Port Douglas - amidst the rainforest & the reef

Closer than any other Australian town to the Great Barrier Reef and nearer the Equator than Fiji or Tahiti, it is no surprise that the town of Port Douglas has been attracting visitors with its tropical allure for over a hundred years. 

Once a tiny fishing village, Port Douglas is a picturesque township characterised by old fashioned charm amidst wide shady streets. These streets house a wide choice of visitor accommodation, restaurants that range from sidewalk cafes to the five star award-winning experiences, art galleries, quaint shops and a teeming Sunday market. A world away from the everyday, Port Douglas has no traffic lights, no parking meters and no plans to install either.

Situated just 70 kilometres north of Cairns along what could be described as one of the most beautiful scenic drives in the country, the little fishing village has come of age to cater for the world's political leaders and film stars who crave this idyllic corner of Australia to relax and unwind.  

First established in 1877 after the discovery of gold at Hodgkinson River, Port Douglas grew quickly, and at its peak had a population of 12,000 residents and 27 hotels; and thrived on tin, silver, sugarcane and logging for cedar trees.  The dray teams and stage coaches that serviced the goldfields made their way from the Port, down the beach (now Four Mile Beach) to the 'Four Mile' mark which is now called Craiglee.  From there they continued over 'The Bump' and then onto the goldfields.  It was the promary port for Mossman sugar mill to ship its sugar to the southern cities.

The town had a series of names from its early beginnings - known as Terrigal, Island Point, Port Owen and Salisbury. it was finally named Port Douglas in honour of former Queensland premier John Douglas.

When the Kuranda Railway from Cairns to Kuranda was completed in 1891, the importance of Port Douglas dwindled along with its population. A cyclone in 1911 demolished all but two buildings in the town. By 1960 the town, then little more than a fishing village, had a population of 100.

In the mid-1980s, tourism boomed in the region with the aid of the late Christopher Skase, an investor who financed the construction of the world-class Sheraton Mirage and Marina Mirage shopping precinct and marina.

Today the township's relaxed seaside village ambience blends harmoniously with vibrant tropical style and sophistication. It is this laid back quality that has captured the heart of many an international traveller. Five star or three star, the appeal does not discriminate, and 'Port', as it is affectionately known, has become a popular base from which to explore the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree rainforests.

More than 100 tours depart from Port Douglas, ranging from cruises on the largest and best equipped catamarans and coaches to the very personal experience of travelling in smaller diving, fishing and four-wheel drive adventure treks. Popular destinations include one of the wonders of the natural world, the Great Barrier Reef, which is essentially a giant living organism - home to thousands of species of fish, coral, molluscs and sponges - and the World Heritage listed rainforests of the Daintree and Cape Tribulation. The splendour of Bloomfield Falls, Mossman Gorge, the Tropical Tablelands and Cooktown are accessible on day trips from Port Douglas.

In May each year, the iconic tropical port celebrates with the annual Carnivale when the region becomes a living postcard of tropical culture.  It is a time when visitors and locals join in and celebrate life in the tropics, its pleasures, weather, culture, art and cuisine with 80 restaurants on standby to showcase their talents in this tropical paradise. 

This first Carnivale was originally a concept conceived by local identities, Mike Burgess and Moss Hunt, to stage a seven day yacht race from Port Douglas to Lizard Island with a Carnivale to be held in Port Douglas to celebrate the start of the Yacht Race.

The Carnivale side of things really went forward whilst the yacht race in the original plan didn't eventuate because the winds at that time of the year were not conducive to racing north although yacht racing has become an integral part of the ongoing Carnivales.

The mainstay of Carnivale and by far and away the most popular events are the Macrossan Street Party, Beach Day, Food and Wine and Seafood Extravaganza. They have always been the crowd drawers and Carnivale will always be structured around these popular events with various events added in different years.

It is ten days of fun, sport, competitions, arts, culture, and performances followed by the spectacular street parade - floats, street theatre, entertainers, buskers, bands and a fireworks spectacular.  Out on the water there is the Cairns Centre Clipper Cup, the Outrigger Championship, or the Combines Club Carnivale Fishing Tournament for a chance to win part of the Pot. 

The cosmopolitan nature of Port Douglas also makes the town a bountiful shopping venue, where local artwork, fashion, iconic Australian clothing, opals, pearls and fine jewellery are all available in abundance, and reaching the shopping district takes just minutes from any of the resorts.

The main street of the town, Macrossan Street, is an eclectic mix of art galleries, boutiques, stores and restaurants. Like its spectacular surroundings, Port Douglas has so much to offer and a stroll down the main street could take hours or in fact days! It is a very different world to the southern cities of Australia, and similarly the fashions of Port Douglas reflect the casual but elegant style of the town. It is a locale where preferred styles reflect the same sense of fun and relaxation as guests are likely to experience while moving about town.

Here in Macrossan Street, Tommy Bahama offers relaxed sportswear that looks as good as it feels. Easy fitting pieces in comfortable, luxurious fabrics bring a sense of casual elegance to any occasion. Prints are tropical in inspiration yet sophisticated in their execution. Each seasonal collection in menswear is designed with sophistication in mind and incorporates Relax, Tommy Bahama Denim, Island Estate and TB 18 Golf. Womenswear incorporates the sportswear collection and women’s swim.

Ladies visiting 'Port' are more than catered for with the exclusive Barbarella and Swan and The Eye Boutique.  Both stores stock world renowned Australian labels in casual and more formal designs. The Eye Boutique is known for their individual swimwear pieces in sizes from the very small to the larger woman.

Set beside the tranquil waters of Dickson Inlet with spectacular views to the Mossman Ranges, the waterfront retail complex of Marina Mirage combines exclusive shopping and fine dining in true Queensland tropical style and is home to Queensland Tourism Award winning tenants. A 14m wide timber boardwalk surrounds the shops and restaurants on one side, and overlooks the marina on the other, where up to 112 luxury cruise vessels, yachts and motor cruisers are berthed at any one time and which is the departure point for many of the diving and snorkelling cruises to Low Isles just off the coast or to the Outer Great Barrier Reef.

A very pleasant surprise to be found at Marina Mirage is Master's Persian Carpet Gallery which exhibits traditional craftsmanship immersed in thousands of years of history with its new, old and antique carpets woven in silk or wool, from the extremely indulgent to the remarkably affordable. Here is the chance to obtain an exclusive treasure from the far corners of the world. 

Australia's national gem, the multi-coloured opal, is a favourite when travellers arrive from overseas and the quality that is offered at the Port Douglas Opal & Jewellery Centre in Macrossan Street speaks for itself. A family concern for over 34 years, the staff at Port Douglas Opal Centre know opals from the mining, cutting and through to the handmade jewellery designs. As specialists, they can inform you in selecting the best quality of opal to take home with you.