Port Douglas is a town on the coast of Queensland North of Cairns, near Daintree National Park. Port Douglas is a town in Far North Queensland, Australia, approximately 70 km (43 mi) north of Cairns. Its permanent population was 948 residents in 2006.
The town’s population can often quadruple, however, with the influx of tourists during the peak tourism season May-September. The town is named in honour of former Premier of Queensland, John Douglas. Port Douglas developed quickly based on the mining industry, other parts of the area were established with timber cutting occurring in the area surrounding the Daintree River and with settlement starting to occur on lots around the Mossman River by 1880.
Previous names for the town included Terrigal, Island Point, Port Owen and Salisbury. The town is situated adjacent to two World Heritage areas, the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest.
The Port Douglas township was established in 1877 after the discovery of gold at Hodgkinson River by James Venture Mulligan. It grew quickly, and at its peak Port Douglas had a population of 12,000 and 27 hotels. With the construction of the Mulligan Highway it serviced towns as far away as Herberton.
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 which demolished all but two buildings in the town also had a significant impact. At its nadir in 1960 the town, by 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. A lovely resort town, which can only be reached by road (it’s about one hour drive from Cairns airport). It’s best known for its “four mile beach”. Macrossan street is where the action is.
Port Douglas is arguably the best place from which to take off for your trip to the Great Barrier Reef. The quality of the marine life and also the clarity of the water is superior here as the human population dwindles the further north you go.
Port Douglas is also ideal for a day trip to the Daintree Rainforest, with Cape Tribulation a 90 minute drive on well maintained sealed roads.
Port Douglas maintains a village feel, as it is a town where the Palm Trees are taller than the buildings and you can meander through the town to do some shopping, or enjoy a wide variety of cafes, pubs, restaurants & bars, ranging from those offering excellent value to world class cuisine.
There are 2 bus systems that will take you into town for $5 dollars round trip. The return ticket is only good with the bus company you went in to town with. On Wednesdays and Sundays there is a small train that runs into town. Tours to the reef or rain forest pick you up at your hotel. Buses go past 4 times per hour from 7am til around midnight.
In November 1996 United States President Bill Clinton and the First Lady chose the town as their only vacation stop on their historic visit to Australia. When dining at a local restaurant they witnessed a couple’s wedding certificate who had just got married the same day. On a return visit on September 11, 2001, the then ex-President was again dining at the Salsa Bar and Grill, a local restaurant, when he was advised of the 9/11 attacks. He subsequently returned to the United States the following day.
The town has enjoyed a steady influx of full-time residents since its ‘rebirth’, with most newcomers arriving from Australia’s south, namely Victoria and Tasmania.
On 4 September 2006, entertainer a.k.a. “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin died at Batt Reef, off Port Douglas, after a stingray barb went through his chest into his heart while Irwin and his crew were filming a documentary called The Ocean’s Deadliest.
Irwin was filmed snorkelling directly above the stingray when it lashed him with its tail, embedding its poisonous barb. Irwin died almost immediately. This event was widely reported both in Australia and overseas.
Kitesurfing is popular at the southern end of Four Mile Beach, particularly during the winter months when trade winds blow from the South. It is the place where the reef meets the rainforest, a tropical wonderland of diversity. Port Douglas provides the best access for the Great Barrier Reef and also the Daintree Rainforest. Another great day trip is also the nearby Atherton Tablelands. Three remarkably different experiences all placed within easy reach.
Port Douglas is near the Great Barrier Reef. Numerous companies run daily trips from the marina to the outer reef and the Low Isles for scuba diving and snorkelling. Port Douglas is also well known for its many restaurants, golf courses, and five star resorts. A number of private homes are available for rental year round, from simple budget-style accommodation to the ultimate in luxury living.
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