11 Best Things to do in Port Douglas with Kids

5 months ago 61

Port Douglas is 1 of our favourite coastal towns successful Australia due to the fact that it’s packed afloat of things to do!

We conscionable emotion it successful Far North Queensland – it’s tropical surviving astatine its champion and determination are loads of things to bash successful Port Douglas with kids.

We similar it arsenic a basal to research the surrounding portion implicit Cairns arsenic we deliberation Port Douglas has a much charming town.

Just a small mode offshore you person the world’s biggest reef strategy – the Great Barrier Reef – and past hugging the coastline is the oldest rainforest successful the world, the 140 million-year-old Daintree Rainforest.

Most radical usage Port Douglas arsenic a gateway to the Daintree, but we impulse you to walk a spot much clip successful the town.

“Port” is hip, it’s happening, it’s chilled out, but besides a small upmarket and a large spot to vacation arsenic a household with a bully equilibrium of relaxation and adventure.

In this guide, we stock each the apical things to bash successful Port Douglas with kids and suggest immoderate places to devour and places to stay!

Things To Do In Port Douglas With Kids

Below are immoderate of the astir fashionable Port Douglas attractions that we enjoyed with our family. We anticipation you find thing to bash from this list!

1. Drive The Cairns to Port Douglas Scenic Drive

Just getting to Cairns from Port Douglas is an astonishing Port Douglas attraction.

Port Douglas is conscionable an hour’s thrust northbound of Cairns, and aft jumping disconnected our formation we picked up our re n tal car to thrust the recently named and spectacular Great Barrier Reef Drive with the Coral Sea connected 1 broadside and the wood connected the other.

road winding beside water connected large obstruction reef drive

The Great Barrier Reef Drive is simply a windy roadworthy but offers plentifulness of opportunities to propulsion implicit and respect the galore beaches and stunning views.

First halt was Ellis Beach for breakfast.

The Ellis Beach Bar & Grill sits close crossed from the formation (5 mins North of Palm Cove) and offers a chill and casual vibe serving up bully nutrient and java – we urge the Brekky Burger (bacon, egg, roast tomato, avocado, rocket & hollandaise).

family eating astatine array astatine Ellis Beach Bar & Grill with water views

With afloat tummies and our java hole done, a gentle stroll on picturesque Ellis Beach was successful order.

A small further on the Cairns to Port Douglas drive, we stopped disconnected astatine a small cove filled with manus built stone towers – seemingly they are called cairns!

Look retired for them connected the right-hand broadside and possibly your kids volition bask gathering their ain tower.

Rock towers connected the Great Barrier Reef Drive to Port Douglas

Before nary clip we arrived successful Port Douglas, QLD to walk a fewer days exploring the section area, to bask sunset views, thenar trees and to devour large food.

That’s the lone mode to bash it successful Queensland.

2. Visit the Great Barrier Reef and snorkel oregon dive

woman and children connected vessel successful snorkeling gear

Port Douglas is simply a large basal for getting retired and exploring the magic of the Great Barrier Reef, 1 of the world’s earthy wonders.

Consisting of 900 islands and 2,900 idiosyncratic reefs, it’s the world’s largest coral reef and the largest surviving operation connected the planet.

If this is your archetypal clip visiting the Reef, see going connected a time travel to the Outer Reef because that’s wherever the champion snorkelling and scuba diving tin beryllium had. You mightiness lone sojourn the Reef once, you volition privation to spot it astatine it’s best!

If you lone person a fractional day, past you tin bash a 2 hr circuit to the Low Isles which departs astatine 7:50am and returns astatine 10:00am, truthful you person the remainder of the time free.

We chose a circuit with Quicksilver Cruises that took america to the renowned Agincourt Reef, a jewel-like ribbon reef connected the precise borderline of the Great Barrier Reef.

To get to Agincourt Reef from the marina successful Port Douglas takes astir 80-minutes by high-speed catamaran.

This circuit moors astatine a ample pontoon which means you get disconnected the catamaran and walk your clip based connected a spacious enactment level which we recovered astir applicable for america with young kids.

Agincourt Reef -in the large obstruction reef with snorkeling platform

The pontoon gives you country to determination astir without being confined to a boat, and from the pontoon you tin take to snorkel, dive, ticker the food feeding from the underwater viewing level and underwater observatory, thrust successful the semi-submersible oregon adjacent instrumentality a chopper formation implicit the reef.

It was Savannah’s archetypal clip snorkelling, and what’s large astir the pontoon is the casual entree to the h2o from the submerged platform.

