10 of the best Port Douglas tours - Australian Traveller

Make the most of your time between the rainforest and the reef with these top tours to book in Port Douglas, Queensland.

An hour north of Cairns and a lifetime from worry, the seaside Queensland haven of Port Douglas is perfectly positioned to make the most of the two World Heritage sites that cocoon it: the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. From First Nations walking adventures to coral-chasing sailing trips, these Port Douglas tours are the best ways to experience all parts of this bustling tropical destination.

1. Dreamtime Tour, Mossman Gorge

a Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk with a local Elder, Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre, Port Douglas tours — Embark on a Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk with local Elders. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Meet your Kuku Yalanji guide at the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre (where there is, pro-tip, a wonderful gift shop and cafe on site that support and train the students of the onsite National Indigenous Training Academy) before embarking on a Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk with local Elders and a maximum of 14 other guests. Following a welcoming smoking ceremony, you’ll be guided on private walking tracks that loop around sacred sites and glorious rainforest, learning about native foods, toxic plants and the sacred Indigenous history of this exceptional ancient rainforest. Your ticket includes free access to the Mossman Gorge shuttle bus service, which recently added two electric buses, minimising the impact on the community that lives within the rainforest.

From $100 per adult.

2. Hook-a-Barra farm tour

a couple fishing in the Daintree, Hook-a-Barra farm tour, Port Douglas — Cast a line and hook a barramundi.

Fancy catching a barramundi at the base of the Daintree Rainforest? At Hook-A-Barra in Wonga Beach, a 30-minute drive north of Port Douglas, you can pick up a rod and fish for these commanding saltwater fish, which are grown from tiny fingerlings into specimens upwards of a metre long. Each pond contains fish of a different age, and each pond is filled with saltwater direct from the Daintree River, ensuring the barramundi get the same nutrients they’d get in the wild (and then some). An on-farm tour includes visiting the different nurseries, feeding fish, throwing in a line or two and learning from the farmers, then topping it all off with a tasting platter of barramundi four ways, including buttery sashimi. Harvest is done on a Wednesday and packing on a Thursday, so book accordingly to see the team in action as they bring in and pack fresh barramundi for dispatch around the country.

From $67 for adults. 

3. Australian Chocolate Company farm tour

It’s a full-circle operation at this family-run cocoa plantation , a 15-minute drive from Port Douglas. Beyond the cafe and chocolate shop at the front is a four-acre farm that’s best experienced on a guided tour that dives into the process of how cocoa is grown, harvested, processed and turned into the chocolate bars we know and love. It also includes a tasting experience alongside a hot or cold cocoa beverage, so you can pick your favourite flavour before investing in a bar of dark chocolate tinted with lemon myrtle or kakadu plum-spiked white chocolate.

From $55 per adult. 

4. Sailaway Low Isles

the Low Isles Great Barrier Reef as seen from above — Set sail in a luxury catamaran to the Low Isles. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Experience the inner pockets of the Great Barrier Reef on these eco-conscious sailing tours , which take small groups of travellers out to the Low Isles – 15 kilometres offshore – in a luxury catamaran. When the wind picks up, the adventure does too, with the boat bobbing and bucking over waves and the sea salt spraying in the breeze. Meals, snacks and drinks are included, as well as a guided snorkel tour with a marine biologist, a journey out to the snorkel site in an electric-powered glass bottom boat, a guided history tour on the island and sundowners on the journey back. Spy the green sea turtles and Hawksbill turtles that frequent this part of the world, and the juvenile reef sharks that keep them company.

From $343 per person.

5. Shaolin Seafood Cruise

Held on a traditional Chinese junk boat designed and built in Hong Kong by an American sailor and his librarian wife in the late 1960s, this off-beat tour is intimate, quirky and deeply unique, offering exploration with a side of history and seafood snacking. Running as a charter boat in Port Douglas since the 1980s, the timber vessel is perfect for the leisurely 90-minute lunch cruise, which heads out to the sea and then wraps back in through Packers Creek on the lookout for crocodiles. Along the way, guests are treated to a glass of sparkling, an entree of spring rolls – barramundi in one, croc in the other – and a plate of freshly caught local prawns with buttered bread.

From $75 per adult.

6. Forever Reef Project site tour

The world's first coral biobank — See the world’s first biobank on a 45-minute tour with a marine biologist.

