Every Traveller's Guide to Port Douglas

A lure for sea-changers, holidaymakers and backpackers alike, this picturesque town in Tropical North Queensland holds timeless appeal that landed Port Douglas second on your list of Top 50 Aussie towns, writes former local Carla Grossetti.

Find the complete list of the Top 50 Aussie Towns here.

What makes Port Douglas picturesque?

Port Douglas is a vivid place, crayoned in blues and greens and popping with colour from pretty flowers and foliage. It’s where southerners go to be liberated from their heavy coats and boots in winter and to escape their city lives over summer.

Daintree Rainforest road — Embark on an exhilarating adventure to Daintree Rainforest. (Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

It’s where you’ll find colourful livewire characters holding forth at the pubs, sun-kissed backpackers twirling fire sticks on the beach, and wannabe locals trying to manifest a sea change.

palm trees in Port Douglas — Tropical foliage awaits you at Port Douglas.

This is Yirrganydji Sea Country, where the jungle spills down to the sea, and it’s where you can try forest bathing and wild swimming all in the same day.

The former fishing village was put on the map more than a few decades ago as a destination thanks to its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef and Jurassic-like jungle.

Here’s where to eat, drink, stay and play in the picturesque Tropical North Queensland town of Port Douglas.

Where to eat and drink

Life feels peaceful and unhurried in Port Douglas. You don’t need a superyacht to lean into that pace of life; just time your visit to coincide with the annual Taste Port Douglas event, which celebrates the best of the region’s bounty.

The festival is held at the newly reimagined Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort , also home to Harrisons By Spencer Patrick , the most acclaimed restaurant in Port Douglas.

British-born chef Spencer Patrick has been at the helm since 2007 and his restaurant remains a huge draw on either side of the festival. It’s the done thing to order signature dishes such as spaghetti with squid and nduja and painted crayfish in garlic butter.

Jungle Fowl is inspired by Southeast Asian flavours and ingredients. Jungle Fowl is named in honour of a bird that is prevalent around the tropics, and you’ll find it roosting in Wharf Street. It’s one of the best places to eat in Port Douglas.

It’s the town’s latest and greatest hotspot: feast on dishes such as green papaya salad and ma hor, caramelised pork and prawn on pineapple.

Green Curry served at Jungle Fowl restaurant — Satisfy your palate with Green Curry. (Image: Jungle Fowl)

Hi Tide by the Beach is the only licensed restaurant near to Four Mile Beach. The beachside eatery is celebrated for its signature seafood chowder. The Tin Shed , built in 1877, is a top spot to perch for a bucket of prawns and bevvy. Nautilus, Watergate, Osprey’s and Aluco also tap into the tropics for inspiration.

meal at Osprey's Restaurant — A mouthwatering seafood platter at the Osprey’s Restaurant. (Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

Where to stay

It’s easy to rack up a few lazy days in five-star comfort while in TNQ. Book a stay at the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort for its sparkling lagoon pool, and return for its proximity to the 18-hole golf course, and world-class restaurants.

Take a catamaran cruise to the outer reef, then unwind to the sound of waves kissing the shore from your swim-out suite at Pullman Port Douglas Sea Temple Resort and Spa , which is backed by palm trees on Four Mile Beach.

Niramaya Villas & Spa is also suited to the type of traveller who is looking for rest and a reset. Only leave your sun lounger by the infinity-edge pool to indulge in a massage at the day spa or a snooze on your villa’s day bed.

Niramaya Villas & Spa 5-bedroom villa — Soak up scenic views at Niramaya Villas & Spa. (Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

On either side of Port Douglas you’ll find Thala Beach Nature Reserve to the south or the newly revitalised Silky Oaks Lodge to the north, both captivating and immersive places to stay.

Silky Oaks Lodge treehouse — A luxury treehouse for those who want to immerse in the wilderness. (Image: Silky Oaks Lodge)

Where to play

Want to live like a local? You can do just that by following in their footsteps along the Flag Staff Hill Walking Trail that links Four Mile Beach to Rex Smeal Park, or along the sand, which stretches from Flagstaff Hill all the way to the mouth of the mighty Mowbray River.

Catch sweeping views of the Coral Sea and Low Isles at the Flagstaff Hill Lookout. (Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

This emphatically emerald-green corner of the TNQ coast is known as a safe haven for writers and artists and that creativity is on show everywhere from the Sunday markets to the galleries dotted along the main strip.

The resort town is a playground for eco travellers, divers and snorkellers, and an equally popular slice of paradise for cruise ships that lay anchor offshore and the catamarans setting sail for the Great Barrier Reef.

sunset sail with Sail Away — A romantic sunset cruise with Sail Away. (Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

Explore the Daintree on a River Drift Snorkelling adventure with Back Country Bliss and learn about caring for Country with Juan Walker, of Walk About Cultural Adventures . Meanwhile, add a sunset sail with Sailaway and see abundant wildlife at the Wild Life Habitat , where you can swim with saltwater crocs, and meander around Mossman Gorge with a cultural guide.

Explore more of Port Douglas in our travel guide or find out which other towns made it into your Top 50.

City buzz, gourmet trails, surf breaks and art scenes are all at your fingertips.

