Itinerary
By Jess Pridmore
The collision of reef and rainforest makes Port Douglas and the Tropical North quite the alluring destination for group holidays. Whether you’re a motley crew of outdoor-loving adventurists, laid-back beachcombers, or somewhere firmly in-between, Port Douglas is a dazzling location for group holidays of any flavour.
A week in paradise with your favourite people? It’s hardly a difficult sell. Here’s the only five-day itinerary you need for a group holiday in Port Douglas.
Arriving in Port Douglas, it won’t take long for your party to settle in. There are plenty of group accommodation options in town that suit every budget – all providing the perfect base for a five-day stay. Mere metres from Port Douglas’ famous Four-Mile Beach, choose between the spacious apartments at Reflections, or the ultra-luxurious penthouse Coconut Grove Apartments, each equipped with one, two and three-bedroom accommodation options. For adult-only accommodation, the Peninsula Boutique Hotel suites will tick all the boxes.
Balmy breezes and palm tree-lined streets welcome you to paradise; unpack the beach towel and head right back out. The lure of Four-Mile Beach is hard to resist with its miles of golden sandy beach yours for the lounging. Want to check out your surrounds? Head 15-minutes north to the gorgeous Cooya Beach (Kuyu Kuyu) to learn about the traditional fishing grounds of the Kuku Yalanji people.
The team at Kuku Yalanji Cultural Habitat Tours and Walkabout Cultural Adventures offer exclusive access to the area with walking tours of the beach, mangroves and coastal reefs.
Ease into group holiday mode with a spot of retail therapy. Port Douglas has a thriving shopping scene, with the town’s Macrossan St the heart of the action. Pick up everything from local homewares and clothing, local produce to one-of-a-kind art by Indigenous artists.
If your group aren’t the ‘shop til you drop’ kind, then plan an afternoon at Wildlife Habitat. One of Port Douglas’s most unique experiences, get up close to some of Australia’s most iconic critters, even some found nowhere else but in this part of the world. Advanced eco-accredited, Wildlife Habitat’s immersion exhibit allows visitors to walk freely through five unique habitats, where you can hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies, spot cassowaries, and cuddle a koala.
Ring in a blissful first day with a magical dinner unlike anything else. As Australia’s only rainforest dining experience, Flames of the Forest takes the concept of dinner and a show next-level, serving guests some of the finest local produce and bush tucker under the canopy of the rainforest, paired with tales of the Dreamtime.
Fancy a nightcap? Elegant cocktail bar, Barbados Port Douglas, sits along the timer boardwalk over the Dickson Inlet, stealing picture perfect views out over the Coral Sea and the Mossman Ranges.
A day in the Daintree is just what the doctor ordered – and happens to be the perfect group holiday activity. There are some incredible tours in the region should you want to kick back and let the pros do the work. One of the best ways to experience this ancient rainforest is to connect with the rich Indigenous culture of the region. Local Indigenous tours provide unparalleled insight into the world’s oldest living culture, teaching about the deep connection to the land through ancient practices and stories passed down since the Dreamtime.
Want to explore this World heritage-listed beauty on your own time? Make tracks north along the Mossman Daintree Rd, and take the short ride on the cable ferry: the gateway to the Wet Tropics. Stop at Mount Alexandra Lookout and Cow Bay just north of the river crossing and stop in at the Daintree Ice Cream Company or Daintree Tea Company for some tasty refreshments. Continue on and you’ll pass Thornton Beach and Noah Valley before arriving at the incomparable Cape Tribulation.
There are few places on Earth where Mother Nature flexes her muscles quite so freely…
Forging part of the Great Tropical Drive, you couldn’t ask for a more picturesque road trip; choose from 26 different routes and destinations, winding through the Great Barrier Reef region, Hinchinbrook Island, the Undara Lava Tubes, and the Daintree. If you’ve got time to spare, fill the tank and hit the road.
Tropical North Queensland boasts a number of dining experiences that leave a lasting memory: Silky Oaks Lodge is one of them. Just 25-minutes for Port Douglas (and an easy detour on your way back from the Daintree), tucked away on the edges of Mount Lewis National Park and overlooking the vastly beautiful Mossman Gorge, this luxury lodge dishes up exquisite locally-sourced ingredients and atmosphere to boot.
