How to spend 48 hours in Port Douglas
Itinerary
By Sophia McMeekin
Think ‘resort’ and chances are you’ll picture something like the palm-fringed paradise of Port Douglas.
A small town that’s big on charm, Port Douglas is heaving with spas, boutiques, coastal cool bars and world class restaurants, while still maintaining its sleepy seaside village charm. It helps, of course, that the Great Barrier Reef is a quick zip or sail away from the marina and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest cradles the town.
If you’re headed to ‘Port’, as the locals call it, chances are you’ll be spending your fair share of time lounging by the water. Up here, relaxation is treated as a serious sport. But with reefs to explore, rainforest to hike and miles of beach to roam, you may need to schedule in your cabana time.
If you should want to fill your days with more than the pool bar menu, try this 48-hour Port Douglas itinerary on for size.
Day 1
Fly into Cairns, hire a car and drive one hour north on the winding and impossibly scenic Great Barrier Reef Drive.
While on route, don’t forget a stop at Rex Lookout for sweeping views back towards Cairns where green mountains tumble into the Coral Sea. Depending on the weather, you might catch paragliders cruising off the headland riding the thermals like albatross.
2PM: Check-in at Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas Resort
Hidden behind the dunes of Four Mile Beach you’ll find the Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas. Recently refurbished, this stunning resort has two hectares of saltwater lagoons, surrounded by 26 poolside cabanas. On site, you’ll also find award winning restaurant, Harrisons by Spencer Patrick. With a modern British menu using fresh local and Australian produce, this is one of the best restaurants in Port Douglas.
6PM: Cheers to the start of a perfect weekend at Hemingway’s
Photo by @hemingwaysfnq
While a tropical cocktail might seem like the natural order of business, you’d be wrong to pass up craft beers at Hemingway’s (and there’ll be plenty of time for pina coladas later). This Hamptons-esque microbrewery, bar and restaurant at the Crystalbrook Marina is locally owned and operated, and celebrates the best of Tropical North Queensland in each beer.
Utilising the pure waters of Mossman Gorge, the team currently have six signature brews with names like Pitchfork Betty’s pale ale (named after a rather infamous local publican), and The Prospector pilsner (named to honour the man who first found gold in the region). Lucky guests may even be able to sneak a peek at the temperature controlled brewing room.
The best way to sample them all is with a tasting paddle which includes five Hemingway’s brews and one feature beer from a guest brewery. Order some share plates to go with your beers, or something from the grill to share.
If you’re after a beer to go, they offer growlers and, more impressively, crowlers (giant cans) sealed with C02.
Day 2
8AM: Grab breakfast
Photo by grantstreetkitchen
Whether you’re about to set off on a reef expedition or just preparing for a hard day of shopping and lounging, a central breakfast spot is a must.
On the corner of Macrossan and Grant Street you’ll find artisanal bakery-meets-cafe, Grant Street Kitchen, which is owned and operated by Alice Heath and Scott Ledgar, formerly of popular Mornington Peninsula bakery Johnny Ripe.
With an all-day breakfast and lunch menu and a vibrant selection of pastries, this is the ideal spot to duck and grab breakfast on the way to the reef, or sit and explore the cafe menu.
Using the best produce from the region, pies are made with the likes of Atherton Tablelands beef and local prawn and coral trout.
9AM: Shopping on Macrossan Street
Shoppers in Port Douglas will be spoilt for choice. Port is home to more than enough independent and locally owned boutiques, art and interiors stores to while away a morning.
Start with a second coffee at Sparrow Coffee Co. then work your way down the street until you hit Pebble on Wharf Street – a cute cafe and boutique with plenty of driftwood, white muslin, and Cool Earth Beads that are designed to be soaked in water and refrigerated to beat the heat of a Tropical North Queensland summer.
Looking for the perfect gift? Why not take the spirit of Port Douglas home with you. Ngarru Gallery specialises in indigenous fine art and showcases one of the finest collections of high-end indigenous art in Queensland.
If you’ve worked up a thirst, there are plenty of great pubs to choose from on Macrossan Street, or a quick walk will take you up Flagstaff Hill for views over Four Mile Beach and the town itself.
12PM: Settle in for lunch at Barbados
Photo by @camillamount
Sinking into one of the shoes-off, cushioned lounge booths at Barbados is nothing short of heaven, and one of the best things to do in Port Douglas. With spectacular views over the Dickson Inlet, this spot is sure to get you in holiday mode.
If you have the entire afternoon to spend here, order up big on the cocktails and watch the boats come and go from the marina while the sun turns the sky to sherbert. The impressive cocktail menu includes an formidable selection of rums, signature rum cocktails, Tiki cocktails and cocktails to share.
Just dipping a toe in for lunch? Order the ocean board, which comes loaded with fresh seafood, and vow to return for sundowners later.
