{"id":5117,"date":"2024-04-19T01:27:08","date_gmt":"2024-04-19T01:27:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com.au\/magazine\/?p=5117"},"modified":"2024-11-05T08:42:29","modified_gmt":"2024-11-05T08:42:29","slug":"5-amazing-things-to-do-in-port-douglas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com.au\/magazine\/travel\/5-amazing-things-to-do-in-port-douglas\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Amazing Things To Do in Port Douglas"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Port Douglas<\/a> in Far North Queensland is one of Australia\u2019s favourite spots for escaping to warm weather \u2013 especially when winter hits the southern states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perched on the dreamy Coral Sea, it\u2019s a stone\u2019s throw from two World Heritage-listed areas \u2013 the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are five amazing experiences you shouldn\u2019t miss while you\u2019re in the area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

SNORKEL OR DIVE THE GREAT BARRIER REEF<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Great Barrier Reef, which stretches for more than 2,300 kilometres along the Queensland coast, is the biggest coral reef on Earth. In fact, it\u2019s so big, it\u2019s visible from outer space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While you\u2019re in Port Douglas, though, you can see it up close. Several tours leave town for the reef every day, giving you the opportunity to experience it pretty much any way you\u2019d like \u2013 be that on a half-day trip by motor boat or on a multi-day voyage on a luxury yacht.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Daintree
Image credit: Sam Gas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

WALK THROUGH THE DAINTREE RAINFOREST<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Daintree Rainforest, which has been growing for more than 180 million years, is the world\u2019s oldest tropical rainforest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a variety of enchanting walks to choose from, many starting at Mossman Gorge<\/a> (where you can also swim). If you\u2019re short on time, take the Lower River Track or wander over the Rex Creek suspension bridge \u2013 they\u2019re both only 10 minutes each. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To head deeper into the rainforest, follow the rainforest circuit track, a 3.4-kilometre loop among strangler figs, butterflies and views of Mount Demi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CATCH A HELICOPTER TO YOUR OWN PRIVATE ISLAND<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the most spectacular experiences on offer in Port Douglas is a scenic flight. The views are absolutely breathtaking.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can spend all your time in the sky. Or you can opt to touch down on Undine Clay, a tiny, uninhabited sand island in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For two glorious hours, you\u2019ll have the whole island to yourself. You can swim, snorkel, sunbake and picnic to your heart\u2019s content \u2013 all the while feeling like you\u2019re a thousand years away from the modern world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GET UP-CLOSE WITH A CROCODILE<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While you probably don\u2019t want to meet a crocodile in the wild, it\u2019s possible to see one in Port Douglas without risking your safety. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How close you want to get is up to you. At Wildlife Habitat, you can watch saltwater crocs from a grandstand \u2013 or you can jump in the water and swim just centimetres away from them (while, of course, protected by a glass-walled pool).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another option is to take a cruise through the Daintree, where you\u2019ll get to witness crocodiles in their native habitat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Four
Image credit: Alpha<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

VISIT CAPE TRIBULATION<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Two hours\u2019 drive north of Port Douglas lies Cape Tribulation, where the Daintree stretches all the way to the sea. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a bunch of fantastic adventures to be had here. You might ride a horse along the sand, camp on a secluded beach, watch the sun rise over the water, dive into a swimming hole surrounded by rainforest, go off-road in a 4WD or sleep in a magical tree house. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

GETTING TO PORT DOUGLAS<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cairns Airport<\/a> is the nearest airport to Port Douglas. It\u2019s two hours and 25 minutes\u2019 flight from Brisbane<\/a>, three hours and 10 minutes\u2019 flight from Sydney<\/a>, and three hours and 20 minutes\u2019 flight from Melbourne. SIXT is conveniently located at Cairns Airport, so you can pick up a car and start exploring straight away.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another option is to turn your holiday into a road trip. If you\u2019re driving from Brisbane to Cairns, then you\u2019ll find loads of tips in our guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Port Douglas in Far North Queensland is one of Australia\u2019s favourite spots for escaping to warm weather \u2013 especially when winter hits the southern states.  Perched on the dreamy Coral Sea, it\u2019s a stone\u2019s throw from two World Heritage-listed areas \u2013 the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest.  Here are five amazing experiences you…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":108,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[94,110,82],"class_list":{"0":"post-5117","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-travel","7":"tag-cairns","8":"tag-port-douglas","9":"tag-queensland","10":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\n5 Amazing Things To Do in Port Douglas - 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