Hidden in an unassuming spot at the Crystalbrook Marina in downtown Port Douglas, this epic coral-centric centre is slowly but surely collecting and cataloguing 417 species of coral endemic to the Great Barrier Reef. (The team aim to open three more reef hubs across Australia by 2026, and one in Cairns by the end of the year.) Book in for a 45-minute tour with an on-site marine biologist and learn about how this world-first biobank is helping to future-proof reefs around the globe, donning special UV-blocking glasses to see the full spectrum of colour emitted by the soft and hard corals in the on-site nursery.

From $35.

7. Back Country Bliss River Drift

river sleds floating along the Daintree River, Back Country Bliss — Drift along the Daintree River on a river sled. (Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

The sweet serenade of Mossman River water gurgling over ancient stone boulders is a constant soundtrack on this immersive two-hour outdoor experience , which takes small groups of guests out to the sandy riverbanks – ecological insights included – beneath the rainforest canopy in pursuit of the gentle rapids that will deliver the ultimate relaxation experience. Your raft and a wetsuit are provided, and the crew will take the pictures, so you can focus on making the most of the otherworldly quiet, navigating the underwater gems, and letting the soothing current be your core focus.

From $145 per adult.

8. Walkabout Cultural Adventures

Local Aboriginal guides share their cultural connection on a Daintree tour with Walkabout Cultural Adventures. (Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

The day-long adventures hosted by Walkabout Cultural Adventures , founded by Kuku Yalanji man and Mossman local Juan Walker, are never short of educational, inspiring and fun activities that truly epitomise the heart of this exceptional region: where the rainforest meets the sea. The Daintree-focused Ngana Julaymba Dungay tour can be enjoyed as a full-day or half-day experience and includes lunch and morning tea, exploration of coastal habitats, a guided walk through Mossman Gorge and hands-on lessons about bush tucker and native produce. Transfers from Port Douglas – and delectable snacks of fresh homemade damper with golden syrup – are included in the ticket price.

From $190 per person.

9. Hook Up Fishing Charter

If fishing is your passion, the rainforest estuaries and pristine coastal environment surrounding Port Douglas are perfect for experienced anglers and amateur fisherfolk alike. The private Hook Up charters – which take place on a custom seven-metre boat owned by a fisherman with more than 25 years of charter and commercial fishing experience – target coral trout, Spanish mackerel, giant trevally, nannygai and others on half-day or full-day tours. Prices are fixed for private charters, whether you’re a party of one or a group of five, but shared charters offer access for a cheaper rate – and the chance to meet other passionate anglers to boot.

From $168 for shared charter.

10. Hartley’s Wildlife Adventures

a huge saltwater getting fed in the Daintree, Hartley’s Wildlife Adventures, Port Douglas tours — See saltwater crocodiles up close in the Daintree. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Saltwater crocodiles have called the Daintree home for an estimated 200 million years and have been known to frequent some of the region’s popular golf courses more recently, too. Spot them at this crocodile farm and wildlife conservation hotspot , 30 minutes south of Port Douglas by car. Your ticket price includes access to interactive displays, wildlife presentations (including snake shows and crocodile feeding exhibitions), a 20-minute boat ride on the melaleuca wetland lagoon to spot crocodiles in real time, and endless walks around 2500 metres of trails through the 10-hectare property. There are also farm tours twice a day (included in your ticket price) that give a behind-the-scenes look at the on-site ranching and captive breeding program of crocodilians.

From $48 per adult.

Discover the best places to stay while you’re in Port Douglas.

City buzz, gourmet trails, surf breaks and art scenes are all at your fingertips.

When it comes to planning a trip, picking a holiday destination is the easy part. The real dilemma is where to set yourself up for the night. Do you go coastal, city, or countryside? Somewhere remote and rugged, or right in the action? Luckily, the Sunshine Coast, and huge number of amazing Sunshine Coast day trips, have kindly made the choice for you.

Ditch the hotel-hopping and suitcase-lugging. Instead, base yourself at Novotel Sunshine Coast or Mantra Mooloolaba , where big-city culture, vine-covered valleys, and theme parks are all within a two-hour drive.

1. Sunshine Coast to Brisbane

Drive time: 1 hour 20 minutes (105km)

Shake off the sand from your sandals and swap the beach for the throb of the Queensland capital. Ease in gently with a bougainvillea-filled stroll through South Bank, iced latte in hand, before cooling off at Streets Beach lagoon – Brisbane’s answer to the coast (but without the waves).

