Port Douglas
Port Douglas is a small beach town on Far North Queensland's coast, about an hour north of Cairns, and a base for reef boat trips and Daintree rainforest days.
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Port Douglas is a small beach town on Queensland's Far North coast, about an hour north of Cairns. Reef boats run from here, and the Daintree rainforest lies a drive north, so the town works well as a base for both.
Plan one big outing per day. A reef trip, a walk at Mossman Gorge and a drive into the Daintree each take most of a day, so pick one for each day rather than stacking two. Four Mile Beach, the town's main beach, suits slower days between trips. The dry season, roughly May to October, brings lighter rain and calmer weather, which suits both the reef and the rainforest. Stinger season runs roughly October to May, so check swimming advice before you enter the water. Plan at least three nights, or four if you want a reef day and a rainforest day.
Port Douglas in five
- Pick Low Isles or the outer reefTourism Queensland gives 15 to 30 minutes by boat to the Low Isles, 15 km north-east of town, and 60 to 90 minutes to the outer reef. Short on time, choose the Low Isles; for a longer day with more sites, go outer.Great Barrier Reef
- Swim Four Mile Beach where it is patrolledUse the patrolled, netted part of the beach and ask the lifesavers on the day. The Queensland guide has the state's stinger season and crocodile advice.Queensland swim safety
- Take the Mossman Gorge shuttleThe Cultural Centre is 20 km north of town, about 22 minutes by car. There is no footpath from its car park to the gorge, so use the shuttle: $15.50 adult from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.Mossman Gorge getting here
- Treat the Daintree as its own dayThe car ferry and the road north fill a day. Ferry hours, fares and river conditions are in the Daintree guide; check the status page the morning you plan to cross.The Daintree
- Pick Port Douglas or Cairns as your basePort Douglas is a walkable town with a long beach and the reef and the Daintree close by. Cairns has the airport, the most tours and the widest choice of hotels.Cairns
Things to do in Port Douglas
See all attractions in Port Douglas
Need to know
- Airport
- Cairns (CNS), about an hour's drive south
- Getting there
- Captain Cook Highway north from Cairns
- Getting around
- Walk the town; hire car or tours for the gorge and Daintree
- Best base
- The town center, with Four Mile Beach a short walk
- Time needed
- 3 to 4 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain26 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Wet, stingersJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 648 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, stingers
- FebruaryRain23 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Wet, cyclone riskFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 434 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, cyclone risk
- MarchRain25 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Wet, humidMarchRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 476 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, humid
- AprilRain22 rainy daysHigh27°Low23°Wet endsAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 261 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet ends
- MayRain18 rainy daysHigh25°Low21°Dry, clearMayRain
Good
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 147 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, clear
- JuneRain14 rainy daysHigh24°Low20°Dry, coolerJuneRain
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 94 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, cooler
- JulyRain13 rainy daysHigh23°Low19°Dry, busyJulyRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 108 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, busy
- AugustPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh24°Low19°Dry, clearAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 71 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, clear
- SeptemberRain13 rainy daysHigh25°Low21°Dry, warmSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 81 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, warm
- OctoberRain13 rainy daysHigh27°Low22°Hot, dryOctoberRain
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 85 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- NovemberRain16 rainy daysHigh28°Low23°Stinger seasonNovemberRain
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 112 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Stinger season
- DecemberRain21 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Wet beginsDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 493 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet begins
Average daily high and low in Port Douglas, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Port Douglas
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
25
- Feels like
- 28°
- Humidity
- 82%
- Wind
- 6 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 8%
Port Douglas
06:37 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today29°24°8%Tuesday: Fog. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Wed29°23°0%Wednesday: Fog. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu29°23°2%Thursday: Cloudy. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Fri30°24°10%Friday: Clear. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Sat29°24°22%Saturday: Fog. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 22%.
- Sun30°24°11%Sunday: Clear. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 11%.
Updated 06:23 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 1.423 AUD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Mossman Gorgeabout 22 minutes by carRainforest river walks, with Kuku Yalanji guided Dreamtime Walks; the Daintree guide covers the park.Read the guide
- Low Isles15 to 30 minutes by boatA coral cay with calm water and fringing reef, the shortest reef trip from town.
- The Daintree and Cape Tribulationdrive north and take the car ferryRainforest meets reef on the road north of the river.Read the guide
Before you go to Port Douglas
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Rules for Port Douglas, checked
- Mossman Gorge shuttle bus (1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027): adult $15.50, child 5 to 15 $7.75, family $38.75; no footpath from the car park to the gorge.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Port Douglas
Rainforest, the car ferry and Cape Tribulation
Read the guideCairnsAirport, tours and the Esplanade
Read the guideCairns and Far North QueenslandTablelands and Cassowary Coast loop
Read the guideGreat Barrier ReefOuter reef, inner reef and stinger season
Read the guideQueenslandHow to split days between coast, islands and north
Read the guideAll of AustraliaETA, regions, flights and money basics
Read the guideTravel insuranceCover for cancellations and remote travel
Read the guidePort Douglas FAQ
How many days do you need in Port Douglas?
Three days cover a reef boat, Mossman Gorge and a Daintree day. A fourth gives you a slow beach day. Staying two nights works if you pick only one of the three.
Is Port Douglas a good base for the Daintree?
Yes. Mossman Gorge is a short drive from town, and the Daintree car ferry and Cape Tribulation are a day trip north. Allow a full day for the ferry side; the Daintree guide has the details.
Can you swim at Four Mile Beach?
Swim only at patrolled spots between the flags or inside a net, and ask the lifesavers about the day. The Queensland guide has the stinger and crocodile rules, and the state says to obey closures.
How do you get to Mossman Gorge from Port Douglas?
It is a 20 km drive, about 22 minutes. The Cultural Centre runs a shuttle to the gorge because there is no footpath from the car park. Tickets cost $15.50 for adults from April 2026 to March 2027.
What is the best time to visit Port Douglas?
May to September is the dry season: clear skies, cooler days and the lowest stinger risk. The wet season from about December to March brings heavy rain and cyclone risk, and boats can be cancelled.