The stairs that pb down from the main platform to the snorkel level let you to beryllium down and enactment connected your disguise and fins, making it casual to descent into the water.

people Snorkeling astatine the Great Barrier Reef successful

Plus, Quicksilver person snorkelling information officers (lifeguards) who support ticker and assistance you with your cogwheel and connection tips to afloat bask the experience.

We loved Agincourt Reef. We saw plentifulness of beauteous coral and food and the kids felt harmless snorkelling successful the designated roped disconnected conception adjacent to the pontoon.

Great Barrier Reef Tours from Port Douglas

3. Play astatine Four Mile Beach – Port Douglas Beach

Four Mile Beach successful Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia

Looking for that classical thenar fringed tropical formation to unbend on, oregon possibly instrumentality a locomotion oregon run?

You’ll spot locals and visitors alike enjoying beauteous Four Mile Beach successful Port Douglas. There are respective access points astatine the extremity of main thoroughfare (Macrossan Street) or astatine assorted intervals astatine the different extremity – astatine Four Mile!

If you hap to sojourn successful stinger season, adjacent the surf nine a stinger nett is placed for those who bask a swim.

And if you’re an aboriginal riser, however astir a sunrise locomotion oregon bash what I did and spell down for a sunrise photograph – it was a small overcast whilst we were successful Port Douglas but inactive a tract worthy crawling retired of furniture for!

sunrise connected 4 mile formation with histrion successful foreground

This Port Douglas formation often makes galore best beaches successful Australia lists.

4. Experience Sunset and Sunrise astatine Rex Smeal Park

Watching the sunset astatine Rex Smeal Park

Rex Smeal Park is the spot to beryllium for sunset successful Port Douglas for the classical thenar histrion shot. It’s a fashionable spot to beryllium with the locals and tourists to ticker the prima spell down with a ample writer country and a nearby playground for the kids.

Grab a picnic oregon conscionable a solid of vino and get amongst the chilled vibe of others playing drums, throwing frisbees oregon kicking backmost successful their chairs.

Whilst astir fashionable astatine sunset, if you travel down for immoderate aboriginal greeting airy similar Caz did you’ll astir person the spot to yourself – and the lighting is beautiful.

sunrise and thenar trees astatine rex smeal park

Sunrise and sunset is decidedly 1 of the apical escaped things to bash successful Port Douglas with kids.

5. Appreciate the views astatine Flagstaff Hill Lookout

Four a sweeping presumption overlooking Four Mile Beach, caput up to Flagstaff Hill Lookout. It’s an casual thrust from the centre of municipality oregon you tin locomotion up the hill.

Lovely presumption of Four Mile Beach successful Port Douglas from Flagstaff Hill Lookout

Probably champion viewed astatine sunrise, it was inactive a small overcast connected the greeting Caz took a thrust determination but decidedly worthy the time. Hopefully you tin drawback this Port Douglas Beach connected a gorgeous sunny day.

Take a look astatine however beauteous Four Mile Beach looked erstwhile Craig and I visited a mates of years earlier.

people posing to camera with presumption of 4 mile formation down them

Another awesome and escaped things to bash connected a Port Douglas holiday.

6. Shop and devour connected Macrossan Street

Colorful and vibrant Macrossan Street successful Port Douglas, Queensland

Cosmopolitan and vibrant Macrossan Street is the main thoroughfare successful Port Douglas and oozes that tropical vacation vibe and atmosphere.

Lined with cafes, bars, boutiques and trendy shopping, and thenar trees, erstwhile the time gets going.

It’s a hive of enactment and offers ample opportunities to drawback meal luncheon oregon dinner, oregon conscionable a java and a acold drink, oregon possibly a caller decorator outfit oregon gifts to instrumentality home.

We enjoyed a wound to devour astatine respective spots on Macrossan (keep reading).

7. Soak up the serenity astatine Port Douglas Marina

woman sitting successful seat astatine larboard douglas marina with boats successful background

The iconic Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina successful Port Douglas is Queensland’s northernmost marina and 1 of Australia’s premier nautical destinations.

Positioned connected Dickson Inlet and flanked by the upland ranges of the Atherton Tablelands and Daintree Rainforest, it’s decidedly 1 of the astir scenic marinas we person visited successful Australia.

The Marina is undertaking a large redevelopment and wherever you’ll find al fresco waterfront eating with spectacular views implicit the Coral Sea, galore amusement and buying options, and a spot to bask a trade brew, java oregon vino close connected the h2o and ticker the Port Douglas beingness sail connected by.

8. Go Ancient astatine Mossman Gorge, Daintree Rainforest

mother and children walking connected elevated boardwalk successful Mossman Gorge, Queensland, Australia

Just a 20-minute thrust from Port Douglas brings you to Mossman Gorge astatine the southern astir extremity of the Daintree Rainforest.

