douglas. It starts at the Port Douglas Marina (at the fabulous Choo Choos Café!), heads past the Sheraton Mirage and the Oaks Resort where it then terminates at St Crispin’s Café. It makes for a very picturesque morning outing, and the restaurants at either end are charming places to have a bite to eat! The train then loops along the same track back into Port Douglas.
Running on a Wednesday and a Sunday in low season and every day in high season (though in post-Covid times it pays to check!), this is something that your littlies will be sure to love!
As the Port Douglas resorts are so spread out, if you’re staying in central Port Douglas the train can also be a good way of getting to and from the Marina, or as a trip out to St. Crispin’s.
Train Enthusiasts Take Note: On some days the Bally Hooley Train is pulled by a steam locomotive, and on other days it’s the diesel. If your dream is riding on a steam train, best to check the schedule in advance!
Bally Hooley Train History
The commentary during the train ride is very interesting as you learn much about the early days of Port Douglas and then how Port Douglas became the popular tourist destination that it is today.
Originally, just like the Sugar Wharf mentioned above, the rail line was an important part of the machinery for transporting sugar into Port Douglas. When the Mossman Mill stopped transporting sugar in 1958, the Sugar Wharf closed and the rail line was actually pulled up.
Nearly 30 years later, in 1987, the Mill re-laid part of the track. With the advent of tourism in Port Douglas, the Mill started operating train tours from Port Douglas to Mossman, including a tour of the Mill itself. Over time, the train tour was shortened until it became what it is today, a 4km loop within the Port Douglas area itself.
In 2000, the steam engines Speedy and Bundy moved to Port Douglas, too. For several years, the Bally Hooley Train was operated by a dedicated group of volunteers and ran only on Sundays.
Mossman Gorge, Mossman River & the Daintree Rainforest Experience
One of the most fabulous things to do in Port Douglas is to visit the very ancient and special Daintree Rainforest. This is easily done by travelling just 20 minutes from Port Douglas to the Mossman Gorge Centre, which is a hub of indigenous culture and knowledge about the Daintree Rainforest. From here you can climb aboard one of their carbon neutral (bonus!) park buses which take you into the heart of the rainforest. This costs $30 for a family (2 A +2C or $12.65 for an adult).
What can you do at the Daintree Rainforest? For starters, there is an elevated boardwalk where you can take an easy 10-minute walk through the lower rainforest canopy. If you’ve never done a tree-top walk before, trust me, it is very cool!
You can also stroll along a riverside track which has several lookouts along the way for you to enjoy the views. For the more adventurous, walk across the Rex Creek suspension bridge and then follow the 2.4 km Rainforest Circuit track that takes you through the lush rainforest.
Another feature is the crystal-clear rock pools. Surrounded by breathtaking tropical rainforest, taking a dip in these pools will leave you refreshed and rejuvenated!
Coming soon! We will be writing a full post about all there is to see and do at Mossman Gorge and Daintree Forest for kids. Be sure to join our mailing list in order to be the first to know when this post is live! You can sign up at the bottom of this post.
Wildlife Habitat
Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas is an exceptionally well-organized wildlife park and a fabulous thing to do in Port Douglas with kids. You can see a huge range of different Australian animals but they particularly focus on birds.
Wildlife Habitat is very popular for Breakfast with the Birds, where you can walk through huge aviaries filled with birds and then enjoy a breakfast buffet surrounded by hundreds of colourful Australian birds. I first did this way back in 1996 and it remains one of my most memorable moments from that particular Port Douglas trip!
For our Port Douglas family holiday, we opted for Lunch with the Lorikeets instead. Again, you get to meet the animals and then enjoy a delicious buffet lunch in the Wildlife Habitat restaurant.
For families and those in Port Douglas a few days, the Wildlife Habitat has a special offer: your entry fee is valid for four days after the initial ticket purchase! This is perfect when travelling with kids that easily tire or are best when they’re fresh. Due to this innovative entry pass, we went back and visited twice.
