{"id":3893,"date":"2024-05-02T16:58:41","date_gmt":"2024-05-02T06:58:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thingstodoexploringaustralia.com.au\/?p=3893"},"modified":"2024-05-19T11:44:17","modified_gmt":"2024-05-19T01:44:17","slug":"port-douglas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thingstodoexploringaustralia.com.au\/?p=3893","title":{"rendered":"Port Douglas"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Location<\/span><\/span>
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PORT DOUGLAS<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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What it is?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Port Douglas is one of those towns where you could go really expensive, or a limited budget, and it would still be amazing.\u00a0<\/p>

There is: hiking; beaches; lookouts; day trip drives; close to Mossman Gorge (another day trip); restaurants and cafes; markets; brewery; cruises; and native wildlife such as the Cassowary.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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What it offers?<\/h2><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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This would have to be one of the most beautiful drives in the country. You have tropical rainforest on one side of the road and the ocean and Great Barrier Reef on the other side. Don\u2019t forget to stop at Rex Lookout on the way up.<\/p>

Markets are in Anzac Park every Sunday from 8am-1:30pm.<\/p>

Restaurants, cafes and 5star accommodation.\u00a0<\/p>

River cruises including crocodile sightings and sunsets.
A 20 minute drive to the beautiful Mossman Gorge<\/a>.<\/p>

Wildlife Habitat<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\"Things
Port Douglas<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/div>
\"Things
Port Douglas<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/div>
\"Things
Port Douglas<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/div>
\"Things
Port Douglas<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/div>
\"Port
Douglas River Cruise<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/div>
\"Port
Douglas River Cruise<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/div>
\"Port
Douglas River Cruise<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/div>
\"Port
Douglas River Cruise<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/div>
\"Port
Douglas River Cruise<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/div>
\"Port
Port Douglas Lighthouse<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/div>
\"Port
Port Douglas<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/div>
\"Port
Four Mile Beach Port Douglas<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/div>
\"Wildlife
Max the Black Cockatoo at the Wildlife Habitat<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/div>
\"Wildlife
Tawny Frogmouth <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/div>
\"Wildlife
Black Cockatoo <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/div>
\"Wildlife
Galah <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/div>
\"Wildlife
Map of the Wildlife Habitat<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/div>
\"Wildlife
Parrot<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/div>
\"Wildlife
Wildlife Habitat<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/div>
\"Wildlife
Wildlife Habitat<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/div>
\"Wildlife
Friendly animals at the Wildlife Habitat<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/div>
\"Wildlife
Pelican at the Wildlife Habitat<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Wheelchair Access? <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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May require assistance.<\/p>

Please contact each location individually to ask about facilities.\u00a0<\/p>

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What we did?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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The first time we drove up we stopped at Rex’s Lookout, which is about the half way point. The outlook to the beach and ocean is magical. After walking around the markets we walked up and down the main street. Lunch was from one of the market stalls and eaten overlooking the water from Rex Smeal Park. After finding the Island Point Lighthouse, we drove around to the Four Mile Beach Cliff Walk.<\/p>

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The second time we drove up we stopped at the rock stacking beach.\u00a0This beach is just south of Rex’s Lookout and can be found <\/span>HERE<\/a>. It is a really nice spot to sit for a bit and contemplate whatever it is you need to contemplate. <\/span><\/p>

From here we drove up to Mossman Gorge where we spent the rest of the day. It is beautiful here and you can easily spend hours relaxing, exploring, wondering, swimming (please pay attention warnings regarding the condition of the water here, several people have died in the water here). You can only drive as far as the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre. From here you need to purchase a ticket to get the shuttle bus up to the top. At the time of writing the tickets for the shuttle were $14.50pp. You can find ticket pricing on the Mossman Gorge<\/a> website. We wondered around for a couple of hours and even spotted a wild Cassowary scratching around on the ground eating fallen fruit. It was a really lovely spot to visit.<\/span><\/p>

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The third time we drove up we went to the Wildlife Habitat before grabbing lunch and wondering around the town. One of my girlfriends has a phobia os birds and i kept thinking how much she would hate this place. If you don’t like birds or have a phobia, the Wildlife Habitat is not for you. There is netting over the entire place, so birds can fly freely within the confines of the Eco Certified Park. There are unique opportunities in this park, such as Swimming with the Salties<\/a>, definitely not for me. All in all it is a nice park to spend a few hours.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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We were booked on the afternoon Lady Douglas Cruise<\/a> that took us up and down the river. The cruise was approximately 1.5hours and included snacks and a beverage. We saw a few small wild crocodiles along the banks of the river.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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Before leaving Port Douglas we stopped at the Mowbray Bridge. There is a really good size carpark there for you to pull over safely. Walk down to the bridge and look in both directions, hopefully you will spot a crocodile or three. We were there for about 20 minutes and we saw two wild crocodiles.\u00a0<\/p>

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As has been mentioned before, I have somehow (I’m really special with technology) lost a heap of my photos. Mossman Gorge seems to be part of that list of photos i have lost. I will add a link for the area so you can check out their website, rather than view my experience.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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I think that out of all of the above, Mossman Gorge would have to be my favourite. A true natural beauty.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Would I do it again?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Port Douglas is a lovely relaxing location and the drive up is extremely beautiful. Yes, we would definitely go to Port Douglas again.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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What do you need?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGet your Kids activities here<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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As a couple: Pre-downloaded maps on your phone (reception is patchy between Cairns and port Douglas); water bottles; stainless steel coffee cup; healthy snacks; wide brim hat: sunscreen; bug spray; good sturdy shoes; jacket; picnic and picnic blanket.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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With Kids: water; snacks; wide brim hat; sunscreen; bug spray; good sturdy shoes.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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With Pets: Domestic pets are not permitted in National Parks and Mossman Gorge is part of the Daintree National Park.\u00a0<\/p>

Dogs are not permitted into the Wildlife Habitat.\u00a0<\/p>

Please contact individual locations to ask about access to pets. Be a responsible pet owner and keep your dog in a lead at all times and clean up after them.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Yearly Events<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Port Douglas Sunday Markets. Every Sunday from 8am-1:30pm.<\/p>

Port Douglas Carnivale. An annual festival held in May. The festival just celebrated 30 years.\u00a0<\/p>

Port Douglas Yacht Club Regatta. This is an annual five day event in May.\u00a0<\/p>

Port Douglas Food and Wine Festival. An annual event held in August.\u00a0<\/p>

Port Douglas Reef Week. is listed as a yearly event, but there is no indication as to what it is and when it is.\u00a0<\/p>

The Port Douglas Gran Fondo Festival is a three day festival in September. The rides range from 48kms to 136kms.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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How to get there?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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