A guide to Cairns with kids. What are the best things to do in Cairns as a family, free things to do with kids, where to stay, fun activities, playgrounds and indoor play, food tips and more! We already published our guide to things to do in Cairns, now let’s look at family-friendly things to … Read more
The best and only way to get from Port Douglas to Cairns is normally by road and the highway is part of The Great Barrier Reef Drive. It is one of the most beautiful scenic drives in the world. The Captain Cook Highway between Cairns and Port Douglas hugs the coast offering stunning views of … Read more
Port Douglas can be a fantastic place to visit at Easter. Next year, 2026, Good Friday falls on April 3rd , Easter Sunday on April 5th and Anzac Day (a public holiday in Australia) is on Saturday April 25th. All of those holidays mean you won’t have to book so many days of leave! This … Read more
The tropics produce a lot of foods that you may not see often in cooler climates. In this post, we run you through some foods to try during your vacation in Port Douglas, Cairns, or really, all of Far North Queensland. Some are unique to Australia, and some aren’t, but these are the foods, fruits, … Read more
The Herberton Historic Village is one of the best things to do “near” Port Douglas, Cairns or Palm Cove Australia. Herberton itself is a very interesting town too, with more for you to see. In this post, we’ll share photos from Herberton Historic Village, tell you what we thought (of course), and go into the … Read more
Local photographer, Tracey Jones is the host of the Port Douglas Sunset Photography Tour. This is a 3 to 3.5 hour unique experience capturing the beauty of Port Douglas at its most magical time of day. Check price and availability on this walking photography tour here. This photograph tour visits four iconic locations: Rex Smeal … Read more
In Port Douglas the sun rises over the Coral Sea and sets behind the mountains to the west of Port Douglas. The best place to see sunrise is the beach, the best place to see sunsets is Rex Smeal Park or anywhere along Dicksons Inlet. Sunset sailing cruises are a popular Port Douglas activity, rightly … Read more
We last visited the Sheraton Mirage for breakfast in 2024. Non-residents can buy the breakfast buffet at this hotel. At peak times it may be wise to book by phone, but you can also turn up on the day. It’s a good buffet breakfast, fairly expensive, but there is a discount for locals, with proof … Read more
There aren’t a lot of options for horse riding in or near Cairns or Port Douglas, but there are a couple of places I can tell you about. Horse or pony riding is available as day tours, for 1 hour, 1.5 hours, for multiple-day horse-riding experiences and as courses, classes and lessons. Possibly your best … Read more
Julatten isn’t a town, it’s an area or local on The Tablelands in Mareeba Shire, about a 40 minute drive from Port Douglas Queensland. There isn’t much in Julatten, but what’s there is nice. I’ve lived in Julatten for 3 years now, so you found a great website to tell you all about it! Some … Read more
Here are some new activities in Port Douglas and Cairns for the end of 2024 going into 2025. A Day Trip To Hartleys, Crocodile Adventures To Include The Skyrail and Scenic Train, With Port Douglas Pick-Up This is new and a great idea! Most tours to Kuranda use the Skyrail (cablecar) to go up the … Read more
Nobody will tell you that the wet season is the best time to visit Port Douglas, Cairns, or Far North Queensland, but it can be done. In this post, we’ll spell out the realities of visiting during the wet. We’ll tell you what you can do at that time of year. We’ll also tell you … Read more
Cairns is a popular vacation destination in Queensland Australia. It is a gateway to The Great Barrier Reef, The Daintree Rainforest and the UNESCO listed Wet Tropics of Australia. But is it safe to swim? In this post we go into the dangers of swimming in the sea (The Coral Sea) from Cairns and give … Read more
