Port Douglas Things to Do

This sign at Four Mile Beach warns the public of "Stingers" which could be in the water. The stingers are seasonal and only appear during certain months of the year.

If stung Vinegar will lessen the pain. A bottle is attached to the sign, just dab vinegar on the sting to bring relief.

If visiting the area enquire to find out if it is "Stinger " season.

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We were lucky our resort was less than 5 minutes walk from the beach. We like the beach much better than any swimming pool.

The beach changes daily, usually due to the weather conditions, however human activity on the beach is always there to grab your attention. In this instance it was Kite Surfing, on the next day it was a topless woman doing her daily 4 mile run.

Who knows what tomorrow may bring?

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We visited the club late afternoon for a cold drink on the balcony and watch the sun go down as the dive boats return to port after a day on the Great Barrier Reef.

The balcony gives one of the best views in Port Douglas. This is not an exclusive club for the rich and famous. Any visitor is welcome, you must be 18 years or older and just sign the visitors book to be a member for the day.

The club has a full service bar, restaurant for lunch and dinner.

A trip to the reef is a must for any visitor to the far North Qld. You can do this from Cairns or Port Douglas. There a number of boats that do this daily. It will depend on what you want and how confidant you are in the water.
Quicksliver trips:- These leave daily from the Marina in Wharf Street. There is the Quicksilver shop and booking area on the Marina. The tickets are $185 per person. What you get for this is morning tea as you set off from Port Douglas, your snorkling gear, tour of the reef in a semi submersible submerine, viewing area of the reef and fish from the Quicksilver pontoon, a buffet lunch of salads/seafood/cold meats and hot dishes plus yummy fresh fruit. Afternoon tea as you head home.
Extras are Helicopter flight/scuba diving/ snorkling reef tours with guide who will explain corals and fish etc.

This particular cruise is excellent for children and those that are confidant in the water. You are on a large pontoon and the area where you snorkling is roped so you can't go too far. There is a yellow rope area that you can hold on too and reat areas where you can stop and get your breath. The area that you snorkle has a life saver watching all the time. If you happen to go too far they will come out and tell you. There is help for people that haven't done this before, they will help put snorkle/flippers etc on.
The day begins at 10am and you are back in Port about 4.30pm. You travel approx 72K's out from Port to the reef.
I love this trip and highly recommend.

There are also smaller cruises that head to the Outer Reef. Some of these are Wavelength/Poseidon/Calypso
All these tours are excellent. They are smaller boats and cater for smaller groups. They have buffet lunch supplied.
They don't actually stop at a Pontton, you go into the water from the end of the boat.
A number of these are booked by the younger people.

What ever you decide I am sure you will have the best time.

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As we walked along the main street in Port Douglas, we strolled by the Iron Bar and noticed signs up about Cane Toad Races... we were excited to see they took place on Tuesday, Thursday, & Fridays and knew we were in town long enough to make a show. So, of course we HAD to go!! We decided to go to the 7:15 show. We later learned that the 'Adults Only' show was at 9pm, but were glad we went earlier, cause there were kids there and they were having tons of fun.

The races are hosted by Clancy, a local muso and comedian, the comedy show is based around funny Australiana and includes four or five cane toad races. Prizes include cane toad beer, hats, stubby holders and cane toad T-shirts.The cane toads are colour-coded and start from under a bucket placed in the middle of a table. Six people, selected by their entry tickets, chase them with party whistles, making each whistle blow out like a lizard tongue. The aim is to make the cane toad jump off the table and then the competitor must chase and capture it, returning it to the bucket.

We paid $5 per person to get in and then your ticket goes in a bucket to get picked to race a toad for the first 2 races. For the 3rd & last race, he auctions off the toads and there are bigger prizes to be won. The toads went for between $15-$30 the night we were there. At the end, we all thought it was well worth the $5. It lasted at least an hour and was very entertaining. Especially considering there isn't much other nightlife in Port Douglas.

If you are in Port Douglas for a few days, be SURE you make it to the Cane Toad Races!!!

This is something that I have wanted to do for years and this visit I finally did it.
You do the flight at the Rex Lookout which is on the Highway between Cairns and Port Douglas. Approx 15 minutes from Port.

I went with a guy named Greg. He made me feel very safe and has been flying for 20 odd years.

If you plan to do this you should be aware that it can take a few hours. The wind conditions have to be right.

Take a bottle of water and fruit, just in case you have to hang around for awhile waiting for the flight.

It's a fantastic thing to do.

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The Church was originally built in 1880 and destroyed by a cyclone in 1911. Over the years it became the last remaining Church in Port Douglas.

The Catholic Church gave the building to several resident who organised its restorarion and moved it to its present location November, 1988.

The Church is beautifully restored by the local Restoration Society and is open to visitors daily.

Open for Community Worship 11am Sundays'.

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Quicksilver has several options, but this tip is for Agincourt on the Outer Reef cruise. The price for the minimum cruise is $189/adult and $94/children 4-14, free under 4

This includes:
Morning and afternoon teas
Reef presentation by marine biologist.
Hot and cold tropical buffet lunch.
All snorkelling equipment
Return Wavepiercer cruise from Port Douglas
Qualified snorkelling safety officers
Underwater observatory fish & coral viewing
Coral viewing by semi-submersibles
Fish feeding by crew

I have been twice and did the minimum both times and had plenty to do. The trip out takes an hour an a half to arrive by 11. You are on the pontoon til about 2:30. Lunch is served from 12-1:30. When I took my parents, we went straight to a semi-submersible for an easy ride around to view some fish, coral and even a sea turtle. On my previous trip we saw a reef shark. Then we went for a bit of snorkelling, then out for a little lunch (the lunch is a nice buffet of cold salads, bread, meats, cheese, chicken, and some rice and two hot dishes to put over rice... it is plenty to fill up on and you can eat as much as you like. Drinks are extra or you can get a small cup and water out of the water fountain).

After lunch, my dad and I went for more snorkelling while Mom watched and also took another semi-sub ride. There is something for everyone to enjoy on this trip, even if they don't want to get in the water.

Extras:

Guided Snorkel Tour with Marine Biologist - $58
Introd Diving [w/All Equipment] 1 Dive - $134
Certified Diving [w/All Equipment] 1 Dive - $92, 2 Dives - $134
Ocean Walker - $134
Helicopter Scenic Flights - 10 minutes $125

My husband did the intro dive and although it was a bit to get used to for his first time scuba diving, he really enjoyed it and said the instructor was excellent and really made them feel safe. The photographer got some great photos of him.

I recommend this if some in your party want to stay dry, but if everyone plans to snorkel or dive, try Haba Dive - see my other tip.

There are a number tours you can do for these areas.
Along the main street of Port Douglas there are outlets that will book tours for you. There is also the Information Centre.
Before you decide to do a tour, think of the cost and then check out the car hire places. It might be less expensive to hire a car and do it yourself at your leisure.
I will be adding more info to my Mossman page and also Cape Trib page.
If you hire a car you can go as far as Capre Trib, then after this you need a 4x4.
Please don't go any further as it is dangerous and not worth the insurance bill.

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We visited Palm Cove which is a beachside resort and residential area located approximately 40 minutes drive south of Port Douglas. Promoted in advertisements as a high end holiday destination it offers a beautiful tropical beach, nice coastal scenery and a variety of accommodation with many beautiful resorts.

Less developed than Port Douglas but very similar in what it offers for for a relaxing holiday.