Things to Do in Port Douglas
While Port Douglas can be a wonderfully relaxing holiday destination it can also be a great source of adventure activities either by land, sea or air. Hot air balloon rides, windsurfing lessons, 4 wheel driving safaris and scuba diving are just some of the things to do in Port Douglas. All this with one of the most beautiful places on Earth as your backdrop!
Jungle Surfing is an activity not for the faint hearted, as you fly through the rainforest canopies on flying fox ziplines, giving you an amazing rush and one hell of an experience.
Port Douglas really does have it all and even has activities for those who aren’t as adventurous, fancy lying around on a tropical beach? Take a look at the options below and start making a "To Do" list for your next holiday.
Choose from the below categories to see what there is to do in Port Douglas. Find out about available tours, cruises, activities and experiences - book online for great savings!
Activities & Tours
View a list of available activities and tours in and around Port Douglas that you can book online, instantly and securely. Choose from snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef, cruises and sailing adventures, hot air ballooning, scenic flights, meeting the local wildlife, the list goes on!
Adventure Activities
Jungle surfing, white water rafting, bungy jumping and more - not for the faint hearted! Port Douglas may be a great place to relax but it is the perfect location for some seriously fun adventure activities covering land, sea and air. Port Douglas really does have it all (even activities for those who aren’t as adventurous).
Art Galleries in Port Douglas
The region around Port Douglas is the perfect muse for any artist. Here you will find locals using a myriad of art mediums including photography, oil, collage, watercolour and sculpture. There is also a great indigenous art scene with artists from the area specialising in contemporary and traditional art.
Day Tours & Trips
Port Douglas is home to beautiful beaches and a magnificent rainforest so naturally there is an abundance of tour operators eager to show you around! Whether it be from the air, water or land, or perhaps even a combination to give you an enhanced perspective. Explore neighbouring Daintree, Kuranda, or Great Barrier Reef!
Fishing Charters & Tours
Port Douglas is rated as not just one of Australia’s premier sport and game fishing spots but also one of the best in the world. You can choose your charter by deciding on which kind of fishing you’d like to do - reef, game, river and flyfishing. There’s a whole host of sport and table fish below the sea for you to try your luck at.
Beaches in Port Douglas
The first thing that comes to mind for most people when thinking about Port Douglas is long white sandy beaches with a calm blue ocean lapping on the shore. The vision of paradise is what you can expect to see when you arrive in this coastal village, with the beach only a 5 minute walk away from the main Port Douglas district.
Golf Courses
Port Douglas is a great destination for the golfing enthusiast. The Mirage Country Club is an 18 hole international standard championship golf course and is rated as one of the world’s best. It’s also completely beautiful as it borders the Coral Sea and has a panoramic mountain backdrop.
Cruises & Sailing at Great Barrier Reef
One of the best ways to discover the Great Barrier Reef and Port Douglas is by taking a cruise around Australia’s most beautiful and scenic reef. There is a variety of cruise types and vessels to choose from – you can sail away on board a yacht or motor away on a large cruiser.
Scuba Diving & Snorkelling
The warm, sparkling azure waters of the Coral Sea are ideal for diving with great visibility so you can explore the underwater technicolour world. Discover amazing marine life and live coral in a kaleidoscope of colours. Port Douglas is a haven for beautiful dive sites with many businesses available for tours, not to mention its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef.
Scenic Flights & Helicopter Tours
Seeing new places from the air is always an interesting experience. If you're on holiday in Port Douglas or simply visiting for a while, the absolute best way to get an overall picture of this beautiful location is from high up in the sky. Most flying adventures focus on the natural features of the area and you can choose between hot air balloon rides or helicopter tours over the Barrier Reef.
Tourist Attractions
You’ll never have a dull moment in Port Douglas with the range of tourist attractions on offer. Take a stroll through the beautiful Marina Mirage and pick out your next yacht or hop on board the Bally Hooley, a historic steam train, that will pick you up from Marina Mirage station every Sunday. There’s a whole host of attractions for any budget or age group.
Port Douglas Carnivale
This annual celebration of life in the tropics opens with the Macrossan Street Parade, attracting over 20,000 people. The parade has a different theme each year, last parade’s was Heavenly Bodies - to encompass the moon, stars, signs of the Zodiac and the Eclipse that will occur later this year.
Restaurants & Dining
Port Douglas is known for having the freshest seafood and some of the most superb local produce. While you enjoy your stay in Tropical Far North Queensland make sure you try all the delights that come straight from the ocean onto your plate. A lot of the restaurants in Port Douglas offer diners a great view to go with a great meal.
Shopping & Markets in Port Douglas
There are quite a few shopping districts to visit in Port Douglas for your retail needs. There are shopping centres with retail chains and boutique shopping strips which will help you find the perfect outfit for a night out on the town or a day at the beach. There’s also a host of souvenir shops and art galleries so you can take home the perfect gift to match your perfect holiday.
Port Douglas Holiday Destinations
Visit The Great Barrier Reef
An absolute 'must see' when visiting Port Douglas and Northern Queensland, visitors can take in a cruise, go snorkelling, scuba diving, coral exploring or take in the views of the Reef from above on a scenic flight - there are plenty of ways to enjoy the Great Barrier Reef!
Visit Daintree National Park
Visit the oldest living rainforest on Earth and experience Indigenous cultures, unique Australian wildlife, diverse flaura and fauna, adventure tours, 4WD safaris or why not stay at the Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa for some pampering and tranquility. The Daintree is something not to missed during your Tropical North Queensland holiday.
Visit Mossman Gorge
Only a 20km scenic drive away from Port Douglas, Mossman Gorge is a very popular tourist attraction featuring over 56,00 hectares of steep mountain ranges with walking treks and swimming holes. Take a scenic helicopter flight over the region to see the stunning views.
Visit Kuranda
Enjoy the luscious rainforest views of the Kuranda Range with a ride on the Kuranda Scenic Railway, Cableway or stop in to Kuranda Village for the local arts and craft markets, or view the beautifully restored historical buildings.