Port Douglas Highlights Tour

On arrival, you will be met by a private driver outside customs exit and delivered to your Cairns accommodation.

Welcome to Cairns, a city rich in history and natural wonders. For more than 40,000 years, this tropical paradise has been home to Indigenous Australians, with its cultural heritage still evident today. Settled by Europeans in 1876 during the gold rush, Cairns has since evolved into a thriving destination famously known as "where the rainforest meets the reef." As the gateway to the ancient Wet Tropics World Heritage Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns offers unparalleled access to two of nature’s greatest treasures. Explore the vibrant Esplanade, where you’ll find a stunning swimming lagoon, lively weekend markets, and a variety of dining options to suit every taste. Cairns is ready to welcome you to its unforgettable tropical charm.

Choose a car to best suit your needs from our fantastic rental car range or ask our team for a suggestion. From compact economy to prestige SUVs. Speak to the team to learn more!

Head to the Cairns City depot today to collect your chosen rental car, and continue your journey.

The best route to travel between Cairns and Port Douglas is the Captain Cook Highway (State Route 44). Less than 70km in length, this short drive offers countless opportunities to stop and admire the breathtaking views, walk along the beach or take a quick dip in the sea. You could even stop off at the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway for a bird's eye view of the world's oldest continually surviving tropical rainforest.
We recommend arriving to Port Douglas before dusk so that you can take in the beautiful sunset over the water.

Port Douglas is a chic, yet relaxed seaside village with a plethora of restaurants and bars, as well as fantastic boutique shopping. The village is also the ideal base to explore three of Australia's most iconic natural attractions - the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef, the Daintree Rainforest, and Cape Tribulation with an abundance of tours and day trips available. 
Take a day to soak up the beauty, charm, and vibrant atmosphere of Port Douglas at your own pace. Wander along the golden sands of Four Mile Beach, where you can relax, swim, or enjoy a scenic walk with panoramic ocean views. Visit the lively Macrossan Street for boutique shopping, local art galleries, and alfresco dining at some of the region’s finest cafes and restaurants. If you’re a wildlife enthusiast, the Wildlife Habitat provides an opportunity to meet native Australian animals, including koalas, kangaroos, and cassowaries, in an immersive environment.  For those seeking adventure, embark on a snorkelling or diving trip to the Great Barrier Reef, where you’ll witness the world’s most vibrant marine ecosystem up close. Alternatively, take a scenic drive to the Daintree Rainforest for a guided tour, river cruise, or self-guided exploration of its ancient landscapes. If relaxation is what you’re after, indulge in a rejuvenating spa treatment or enjoy a leisurely sunset sail on the Coral Sea.
Port Douglas offers a blend of natural beauty, luxury, and laid-back charm, making it the perfect destination to explore at your leisure. 

Enjoy the thrill of pure sailing! A must do when visiting Port Douglas is to relax with a twilight cruise on board the first class sailing catamaran. Soak up the peace and tranquillity of a tropical sunset over the Coral Sea as you sail along the coast of Port Douglas. Take in the ambient music, relaxed and friendly atmosphere, and spectacular mountain views while enjoying a welcome drink and delicious canapés.

Wildlife Habitat is an eco-certified wildlife sanctuary that allows you to interact with wildlife in five unique habitats. It provides a chance to experience the animals of Wetlands, Rainforest, Savannah and Woodlands environments. Today, you will start with the iconic Breakfast with the Birds, which has been a must-do for visitors who are seeking a unique breakfast experience. The Curlew Cafe team will be serving up scrumptious breakfast platters, and you can interact and feed Koala’s, colourful birds and more, whilst chatting with the friendly, knowledgeable keepers about their passion for wildlife and conservation. After that, explore the Rainforest Habitat from forest floor to canopy, as you make your way along the boardwalks and admire the wildlife that call this environment home, including the southern cassowary. Savannah Habitat offers you the opportunity to hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies, as well as admire emus and the Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo. If you are looking for an unforgettable Australian wildlife experience, this is the place for you!

