Villa San Michele

Two Greatest people in Port Douglas

by doratri

There are two really special people who call Port Douglas home. And they are the couple who run the small seaside lunchstand by the beach at the Port Douglas Terrace lodging. They are the most friendly and most helpful two people anyone could ever want to meet. They are sweet and caring and courageous. When I got in a spot of trouble on the beach, they rescued me. We joked about the tatooed balls the rest of the week. I feel they are close as a brother and sister to me. They are really swell folks. If you come to the four mile beach at Port Douglas, look up the Terrace lunchstand where you'll find Roy and his wife, my friends.

Java Blue Cafe

by sue_stone about Java Blue Cafe

If you are looking for a place for breakfast, lunch or just a snack then you could do worse than heading to the Java Blue Cafe. Located at the inlet end of Macrossan street, Java Blue is a colourful café with a few prime-position tables on the footpath for people watching. They serve up great looking smoothies, juices and shakes, and plenty of fresh, healthy looking meals.

We stopped in for a light breakfast one morning, just having some coffee and some Turkish toast with jam. Service was a bit dipsy, but well meaning, and we did manage to nab one of those tables out the front so all was forgiven.

The Court House Museum

by leffe3

It's not up to much really, but it is one of the historic buildings in Port Douglas and at least you know the $A2 entry donation is contributing to its upkeep.

This small timber building was erected in 1879 and is the only structure to survive the 1911 cyclone. It ceased to be used by the courts in 1957 and was due to be demolished in the early 1960s, but local action prevented the destruction of the building, although it was moved to a different site further down Wharf St. But, new awareness of history resulted in the Court House being returned to its original (and current) location next to the police station at the Dickson Inlet end of Macrossan St. in 1993.

Today, staffed by volunteers, the court house is set up for the trial of Ellen Thomson and her young lover, John Harrison, for the murder of Thomson's husband, William, in 1887. Ellen is the only woman legally hanged in the State of Queensland. Mannikins of Thomson, Harrison and the residing judge are placed in situ and the jury's bench is there for you to sit and ponder. The story of the trial and history of the Thomson family are to be found on the walls, but its hardly the most riveting exhibition - especially as the walls also hold information about other aspects of Port Douglas life and history.

Not much to keep you unless you are particularly interested in the case.

Open Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, 10am-3pm.

Discovering Far North Queensland

by ettiewyn

I have made tips about the attractions of the area on my big Cairns page , so there is not really a point in repeating everything here. All of the tours that go from Cairns go from Port Douglas as well, and all the sights can be reached from here, too. So please have a look at my Cairns page, if you want to explore Far North Queensland!

Attractions that you can easily reach on your own by public transport (of course also by car):

* Fitzroy Island

* Kuranda Skyrail and Scenic Railway

* Trinity Beach

* Whale Watching

* Palm Cove

Attractions that you should visit by car:

* Yorkeys Knob

* Smithfield Conservation Park

* Lake Placid

* Holloways Beach

* Clifton Beach

* Kewarra Beach

* Rainforest Boardwalk & Centenary Lakes

* Mt. Whitfield Conservation Park

* Cairns Botanical Gardens

Attractions close to Port Douglas that you should visit by car or guided tour

* Cape Tribulation

* Daintree River Cruise

* Niau Waterfall

Attractions further away from Port Douglas that you should visit by car or guided tour:

* Paronella Park

* Wooroonooran National Park - Canopy Walk

* Mungalli Falls

* Curtain Fig Tree

* Lake Barrine

* Platypus Watching in Yungabarra

* Lake Eachem

* Millaa Millaa Falls

* Josephine Falls

* Babinda Boulders

* Skybury Coffee Centre

* Mareeba Wetlands

Attractions in Cairns City centre

* Birdwatching at the Esplanade

* Cairns Museum

* Cairns Regional Art Gallery

* The Lagoon

* The Esplanade

Two Off the beaten path-Tips that I very much recommend:

* Cape York Mailplane

* Hunting and Gathering with Aboriginal People

And if you want to have a glimpse at the outback %c:*

* Chillagoe

Port Douglas Experiences

by Robachu1

"Hotel- Sheraton Mirage"

This was a great hotel but expensive to say the least. We had a beautiful room at lagoon level which meant we always woke-up to a beautiful view of bright blue water.

"A Must Eat"

Deep fried whole coral trout is available at several restaurants in the area (probably throughout Australia as well) but it was our first time to have this wonderful Australian original. Here is our waiter at Nautilus in Port Douglas demonstrating the proper way to carve and serve this delicious fish.

"The Sunday Outdoor Market"

Apparently every Sunday there is an outdoor market near the Marina in Port Douglas. There were many things to buy of all descriptions. Luckily (for me)Kaoru didn't find too many things that she had to have.