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Port Douglas
Located one hours’ drive north of Cairns, Port Douglas is home to
some of Tropical North Queensland’s most exclusive resorts, award
winning restaurants, great galleries and world class shopping. A
charming combination of sophisticated town and friendly village,
Port Douglas is a popular departure point for day trips to the Great
Barrier Reef, nearby World Heritage listed Daintree and Cape
Tribulation National Parks and spectacular Mossman Gorge.
The route to Port Douglas is breathtaking in scenery, take your time
– take a picnic lunch. This drive is everything you’ve been promised
and more. Highlights include the Rex Lookout, Hartley’s Crocodile
Adventures, Oak Beach, and Mowbray Valley with its
welcoming B&Bs and artist’s gallery.
Port Douglas sits on an isthmus beside the sparkling waters of
Dickinson Inlet and the rolling waves of the Coral Sea. Overlooking
‘Port’, as everyone calls it, is Flagstaff Hill, which is the
best place to capture the striking views of the town and its superb
Four Mile Beach.
Before being put on the map by infamous real estate developer
Christopher Skase in the late 80’s, Port Douglas was a quiet seaside
town frequented by fisherman and locals from Cairns. Today, it’s an
international mecca attracting heads of state, film stars and a host
of holidaymakers from around Australia and the globe.
One of the reasons is the proximity and access to the Great Barrier
Reef. From the Marina Mirage, a variety of reef trips leave
daily. Reef operators travel daily to the Low Isles,
Agincourt Reef and other renown sites like the Cod Hole
near Lizard Island.
The World Heritage rainforests are within close proximity to
Port Douglas. The lush green coastal strip of the Daintree/Cape
Tribulation region to the north is home to some of the oldest
forests in the world.
Like its spectacular surroundings, Port Douglas has something for
everyone. Stroll among the village shops, galleries and historic
buildings or browse in the seaside Sunday markets. Bring your clubs
and play a round at the Mirage Country Club or at The
Links. Share breakfast with the Birds at the Rainforest
Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary and learn about the indigenous fauna
or take a turn around the inlet in a paddle steamer. Admire the
classic Queenslander architecture of the town’s pubs as you enjoy a
quiet ale, and the easy glamour of the resorts with their friendly
local staff.
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