Port Douglas

The beautiful seaside town of Port Douglas, located around 60 km north of Cairns, is the staging point when visiting Australia's famous Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest. A swanky resort town in its own right, it is home to five-star properties, fine-dining restaurants, golf courses and large public spaces. For seaside enthusiasts, kitesurfing is quite popular here, especially during winter. Tour operators also regularly run snorkelling and scuba diving visits to the outer reefs and Low Isles.

With the world’s largest coral reef just out by the ocean, the beach resorts in Port Douglas are always packed with visitors enjoying the serene view, considering the town a nice alternative to the popular Cairns. The popular Four Mile Beach offers travellers plenty of exciting snorkelling opportunities, with the colourful coral reefs present right there. The beautiful expanse of the beach and the rugged coast can be seen from Trinity Bay Lookout atop Flagstaff Hill. The Wildlife Habitat at Port Douglas presents visitors with the opportunity to engage with exotic native wildlife, such as kangaroos, koalas, cassowaries and many more. There are also special shows for closer encounters with the birds, such as Breakfast with the Birds and Lunch with the Lorikeets. The town also offers scenic train rides aboard the vintage Ballyhooley Steam Railway.

The Daintree Rainforest lies a little way north of Port Douglas, home to one of the most impressive ecosystems on the planet that are contained within the dense canopy of the rainforest. The nearby Mossman Gorge is also sure to amaze visitors as they admire the massive boulders that fringe the mint-green, crystal-clear waters of the gorge.