Port Douglas

Port Douglas Qld 4871 (Pop 3 600)

Port Douglas is a former village transformed into a Tropical North Qld luxury holiday resort 1 747 km n-w of Brisbane. It is surrounded by lush rainforests and tropical mountains and is the closest town to the Great Barrier Reef. Port Douglas was established in 1877 and early nearby goldfinds together with its role as a sugar port helped put the town on the map. Cairns is 67 km south and the coastal drive there is one Australia’s most scenic. Markets each Sun. Village Carnivale (May).

Tourist Attractions & Info:
Flagstaff Hill Lookout, Island Point Rd magnificent seaward views. Four Mile Beach one of the area’s best which has a net in place between Nov-May to protect against box jellyfish. Courthouse, Wharf St town’s only historic building (1879) to have survived a 1911 cyclone. The Rainforest Habitat, cnr Port Douglas Rd & Captain Cook Hwy 2 ha sanctuary divided into 4 sections - rainforest, wetlands, woodlands and grasslands which contain over 1 600 animals. Boardwalks follow through the various habitats.

Nearby:
Mossman Gorge (25 km west) located within the World Heritage-listed Daintree River NP which has scenic walking trails, rugged granite boulders and fascinating fauna species including the Ulysses butterfly. Cairns & Other Coastal villages and towns are all within easy reach.

Accommodation:
Port Douglas has a couple of motels, 3 hotels, 4 resorts, many holiday apartments and a couple of caravan parks. Visitor Information Centre: 23 Macrossan St. Tel (07) 4099 4588.