Once firmly in big-city mode, hit up the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) , home to Australia’s largest collection of modern and contemporary artworks. Dive into the past at the Queensland Museum, where prehistoric fossils of Australian dinosaurs and megafauna collide with First Nations cultural collections and interactive science exhibits.

All this learning got you hungry? Howard Smith Wharves calls. Here, riverside dining delivers breweries with meat-forward menus, Japanese fine dining and overwater bars. If you’ve got room for more, Fortitude Valley’s shopping boutiques await you and your wallet.

woman walking around Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) — Wander the Gallery of Modern Art. (Image: TEQ)

2. Sunshine Coast to the Scenic Rim

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (170km)

Make your way inland to the Scenic Rim for the state’s best vineyards and age-old volcanic slopes. Start your day early (like, sparrow’s breakfast early) at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park . Here, take a treetop walk through the canopy and hand-feed the wild birds who flock here.

Next, it’s your turn to eat. Here, the food scene operates where locally sourced produce is an expectation, not an exception. Order a picnic basket crammed with regional wine and cheese to devour next to the creek at Canungra Valley Vineyards . Or perhaps a grazing platter of vegan and non-vegan cheeses at Witches Falls Winery .

Feeling bold? Tackle the Twin Falls circuit in Springbrook National Park. Or keep the gourmet life going with a Scenic Rim Brewery tasting paddle, best enjoyed while taking in the rise of the Great Dividing Range.

woman with cheese and wine at Witches Falls Winery — Enjoy a cheese platter at Witches Falls Winery. (Image: TEQ)

3. Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast

Drive time: 2 hours (180km)

Surf, sand and sparkling skylines might be the Gold Coast’s MO, but there’s more to Surfers Paradise and beyond. Kick things off with a beachfront coffee at Burleigh Heads, then hike through Burleigh Head National Park to look over the ocean and whale sightings (dependent on the season, of course).

Cool off in the calm waters of Tallebudgera Creek before chowing down on the famously buttery Moreton Bay bug rolls at Rick Shores . Travelling with the kids? Then you can’t miss Australia’s theme park capital, with Dreamworld ’s big rides and Warner Bros. Movie World ’s Hollywood treatment at hand to keep the family entertained.

aerial view of Tallebudgera Creek — Dive into Tallebudgera Creek. (Image: TEQ)

4. Sunshine Coast to Tweed Heads

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (200km)

Dare to cross enemy lines? Then welcome to New South Wales. Tweed Heads blends the laid-back attitude of the Northern Rivers with high-quality dining, experimental art, and farm-fresh indulgence – a combo worth the drive.

Start strong with a long, lazy brunch at Tweed River House , then swing by Tropical Fruit World for exotic finds like red dragon fruit, handfuls of lychees and black sapote. Next, hit M|Arts Precinct – an art deco hub of micro galleries, artist workshops and one-off boutiques.

Round off the day with sunset drinks at Husk Distillers among the glowing cane fields, and order one with their famous Ink Gin. You’ll thank us later.

exterior of Husk Distillers — Taste the famous Ink Gin at Husk Distillers. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Sunshine Coast Hinterland

Drive time: 1 hour (70km)

Strap on those hiking boots and make tracks inland, where volcanic peaks, misty rainforest and hinterland townships beckon. Ease in with the Glass House Mountains Lookout Walk, or, if you have energy to burn, tackle the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk for a 360-degree sight of the surrounding summits.

Next: Montville. This township delivers European-style architecture and old-world appeal. Nearby, settle in at Flame Hill Vineyard, where a large pour of estate-grown wine comes with encompassing views of the countryside.

Not ready to leave the hinterland villages just yet? Of course not. Meander past art galleries and indie shops at Maleny. Nab some fudge from Sweets on Maple for a sweet fix. Or go salty at Maleny Dairies with a farm tour and a chunky wedge of their deliciously creamy cheese.

End the day among the eucalypts and rainforests of Kondalilla National Park. Here, the Kondalilla Falls Circuit winds down through trees humming with life to a rock pool beneath a waterfall – as if designed for soaking tired feet before heading back to the coast.

view of Mount Ngungun on the scenic rim queensland — Take on the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk (Image: TEQ)

Start planning your Sunshine home base at all.com.

10 of the best tours in Port Douglas