9 Things to Do in Port Douglas as a Family

Explore FNQPort DouglasGreat Barrier Reef

Dec 18

It’s a hip, laid-back, funky little resort town that sits on the doorstep of World Heritage Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef, BUT is Port Douglas really that family friendly?

Can the budget conscious family really afford to holiday here without breaking the bank balance? I think so! Read on for a few Hot Tips that will help……

Here’s my list of 9 Things to Do in Port Douglas as a family……

Map from Wanderlog, a road trip planner

**Family Friendly Accommodation Port Douglas Freestyle Resort**

1. STAY in Family Friendly Accommodation

My No 1 Tip is to stay at accommodation that is friendly on your wallet and geared towards the family holiday-maker. Two places that I give the Big Seal of Approval are the Freestyle Resort and Tropical Nites.

**Kids always spot the Butterfly on Freestyle Resort - Image by Freestyle Resort**

Both places are close to the main hub of Port Douglas (Macrossan Street and Four Mile Beach) and both provide the ability to prepare meals in-house. Plus I love the fact that both places are geared up for families that want to chill poolside, mingle with others and cook in the great outdoors. After all, who wants to be stuck inside at the kitchen bench when on holidays!

Tropical Nites has plenty of room to run around in

A Tropical Nite - Port Douglas @adventuremumma.jpg

Tropical-Nites Port Douglas @adventuremumma.jpg

Tropical-Nites Port Douglas Pool @adventuremumma.jpg

If your heart is set on Resort Style accommodation then Port Douglas has plenty on offer. Many resorts will offer package deals for a week’s stay and some will include meals in the deal as well.

Read my BlogPosts of our our stays at these places HERE:

Family Friendly Accommodation - Freestyle Resort

Family Friendly Accommodation Port Douglas - Tropical Nites

**Four Mile Beach in Port Douglas seems to stretch forever**

2. Enjoy your Natural Surrounds

There’s two places in Port Douglas that you need to spend time at if you are a family. One is Four Mile Beach. It runs the length of the township and beyond and is blessed with golden sand, palms and plenty of shade in the afternoon that makes hanging out here lots of fun for families.

**Rex Smeal Park - Image by Port Douglas Weddings**

The other is Rex Smeal Park, at the mouth of Dickson’s Inlet. It’s an awesome place for picnics, ball play, watching boats cruise by and spectacular sunsets. You can even string a hammock up between two palms if you’re super keen (not that you’ll get much rest if kids are involved).

Both of these spots are FREE and within walking distance from Macrossan Street, Port Douglas’ main hub.

3. Dine Out

With so many good restaurants on offer in such a small township this is a must! Thankfully you don’t have to break the family budget if you choose wisely.

One great spot is the Port Douglas Surf Club that overlooks Four Mile Beach. Dining is outside on a big deck and there is an enclosed kid’s playground (for the young ones) nearby and a big grassy area for the older kids if they get restless at the table.

**Yummy kids food at the Port Douglas Surf Club**

The food here is truly Delish and reasonably priced. The kid’s menu is a cut above your average nuggets, fries and pizza menu that’s normally on offer. A big hit with our kids was the ice-cream cookie – for us it was the fish tacos (Note the fish normally comes battered we just requested ours grilled).

**The views from the Tin Shed are the best**

Another budget friendly place to eat out is the Tin Shed situated along the waterfront on Dickson’s Inlet. You’ll get great views here and there is plenty to choose from on the menu. Further along the waterfront is On the Inlet, which is another popular one with families because you can watch George the Groper visit for his daily afternoon feed.

Up Macrossan Street is the popular Watergate Restaurant. A good option for families as there's a small park next to it where the kids can run around and stretch their legs whilst you sip cocktails.

**The Salsa Bar and Grill is one of our favourite places to dine**

For the adults the Salsa Bar and Grill is an absolute must –this has been a local (and visitors favourite) for many years thanks to its exceptional menu, decent servings and awesome service. We’ve taken the kids a few times for lunch, you just have to keep them away from the waterfall which seems to be tantalizing for the little ones ;) .

You’ll also find plenty of other restaurants in town offering early bird dining and kids eat free options that will make eating out in Port Douglas a lot easier on the wallet.

**Finding Nemo on the Great Barrier Reef**

4. Find Nemo (Visit the Reef)

You cannot come to Port Douglas without a visit to the Great Barrier Reef. The further you head north in Queensland the closer the reef gets to the coast which is great for families because it can mean a shorter boat journey.

**Front Deck action on the Quicksilver Wavepiercer**

You’ll be spoilt for choice as far as Port Douglas reef trips go but my personal favourite for families is the Quicksilver Group. Their tours are definitely NOT the cheapest family option available BUT they do offer superb quality, great service, and mega family friendly boats, PLUS many of the things you’ll want to do on the day are inclusive in your ticket price.