A scenic helicopter flight over the reef is an opportunity not to be missed! You will be amazed by the stunning blue and green hues of these pristine coral sea waters and their thriving coral gardens. This flight includes incredible photo opportunities of picturesque Green Island, Arlington Reef and Upolo Sand Cay.
Many of the larger marine species can be most easily spotted from the air.  Inflight sightings have included Sea Turtles, Sharks, Manta Rays, Dolphins, Dugong and even majestic Humpback Whales (Jul-Sep) during their annual migration from Antarctica, stopping by briefly to give birth and raise their calves in our warm tropical waters.

The coastal route from Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation looks reasonably short on paper but offers plenty of things to do and places to stop at, so allow plenty of time. Departing Port Douglas, you'll first pass through Mossman Gorge. A must-do for everyone who visits the Mossman Gorge is the Ngadiku Dreamtime Walks. If your itinerary doesn't allow for you to meet up with a guided tour, you can also take a self-guided tour through the park. From here, continue north and cross the Daintree River on the ferry (at your expense) as you enter the Daintree Rainforest.
Cape Tribulation is a unique location as it is the only place in the world where two World Heritage Listed sites meet: The Daintree and the Great Barrier Reef.

This half day tour will take you on an exhilarating ride from Cape Tribulation Beach to snorkel the pristine Great Barrier Reef bordering the Daintree Coast. After boarding the semi-rigid inflatable boat, your custom-built vessel will embark on the 25 minute journey out to your snorkelling sites, Mckay Cay and Undine Reef. From here you will often be able to see the rainforest along the mainland as you paddle, and on most days you will find yourself swimming with sea turtles as well as an extraordinary array of marine life and coral species. Throughout your tour you will also receive personalised snorkelling instruction and reef interpretation talks from your ultra-qualified eco hosts.

The drive south from Cape Tribulation takes you out of the Daintree Rainforest, across the Daintree River on the ferry and down towards Kuranda State Forest. An hour and a half into your journey is Mossman Gorge, an interactive ecotourism experience that introduces visitors to the Daintree Rainforest and the Indigenous communities who have lived there for centuries.
Just 20 minutes further south is Port Douglas, a bustling tourist town with no shortage of cafes, bars, and restaurants.

Spend time with a local Aboriginal tour guide, learning about culturally significant areas and the relationships the Kuku Yalanji people still have with their land. Learn the history, culture and traditions of the local Aboriginal people and the area. Walk through the Daintree rainforest and coastal habitats learning about the different environments, different foods and medicines utilised from nature, sample some seasonal bush tucker, collect shellfish and learn traditional Aboriginal hunting practices, have a go at spear throwing and if you are lucky, catch a mud crab. Complete the adventure by cooling off in a pristine freshwater stream.

Flagstaff Hill lookout track - 1.5km. Allow 15 minutes.
Mossman Gorge 
Baral Marrjanga - 270 metres. Allow 5-10 minutes.
Lower River Track - 300 metres. Allow 5-10 minutes.
Rainforest Circuit Track (from Rex Creek Bridge) - 2.4km return. Allow 45 minutes.

This short 70km drive will take you down the Captain Cook Highway (State Route 44) to the beautiful city of Cairns. Consider picking up some groceries in Port Douglas and enjoy a picnic on one of the many stunning beaches along your drive. Pebbly Beach, located approximately 15km south of Port Douglas is a bit of a deviation from the standard sandy beaches of the tropical north but is beautiful nonetheless. As the name suggests, the beach is covered with smooth, tiny stones and is popular among motorists to stop and explore.
Your next stop on your drive south will be Rex Lookout, with panoramic views of the Coral Sea and views of Double Island to the south.
Further south, you will reach the beautiful coastal village of Palm Cove. Spend some time wandering the paperbark-lined streets dotted with boutique shops, artisan cafes and restaurants. Finally, pass through Smithfield before getting off the highway and heading into Cairns.

Return your rental vehicle to Cairns City depot before continuing your onward journey.