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So is it? Is Port Douglas worth visiting for you? Port Douglas is a very long way from the US, UK, or mainland Europe. It’s a pretty long way from Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, or Perth, even Brisbane is a 24-hour drive away. Flights are expensive and Port Douglas is an expensive destination once you arrive. So why should you visit?
We are in Port Douglas today, 2025, this post will always be kept up to date.
Port Douglas is Worth Visiting for The Great Barrier Reef
Have you visited the Great Barrier Reef in your lifetime? That’s a bucket list experience for most travellers and it really is something special.
If you’ve visited the reef before, maybe elsewhere, then maybe it’s not worth the steep cruise prices, to you. You’ve ticked it off, you’re done. But surely nobody can get tired of snorkelling, or scuba diving, on one of the world’s greatest treasures?
I visit the reef about twice every year, and have done for years. No, I’ve never got tired of it. Particularly not when the whales are around or we see something extra special. I’ve snorkelled and scuba-dived all over the world. It’s very hard to beat the Great Barrier Reef.
There’s a lot of talk about the Great Barrier Reef being dead, dying, or bleached. It’s not. It’s still incredibly beautiful. Parts die when we have extremely high temperatures, but they regenerate, with a little help from keen marine biologists who are out there daily. You will see a beautiful reef if you pick the right reef cruise. Hint – we recommend this one.
It’s Worth Visiting for The Oldest Rainforest on Earth
The Daintree Rainforest, just to the north of Port Douglas is thought to be the oldest surviving rainforest on Earth. This is where the rainforest meets the reef, two National Parks side by side.
That has to be worth seeing, don’t you think?
If you visit the rainforest you can experience tropical jungle, huge fan palms, gingers and giant rainforest trees. The coast is stunning with pristine beaches, usually not a soul it site. Inside the rainforest there are boardwalks plus the Daintree Discovery Centre, canopy zip lining and tropical fruit ice cream farms.
Yes, it’s worth visiting. You can self-drive or take a tour. Ever the Daintree Ferry is worth seeing. You’ll need to cross the Daintree River to enter the Daintree “proper”. Mossman Gorge is south of the river, but still part of the Daintree.
It’s Worth Visiting to See a Different Side of Australia
Port Douglas and our whole region is very different to Australia’s big cities. It’s quiet, almost sleepy at times. Port Douglas itself could even be described as quaint, where historic buildings like St Mary’s by the Sea, The Sugar Wharf and some of the old pubs still remain.
These lovely old structures make Port Douglas a big draw for weddings, photography or Instagrammers. We have some pretty amazing sunrises and sunsets too. Dawn over the Coral Sea is something worth getting up for.
If you head up to the Tablelands from Port you’ll see rural Australia. Cattle and tropical fruit farms cover vast areas as you drive through Julatten, Mareeba and Atherton. There are beautiful crater lakes, waterfalls and man-made attractions up here too. Tropical wineries, chocolate attractions and dairies draw plenty of visitors.
Sacred Aboriginal places are nearby and Mossman Gorge, part of the Daintree Rainforest, is in the hands of the traditional owners, The Kuku Yalangi people.
Can you imagine what it’s like to live with crocodiles in potentially any waterway? Have you ever seen a python crossing the road? How about prehistoric-looking giant birds? You can experience all of this from Port Douglas.
Is Port Douglas Worth Visiting After The Cyclone
At the end of 2023 Port Douglas, The Daintree, Cairns and The Tablelands took a beating from ex-tropical cyclone Jasper. There were landslides, some flooding and road closures. The author’s home was cut off for 8 days, no power, phone or wifi. But that’s fairly not-uncommon for remote parts of Australia. We cope and bounce back.
While there are still road repairs ongoing after Jasper, there is no real change to Port Douglas, yes, you can and should visit to boost the local economy. Put your money in local pockets, if you can. Thanks. By using our site you’re doing just that. Could you save this to Pinterest?