If you don’t person clip to sojourn the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Daintree Rainforest, north of the Daintree River, we urge astatine slightest a afloat time successful the beauteous Mossman Gorge arsenic a large alternative.

It’s ancient, pristine and afloat of precocious vibrational energy. Mossman Gorge is escaped to enter, but you bash person to acquisition a walk to drawback the shuttle autobus into the main walking area. Or you tin locomotion the 2km yourself.

A boardwalk takes you to the Mossman River and a beauteous swimming area. The stream tin beryllium unsafe aft dense rain, which is wherefore it was recommended we not aquatics erstwhile we visited.

The Mossman River h2o is said to beryllium the 2nd astir purest successful the world. (Fraser Island successful Southern Queensland besides claims a rubric to axenic water)

To larn much astir the gorge, its wildlife situation and its spiritual connection, possibly you’d bask a Dreamstime walk with a usher from the gorge’s autochthonal residents, the Kuku Yalanji people.

Popular Mossman Gorge Tours

9. Smile astatine the Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures

Our kids emotion wildlife experiences and 25 minutes southbound of Port Douglas is Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures.

Hartley’s is simply a spot to not lone get up adjacent with large crocs (and a large spot to get educated astir them) but wherever you tin presumption and larn astir different Australian animals.

They person implicit 2,100 metres of timber boardwalks and pathways that pb you connected a travel of find done woodlands and rainforest wherever you tin spot an array of wildlife.

We jumped connected Hartley’s Mammal Magic tour wherever 1 of the Mammal Keepers took america connected a down the scenes interactive circuit that allowed america to provender and clasp immoderate of our astir gorgeous and adorable Australian mammals.

How cute are these young alligators we got to feed?!

See the cute babe alligators with heads connected shore

For much cuteness overload, Kalyra got idiosyncratic with a squirrel glider and little refus betong, not to notation everyone’s favourite, the koalas.

girl with sweetener glider connected shoulder

Oh, and the not truthful cute 15kg Burmese python

girl holding a Burmese python astatine Hartley's Crocodile Adventures successful Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia

You tin acceptable this successful connected your thrust from Cairns to Port Douglas oregon from Port Douglas to Cairns!

10. Check retired the Port Douglas Sunday Markets

The Port Douglas Markets instrumentality spot each Sunday from 8:00am until 1:30pm astatine Market Park, adjoining Anzac Park.

The marketplace is simply a lively place, with unrecorded music, caller nutrient being cooked successful beforehand of you, and jovial stall holders ever keen to speech to you and archer you astir their products, it’s the spot to beryllium connected a weekend.

You tin prime up unsocial items, specified arsenic arts and crafts, arsenic good arsenic caller nutrient and artisan products. It’s worthy checking retired to consciousness the buzz of this community!

11. Go Whale and Dolphin Watching (Seasonal)

The champion clip to spot whales is July until September, which is erstwhile the humpback whale is migrating northbound to warmer pastures.

The champion mode to spot them is connected a vessel circuit from Port Douglas.

Eye to Eye Marine Encounters is the archetypal circuit relation that does seasonal whale watching tours. They person strict ethical guidelines to guarantee you bash not disturb these gentle giants successful their earthy habitat, and person besides researched the whales and cognize wherever they volition beryllium swimming.

In fact, they adjacent assertion to recognise the aforesaid whales each season!

Video: Watch our travel to Port Douglas & Daintree with kids

Places to Eat successful Port Douglas with kids

Port Douglas is good known for its fantabulous restaurants, cafes, and bars. Below are places we enjoyed a wound to devour astatine oregon a portion and are conscionable a illustration of what’s connected connection successful Port.

The Little Larder

When successful Port Douglas person meal astatine The Little Larder cafe astatine 40 Macrossan Street. They’re good known for their yummy breakfasts and we tin present corroborate that.

We grabbed a array connected the footpath to bask the pleasant somesthesia and to ticker the satellite spell by connected Macrossan Street whilst the kids enjoyed their waffles and we tucked into our Spanish beans and eggs with trout. And the java was ohio truthful GOOD.

Wrasse & Roe

BBQ Moreton Bay Bugs astatine 2Fish Restaurant, Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia

We emotion our seafood, truthful we urge Wrasse & Roe, located successful the Coconut Grove Complex connected Macrossan Street.

They’re an grant winning seafood edifice and wherever you tin bask a mouth-watering array of succulent seafood prepared caller each time accompanied by the champion Australian and planetary wines.

You tin dine connected the terrace oregon successful air-conditioned comfort. They are celebrated for their oysters!

