Why Honeymoon in Port Douglas
Two World Heritage areas meet here. The Wet Tropics rainforest, one of the oldest surviving rainforests on Earth, runs right down to the coast north of town, while the Great Barrier Reef lies just offshore. Very few places let you experience both on the same trip without long transfers.
The town itself is easy to love. It is walkable, with cafés and restaurants along Macrossan Street, a Sunday market in Anzac Park and a small white chapel by the water that has seen thousands of weddings. Four Mile Beach is long, flat and lined with palms, best for walks at sunrise.
The reef here is also excellent. The Agincourt ribbon reefs on the edge of the continental shelf get clear water and healthy coral. Boats out of Port Douglas reach them faster than many trips from Cairns. Couples who want the reef as a highlight but also want a beautiful place to stay often end up here.
When to Go
The dry season, from about May to October, is the best time to visit. Days are warm, typically in the high 70s and low 80s, humidity is lower and the sea is calmer for reef trips. June to August are the coolest months and evenings can call for a light sweater. September and October tend to have the calmest seas and best visibility.
November to April is the wet season. Expect hot, humid days, heavy rain and occasional cyclones, mainly between January and March. Some roads into the Daintree can flood and a few tours scale back. Box jellyfish and irukandji are present from around November to May, so swim inside stinger nets on the beach and wear a lycra suit on reef trips.
The upside of the wet season is lush green rainforest, waterfalls in full flow and lower hotel rates.
Where to Stay
You have three main choices. The first is a resort or apartment in town or along Four Mile Beach, which keeps you within walking distance of restaurants and the marina. This suits couples who want to stroll to dinner each night.
The second is a rainforest lodge. Silky Oaks Lodge, set on the Mossman River about half an hour north of town, has treehouse-style rooms and a spa, with all meals included. It feels remote while staying close to Mossman Gorge and the Daintree.
The third is the coast between Cairns and Port Douglas. Thala Beach Nature Reserve sits on a forested headland with timber bungalows on stilts and its own beach, about 15 minutes south of town.
Many couples split their stay, spending two or three nights in a lodge and two in town. It gives the honeymoon two distinct moods.
Romantic Things to Do
Take a full-day trip to the outer reef. Large catamarans run to pontoons at Agincourt Reef with snorkeling, introductory dives and glass-bottom boats. Smaller boats carry fewer people and visit two or three sites, which is worth the extra cost if you are confident in the water.
Sail to the Low Isles, a tiny coral cay with a lighthouse, about an hour out. The snorkeling from the beach is easy and turtles are common in the shallows.
Walk through Mossman Gorge, where clear water runs over granite boulders. The Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk, led by Kuku Yalanji guides, explains how the rainforest has been used for food, medicine and ceremony.
Drive north across the Daintree River on the cable ferry to Cape Tribulation, where the rainforest meets the beach. Stop for a river cruise to look for saltwater crocodiles and kingfishers along the way.
Getting There and Around
Fly into Cairns, which has direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, plus some international service from Asia. From the US, connect in Sydney or Brisbane. Cairns to Port Douglas takes about an hour along the Captain Cook Highway, a scenic road that hugs the coast with views over the Coral Sea. Shuttle buses and private transfers are easy to arrange.
A rental car is useful for the Daintree, Mossman Gorge and Cape Tribulation. Drive slowly in the rainforest and watch for cassowaries, which have right of way and are endangered. Most reef boats and many tours pick up from hotels in Port Douglas, so you may only need a car for a day or two. In town, walking or cycling is easy, since the main sights are close together.
Food and Drink
Port Douglas punches above its weight on food. Tropical produce grows locally, including mangoes, lychees, coffee, vanilla and cacao. You will see all of it on menus around town. Seafood is excellent too, with mud crab, reef fish and local prawns.
Macrossan Street and the marina have most of the restaurants, from casual cafés to fine dining. Many have outdoor seating under palm trees, ideal for warm evenings. The Sunday market in Anzac Park sells tropical fruit, fresh juices and local products.
For something different, look for chocolate and rum tastings in the region. The Daintree is home to small producers of tropical fruit ice cream and chocolate. A stop at a farm-gate café is a good break during a rainforest drive. A sunset drink at the marina makes a relaxed end to any day.
Honeymoon Tips
Do the reef trip early in your stay. If the weather is rough, you have time to reschedule.
Book a smaller reef boat if you can. Fewer people means more time in the water and a better experience at each site.
Respect the crocodile signs. Saltwater crocodiles live in the rivers and estuaries of the Daintree and sometimes on beaches. Never swim where signs warn against it.
Pack insect repellent, light rain jackets and good walking shoes for the rainforest.
If you plan to visit Cape Tribulation, allow a full day and fill the tank before you go. Fuel and phone coverage are limited north of the Daintree River.