When it comes to planning a trip, picking a holiday destination is the easy part. The real dilemma is where to set yourself up for the night. Do you go coastal, city, or countryside? Somewhere remote and rugged, or right in the action? Luckily, the Sunshine Coast, and huge number of amazing Sunshine Coast day trips, have kindly made the choice for you.

Ditch the hotel-hopping and suitcase-lugging. Instead, base yourself at Novotel Sunshine Coast or Mantra Mooloolaba , where big-city culture, vine-covered valleys, and theme parks are all within a two-hour drive.

1. Sunshine Coast to Brisbane

Drive time: 1 hour 20 minutes (105km)

Shake off the sand from your sandals and swap the beach for the throb of the Queensland capital. Ease in gently with a bougainvillea-filled stroll through South Bank, iced latte in hand, before cooling off at Streets Beach lagoon – Brisbane’s answer to the coast (but without the waves).

Once firmly in big-city mode, hit up the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) , home to Australia’s largest collection of modern and contemporary artworks. Dive into the past at the Queensland Museum, where prehistoric fossils of Australian dinosaurs and megafauna collide with First Nations cultural collections and interactive science exhibits.

All this learning got you hungry? Howard Smith Wharves calls. Here, riverside dining delivers breweries with meat-forward menus, Japanese fine dining and overwater bars. If you’ve got room for more, Fortitude Valley’s shopping boutiques await you and your wallet.

woman walking around Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) — Wander the Gallery of Modern Art. (Image: TEQ)

2. Sunshine Coast to the Scenic Rim

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (170km)

Make your way inland to the Scenic Rim for the state’s best vineyards and age-old volcanic slopes. Start your day early (like, sparrow’s breakfast early) at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park . Here, take a treetop walk through the canopy and hand-feed the wild birds who flock here.

Next, it’s your turn to eat. Here, the food scene operates where locally sourced produce is an expectation, not an exception. Order a picnic basket crammed with regional wine and cheese to devour next to the creek at Canungra Valley Vineyards . Or perhaps a grazing platter of vegan and non-vegan cheeses at Witches Falls Winery .

Feeling bold? Tackle the Twin Falls circuit in Springbrook National Park. Or keep the gourmet life going with a Scenic Rim Brewery tasting paddle, best enjoyed while taking in the rise of the Great Dividing Range.

woman with cheese and wine at Witches Falls Winery — Enjoy a cheese platter at Witches Falls Winery. (Image: TEQ)

3. Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast

Drive time: 2 hours (180km)

Surf, sand and sparkling skylines might be the Gold Coast’s MO, but there’s more to Surfers Paradise and beyond. Kick things off with a beachfront coffee at Burleigh Heads, then hike through Burleigh Head National Park to look over the ocean and whale sightings (dependent on the season, of course).

Cool off in the calm waters of Tallebudgera Creek before chowing down on the famously buttery Moreton Bay bug rolls at Rick Shores . Travelling with the kids? Then you can’t miss Australia’s theme park capital, with Dreamworld ’s big rides and Warner Bros. Movie World ’s Hollywood treatment at hand to keep the family entertained.

aerial view of Tallebudgera Creek — Dive into Tallebudgera Creek. (Image: TEQ)

4. Sunshine Coast to Tweed Heads

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (200km)

Dare to cross enemy lines? Then welcome to New South Wales. Tweed Heads blends the laid-back attitude of the Northern Rivers with high-quality dining, experimental art, and farm-fresh indulgence – a combo worth the drive.

Start strong with a long, lazy brunch at Tweed River House , then swing by Tropical Fruit World for exotic finds like red dragon fruit, handfuls of lychees and black sapote. Next, hit M|Arts Precinct – an art deco hub of micro galleries, artist workshops and one-off boutiques.

Round off the day with sunset drinks at Husk Distillers among the glowing cane fields, and order one with their famous Ink Gin. You’ll thank us later.

exterior of Husk Distillers — Taste the famous Ink Gin at Husk Distillers. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Sunshine Coast Hinterland

Drive time: 1 hour (70km)

Strap on those hiking boots and make tracks inland, where volcanic peaks, misty rainforest and hinterland townships beckon. Ease in with the Glass House Mountains Lookout Walk, or, if you have energy to burn, tackle the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk for a 360-degree sight of the surrounding summits.

Next: Montville. This township delivers European-style architecture and old-world appeal. Nearby, settle in at Flame Hill Vineyard, where a large pour of estate-grown wine comes with encompassing views of the countryside.

Not ready to leave the hinterland villages just yet? Of course not. Meander past art galleries and indie shops at Maleny. Nab some fudge from Sweets on Maple for a sweet fix. Or go salty at Maleny Dairies with a farm tour and a chunky wedge of their deliciously creamy cheese.

End the day among the eucalypts and rainforests of Kondalilla National Park. Here, the Kondalilla Falls Circuit winds down through trees humming with life to a rock pool beneath a waterfall – as if designed for soaking tired feet before heading back to the coast.

view of Mount Ngungun on the scenic rim queensland — Take on the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk (Image: TEQ)

Start planning your Sunshine home base at all.com.

Top Towns for 2022: A quick escape to idyllic Port Douglas