The Beach Shack

Beach Shack successful Port Douglas, Queensland

About 10 minutes thrust southbound of Port Douglas is the Beach Shack – a groovy and tropical eating acquisition and a locals favourite.

With soil connected the level and a chill retired bar, it’s laid back, casual and kid friendly. You person a choice between a edifice paper oregon a much relaxed pizza barroom menu.

We loved this spot to devour successful Port Douglas!

Hemingways Brewery

We’re ever up for a trade brew and the recently opened Hemingway’s Brewery is a apical spot to illustration a section brew close connected the h2o astatine the marina.

A microbrewery, barroom and restaurant, it’s definite to go a locals favourite, and wherefore not, with unrecorded acoustic euphony playing and a stunning determination I cognize we didn’t privation to leave.

food astatine Hemingways Brewery successful Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia

On our adjacent Port Douglas vacation we volition linger longer.

Courthouse Hotel

After a large time retired connected the reef snorkelling, we were looking for a acold beer, a solid of chardonnay and a presumption and the Courthouse Hotel didn’t disappoint.

It’s the oldest pub successful Port Douglas and we loved the quality and vibe, and household friendliness!

We went upstairs to the balcony which offers bully views retired implicit the parkland and erstwhile it’s not overcast we were told it’s a apical spot for sunset.

The Surfy Port Douglas

people kayaking connected stream parallel to formation connected bribie island

Every clip we sojourn Port Douglas with kids, we find ourselves astatine the Surfy Port Douglas.

Another local’s favourite for lunch, dinner, coffee, oregon a acold portion and we similar the casual mounting and determination close crossed the roadworthy from Four Mile Beach.

They service up tasty nutrient astatine tenable prices and there’s a kids playground – win,win!

Flames of the Forest

One of the astir unsocial things to bash successful Port Douglas is meal astatine the Flames of the Forest – Australia’s lone rainforest eating experience.

You tin take from 2 unsocial eating experiences amongst the rainforest – the Aboriginal Cultural Experience or the Rainforest Dining Experience whilst enjoying an award-winning paper and inspirational entertainment.

We haven’t personally dined present yet, but we person visited the spot for a pre-dinner portion and the mounting and ambiance is astonishing and tin lone ideate what the afloat acquisition would beryllium like.

Video: Watch our acquisition eating astatine restaurants successful Port Douglas

Where to Stay successful Port Douglas for Families

Now you cognize what to bash and wherever to eat, present are immoderate places we stayed and enjoyed.

Coconut Grove Apartments

Our archetypal 2 nights we stayed astatine the stylish and modern Coconut Grove Port Douglas which is perfectly located successful the bosom of municipality connected Macrossan Street and an casual 140-metre locomotion to Four Mile Beach.

We emotion staying successful apartments arsenic a household arsenic they connection much abstraction and a homely feel, and are a pleasance to instrumentality to aft a large time exploring.

family sitting connected sofas successful flat astatine coconut grove

And astatine Coconut Grove you could beryllium excused for ne'er wanting to permission – consisting of 33 glamorous vacation apartments that travel implicit with their ain outdoor entertaining terrace, immense surviving area, and an onsite pool, you person everything you request to beryllium afloat self-contained.

But the precise champion of Port is simply a stroll distant and if you’re looking to beryllium centrally located successful luxury, these apartments would beryllium hard to bushed – particularly if you opt for a rooftop oregon level 1 flat that incorporates its precise ain swimming pool, spa and outdoor entertaining facilities.

Oaks Port Douglas Resort – astonishing household resort

On our past night, we stayed astatine the uber funky Oaks Port Douglas Resort, formerly QT Port Douglas successful a 2-bedroom villa with a excavation view.

We emotion the QT properties, having stayed astatine the 1 connected the Gold Coast respective times and they’re conscionable truthful vibrant, hep and a amusive spot to stay.

At their Port Douglas property, you person an open-spaced mounting with a modern yet quirky tropical feel.

The excavation and aquatics up barroom is simply a deed – we couldn’t get the kids retired of the excavation – which was good arsenic we had cocktails to support america company, and we tag teamed for immoderate other indulgence and kid escaped clip astatine the QT spa.

girls lying connected furniture astatine qt resort

Our country came with room facilities, lounge country with balcony and regular service, and again was cleanable for america arsenic a family.

And if you’ve ne'er dined astatine their onsite Bazaar Restaurant, it’s a buffet with a quality oregon what they cal an ‘interactive marketplace’ – their dessert barroom unsocial volition enactment a grin connected your face!

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Visiting Port Douglas? It's 1 of Australia's champion coastal towns. Get tips connected what to do, wherever to eat, and wherever to stay!

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