If your kids are very young or not fantastic travellers then the Low Isles Cruise is a great option, particularly if snorkelling is a first for them – they’ll learn in a shallow, sandy bay and the coral is straight off the beach.

**Snorkelling at Quicksilver's Pontoon on Agincourt Reef**

But, if you really want to see the reef at its best then hop onboard one of Quicksilver’s Wavepiercer Catamarans and head north to Agincourt. My kids had an absolute ball on this trip and the conditions on the day weren’t pristine either thanks to a strong wind warning.

You can read more about this Reef Trip HERE - "Port Douglas Reef Tours – 6 Rewards for Travelling on Quicksilver Cruises"

**Jumping good times on the AquaQuest boat**

If you're confident snorkellers then try Divers Den, who go to some great reefs off Port Douglas. You can read more about this reef trip HERE:- 5-Star Family-Friendly Snorkelling with Divers Den

5. Take a River Cruise

**The Lady Douglas is loads of fun for the family**

If you travel to the Far North then spotting a crocodile in its natural habitat is a must. Fortunately you don’t even have to leave Port Douglas to do this.

Lady Douglas offers a 90-minute river cruise that takes you deep into the mangrove country of Dickson’s Inlet. The crew onboard know exactly where to find all the local wildlife and what’s even better is the wildlife doesn’t take off when it sees the little river boat chugging towards them.

**The kids even get a chance to be skipper on this boat**

The tour offers plenty for the kids to see and do, is reasonably priced for a family outing PLUS you get a complimentary drink and snacks included in the deal……Bargain!!

6. Hop on the Bally Hooley

Everyone’s favourite little steam train that chugs up and down the cane train tracks around Port Douglas township.

These historic locomotives (Speedy and Buddy) used to haul cane until the local sugar mill switched over to diesel. Now they spend Sunday’s ferrying families and enthusiasts around the back burbs of Port Douglas – ie. think mangroves, golf courses and a marina for your scenic enjoyment.

The price is a bargain for families (you get an all day pass and kids under 4 go free), the carriages are quaint and open air, and the speed is slow. Perfect for the young ones. Our kids had a ball when we went a few years back.

Click HERE for more info.

7. Cane Toad Racing

Yep. You heard me right. This is one not to be missed if you want a good belly laugh. It happens on most nights after 8pm at the Iron Bar on Macrossan Street and the show has proved popular as it’s been going for over 15 years.

Cane Toad Racing at the Iron Bar

Josh selecting a 'racing' cane toad

There’s a small cover charge to enter and it’s luck of the draw if you get called up to ‘race’ – if you do, then expect to hold a cane toad and give it a lucky ‘kiss’ – and yes, it’s truly hilarious to see some people’s reactions.

And they're off - Party Blowers are used to 'race' the Cane Toads

This one’s a classic FNQ show and there are a few ‘adult’ jokes BUT it’s definitely worth getting the family involved.

Click HERE for more info.

8. Port Douglas Markets

These local markets offer a rich cornucopia of tropical colour, flavours and atmosphere. They happen every Sunday morning at Anzac Park (at the top of Macrossan Street) and offer a great mix of unique, local handcrafted items and fresh fruit and veges and food stalls.

**Port Douglas Markets - Image by Steven Nowakowski Panoscapes**

It’s a good excuse for a browse, a bargain and a yarn with the locals, and the kids will love the coconut heads and quirky handmade toys on display. There’s fresh coconuts to drink and even sugar cane juice and it’s a must if you’re staying in Port for the weekend.

From 7am – 3pm Sunday mornings.

Click HERE for more info.

9. Watersport Action

If you want some good watersport action then look no further than Windswell Kitesurfing and Standup Paddle. They've got all your bases covered when it comes to exploring Port Douglas and its surrounds via water.

Windy out at sea? Then try some kitesurfing. Calm, then it looks like SUP boarding or tubing/wakeboarding could be an option. Don't feel like hopping in the ocean? Then how about exploring a rainforest river via SUP. If you want to make your Port Douglas holiday more memorable for the kids then you can't beat a bit of watersport action.

We had a great day wakeboarding & tubing with Windswell

Windswell Water Sports @adventuremumma.jpg

Windswell Port Douglas @adventuremumma.jpg

Windswell Water Sports Port Douglas @adventuremumma.jpg

Good Things to Know:

If you’re looking for accommodation bargains then travel outside the peak holiday season – school holidays and the ‘dry’ season (July – October) are often the busiest times for the tropics.
Remember that from November through to April is stinger season (jellyfish) up in Tropical North which means you have to take precautions if you are swimming on the beach. For more info Click HERE

Have you visited Port Douglas? What are your favourite things to do in Port Douglas?

Want to explore Tropical North Queensland to its fullest? Then check out this book 100 Things to See in Tropical North Queensland. It's full of adventures!!!