Wildlife Habitat also has an innovative ‘Walk the Plank’ activity with the crocodiles and that adds some excitement to your visit!
Hartley’s Crocodiles
While the Wildlife Habitat focuses on birds and animals, Hartley’s is all about reptiles – especially crocodiles! This gives it an adventurous edge.
Like Wildlife Habitat their entry fee is valid for four days. Located about 27 km south of Port Douglas. Hartley’s is a great attraction to visit on your way up to Port Douglas, or, as a day trip from Port Douglas if you are based there for a few days.
Hartley’s is really well set up for both the people who visit and the animals who live there. It’s a great way to really appreciate Australian crocs – from a safe distance! A cruise around the swamp is included in the price of your ticket, and there are also regular crocodile shows. Be sure to check the schedule before going to avoid wait times and so you don’t miss out. Especially during post-pandemic times, the number of shows per day may be reduced.
Another really great thing about Hartley’s is that they actually produce and export crocodile skins. This might not sound like a bonus but it is: as a result of Hartley’s highly controlled production, the black market for illegal crocodile skins has almost entirely disappeared. This is a huge win for crocodiles in the wild who are no longer in danger of being poached. The outcome? Crocodiles are flourishing in the wild.
Take Part In Cane Toad Racing At The Iron Bar on Macrossan Street
If you’re thinking – what? – you’re not alone, but trust me, this is way more fun than it sounds! Cane toad racing is definitely a Port Douglas must-do activity. It is totally unique to Queensland and a once-in-a-lifetime thing to try!
Cane toads are considered an invasive species in Australia. They were first introduced into Queensland in order to control destructive beetles which were a pest for the sugarcane crops. But Cane Toads have a defence mechanism where they poison predators who try to eat them. As a result, their population exploded and spread across Australia. Due to their abundance, a variety of “cane toad sports” became popular – including cane toad racing, which remains popular today.
So how can you take part? Head to the Iron Bar on Macrossan Street. We went after dinner, just so we could see the races (we would have felt odd bringing the kids into a pub, otherwise)! It cost $5 per person (kids, too) in order to enter. This doubled as our ticket for the draw to be part of the races. Whoever’s tickets they call gets to participate in the first race and it’s just like it sounds – a handful of cane toads are set loose and whichever reaches the finish line first, wins!
There are prizes for winning, too – like an adult entry into Hartley’s Crocodiles!
More races follow where you can bid on a particular frog and if you win – more prizes! It honestly is a very fun time for the whole family.
Port Douglas Water Park
One of the best things to do in Port Douglas with kids is to visit the Glengarry Holiday Park. Located just outside Port Douglas, this waterpark features six waterslides and a large tipping bucket. If your kids are like most, they will be able to spend hours at this park in the playground, pool, or jumping cushion.
If you’re not staying at Glengarry Park, you will need to purchase a day pass from reception. This gives you access to all facilities from 10 am to 6 pm.
Swim In The Swimming Pool
Ok, this might not seem like a legitimate “thing to do” in Port Douglas with kids, but honestly, you can’t go wrong with some pool time on your Port Douglas family holiday!
Port Douglas has some of the most gorgeous resorts in Australia. I think it’s worth picking one that has an exceptional swimming pool. Kids love to swim and I recommend planning your stay so as to include some pool time every day. Our kids loved playing in the pool just about every afternoon and in the evening.
If your Port Douglas hotel doesn’t have its own pool or you just want to try something different, the Oaks Resort allows you to go and use their swimming pool for a fee (just purchase an entry at one of their kiosks). You’ll love exploring this gorgeous resort!
Fun fact, when I visited Port Douglas in my 20’s we went from resort to resort in a ‘pool crawl’ – like a pub crawl but without the alcohol!
Where To Eat In Port Douglas: The Best Restaurants Port Douglas Has To Offer!