If you’re inspired by the decor, slip around the corner to their store Martinique Island Style and recreate a touch of Barbados magic in your home.
2PM: Hit the water
Photo by @calypsoreefcruises
The Great Barrier Reef is beckoning, and there are plenty of options for a half-day jaunt from the marina.
Calypso Reef Cruises offer a variety of family cruises, reef tours, and dive trips to the Great Barrier Reef for snorkelling and scuba diving. Their half-day Low Isles tour will get you there in under 30 minutes and allows plenty of time for snorkelling over the incredible coral and underwater life. Guests can disembark and explore the island, see the historical lighthouse and catch a glimpse of the bird life.
If you have a whole day to spare and are seeking something a little different, jump aboard the authentic Chinese Junk ‘Shaolin’ for a sail under the red sails to Low Isles, with snorkelling included. They also offer a Seafood Sail and Sunset Sail.
If crocodile spotting is more your speed, the gorgeous Lady Douglas riverboat will take you through the unspoilt mangrove channels of Dickson Inlet in search of the prehistoric reptiles, with plenty of other wildlife spotting opportunities.
8PM: Cheers to a day well spent
Back on dry land, you might be tempted to explore Port’s nightlife before you head to bed, and you’ll be glad you did.
Self described as a ‘classy dive bar’, Jimmy Rums is Port Douglas’s first small bar, and has all the moody lighting and heavy draping you’d expect from a bonafide hole-in-the-wall watering hole. Nab a couch, find a cocktail with your name on it, and toast to a day well spent.
Day 3
AM: Mossman Gorge Tour
A short 15-minute drive out of town will find you at the striking Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre. From here you can sign up for the award winning Ngadiku Dreamtime Walks which are conducted by the traditional owners of the Gorge, the Kuku Yalanji people.
A shuttle bus will take you into the heart of the gorge, where you’ll hear the stories of this banu bubu (water place), learn about bush tucker and traditional huts and humpies and dive deep into the history of this ancient rainforest.
Your guide will point out the strangler figs that inspired the movie Avatar and you might spy a tiny bearded dragon, which are forbidden to eat for the Kuku Yalanji people. At the end of your tour relax with bush tea and damper (a simple bread cooked over fire).
Dreamtime Gorge Walks run five times daily and are a wonderful precursor for visiting the Gorge waterholes and walking platforms independently.
Self-guided walks are also available from the Centre.
1PM: Lunch at Little Larder
Photo by @piccolo_in_port
Back in town, head for the local favourite, Little Larder, and don’t go past the soft shell crab burger. Wash it down with a fresh turmeric and ginger lemonade, made in-house.
2PM: Check into Peninsula Hotel Port Douglas
Looking to escape the crowds? Make your way to the adults-only Peninsula Boutique Hotel. This boutique Port Douglas hotel is all about the location. Overlooking Four Mile Beach and the Coral Sea (and just a 40 metre stroll to the sand), it’s the only hotel that offers beach and ocean views.
A tropical oasis, the hotel features tiered heated pools and a jacuzzi. Escape with someone special on your private balcony overlooking the sea or, if you fancy a lounge on the beach, the staff will install a sunlounger on the sand for you.
Looking for more Port Douglas accommodation? This guide to staying in Port Douglas has you covered.
3PM: Let it all go with a spa afternoon
What better way to wind down a weekend of pure bliss than a spa afternoon? If you’re looking for a day spa in town, indulge in a hot stone massage at luxury day spa, Niramaya.
Or, if you have time to venture out of town, head 20 minutes north of Port Douglas into the magical Daintree rainforest to the lush oasis of Silky Oaks Lodge and experience the pinnacle of natural luxury at the Healing Waters Spa.
The spa takes its name and philosophy from ancient beliefs that celebrate the water in the Mossman river as a renewing force. The treatments on offer draw inspiration from natural ingredients and use the healing properties of pure plant botanicals to nurture your body and soul.
Enjoy a mud wrap, massage and vichy shower, or relax as you sink into an outdoor mineral-rich bath and lose yourself in the sounds of the rainforest.
7pm: Dinner at Nautilus
Photo by Nautilus Restaurant
Cap off your perfect Port Douglas weekend with a special meal at Nautilus.
A tranquil oasis in the heart of town, this iconic Port Douglas dining experience emerges guests in the spirit of Tropical North Queensland. Offering elegant open-air dining, you’ll feel totally at one with this tropical setting as you dine below a lush palm canopy.
The menu is inspired by the tropical flavours of the region. Can’t choose? The degustation is a firm favourite.
Looking for more things to do on a weekend in Port Douglas? Start with our guide to experiencing Port Douglas.
Get to know the Cairns and Great Barrier Reef region