Today, cruise on down to Cairns for some quality beach time. Less than an hour’s drive along some choice scenic coastline, driving the coastal roads is half the fun up here. Drop a towel at any of the countless beaches in the area; locals and visitors alike are totally spoilt. Try local favourites Bingil Bay or Ellis Beach for quiet (often empty) beach time, or the famous Palm Cove or Trinity Beach for proximity to town.
Palm Cove Beach
Enjoy a late lunch along the promenade at Palm Cove, where there are dozens of beachside restaurants sure to satisfy. Our picks? Vivo’s menu of carefully curated dishes and set in a gorgeous old Queenslander is hard to beat (especially with a large group), while Lucky Fish dishes up the freshest fish, chips and salads, which can be ordered take away to enjoy on the sand. Walk it all off with a stroll along the pretty Palm Cove Jetty.
If you can carve out the time (and why wouldn’t you? You’re on holiday time) book in a late afternoon spa treatment at Kewarra Spa , Alamanda Day Spa or Pullman Vie Spa. Bonus points, each is within walking distance to tonight’s dinner booking.
Treat you and your holiday crew to a dinner at hatted restaurant, Nu Nu. MasterChef alumni Nick Holloway has created award-winning magic here; the four or seven-course tasting menu a must for anyone passing through. Stealing views out across Palm Cove and Double Island, this is something very special indeed.
No trip to far north Queensland is complete without a visit to the Great Barrier Reef. The closest marine port to the Great Barrier Reef, Port Douglas is literally the best place to be if you want to incorporate a little reef action into a group holiday. Jump aboard eco-accredited Wavelength Reef Cruises for a day exploring and learning about the remote outer reef. Spend the morning with crew’s local marine biologists, then put your new knowledge into practice while snorkelling three different reefs. And yes, turtle sightings are a given.
Always wanted to get your PADI dive licence? Where better than on the largest living reef on Earth? Local Port Douglas operator ABC Dive and Snorkel specialises in small class sizes and day trips with a maximum of 12 passengers. You know what they say, the group that learns to dive together…
One for the sailing enthusiasts, spend a half day drifting the Great Barrier Reef on a luxury catamaran. Sailaway Port Douglas takes guests to the idyllic Low Isles, a petite coral cay surrounded by 55 acres of pristine fringing reefs – perfect for a spot of group snorkelling and island-hopping.
For a remote outpost in northern Queensland, Port Douglas has a thriving night life, with plenty on for the late night revellers. Keep it casual tonight with a cheeky nightcap and delectable South Asian share plates at Pepper’s poolside bar, KOKO’s.
So, you’ve done the reef; now it’s time to spend your final day breathing in the fresh mountainous air of the Atherton Tablelands. A win for both foodies and adventurers, scale incredible hikes, waterfalls and trails, while refueling on some of the region’s renowned local fare.
Barefoot Tours
Fed by the rainwaters that roll off Queensland’s highest peak, Mt Bartle Frere, walk the gentle 1.2km walking track to the viewing platform at Josephine Falls for simply breathtaking views. Equally impressive is the mighty Barron Falls in its namesake National Park just outside the quaint rainforest village of Kuranda. Viewing at any time of year is great, but for a real spectacle, visit this monster of a falls in the wet season.
If you seek more gentle falls, perhsps to cool off in, pack your togs for a visit to Millaa Milla Falls. One of Australia’s most photographed waterfalls, thanks to its verdant surrounds and idyllic single fall, this natural beauty also boasts a crystal clear rockpool, perfect for a cheeky dip. Think of it as nature’s spa – only free.
From boutique distilleries, coffee producers, dairy farms, local village cafes and quintessential Queensland pubs, you could easily spend a day (or two) on a grand food tour. Keep the whole gang happy by joining Brett’s Outback Tasting Adventure, where you’ll spend an afternoon eating your way through the tablelands, before being returned full and happy to your digs in Port Douglas.
Celebrate a successful group holiday to Port Douglas with a local brew and a gastropub feed at Hemingway’s Brewery overlooking the marina.