Car Hire Port Douglas - Mini guide to Port Douglas

Port Douglas is located 67kms north of Cairns. This small fishing village is the only place in the world where two UNESCO World Heritage areas lie next to one another. Here, you can see the Daintree Rain Forest and the Great Barrier Reef.

Daintree National Park is just north of Port Douglas, and just north of that is Cape Tribulation National Park. Both are worth seeing and can be explored on a four-wheel-drive day safari from Port Douglas. Daintree Rain Forest has remained largely unchanged over the past 110 million years and spans 56,000 hectares. The Great Barrier Reef offers some of the best snorkelling and scuba diving in the world.

Port Douglas' main street is lined with stylish shops and trendy restaurants. Four Mile Beach is stunning and a favourite of celebrities. The peaceful rural surroundings and uncrowded beaches make the town preferable to Cairns. Many reef and rainforest tours originate in Port Douglas as well.

The spectacular Four Mile Beach is a wonderful place to relax or take part in parasailing, jet-skiing, tube rides, water-skiing, and other water sports. Alternatively, each Sunday, a colourful handicrafts and fresh food market provides some interesting strolling around the end of Macrossan street.

Nearby Cairns is home to outstanding hotels, island resorts off-shore, big Reef-cruise catamarans and lots of touristy souvenir shops. The only beach in town is a man-made 4,000 square metre saltwater lagoon and artificial beach on the Esplanade.

Port Douglas is just over an hour from Cairns by car; follow the signs to Mossman and Mareeba until you reach the Port Douglas turnoff on your right. There is no train to Port Douglas, and no scheduled air service. A small airport handles light aircraft and helicopter charters. Sun Palm Express Coaches offers service to Port Douglas from Cairns Airport. Alternatively, take the giant Quicksilver Wavepiercer catamarans from Reef Fleet Terminal in Cairns.