The best (and safest) Port Douglas beaches and swimming spots

Stunning Port Douglas beaches and swimming spots to cool off year-round.

One of the most popular things to do in Port Douglas is to go for a swim to beat the heat. While swimming in the Wet Tropics isn’t without its dangers, you can take extra care to mitigate those risks by swimming between the flags (on Four Mile Beach), reading safety signs, talking to the famously friendly locals and checking the daily beach reports . Here are some of the best Port Douglas beaches and swimming spots.

Mossman Gorge

The Mossman River is unpatrolled, so those who swim here do so at their own risk. Although Mossman Gorge Centre advises against swimming in the river during the wet season, there are a few spots preferred by locals who exercise caution and avoid the area if there has been significant rainfall.  During the dry season (from April to October), you will find a sheltered swimming hole at Mossman Gorge where the pristine rainforest water flows around the giant boulders.

Look out for the Hippy Hole along the way, which also has a sandy riverbank where you will often find the prerequisite knot of locals with tie-dyed t-shirts and dreadlocks who may well have inspired the name. It costs about $8.90 for adults and $4.45 for children to enter Mossman Gorge, which is an Indigenous ecotourism experience managed by the Kuku Yalanji people.

The swimming hole is for strong swimmers only. Join a Windswell Port Douglas tour to paddleboard along the Mossman River through the pristine rainforest or go wakeboarding, foilboarding or tube riding off Four Mile Beach. The company specialises in watersports and has added new Fliteboard Sessions for novices or experienced surfers. You can also dive headfirst into a River Drift Experience with Back Country Bliss Adventures , one of the best tours on offer in Port Douglas.

Four Mile Beach

If you’re pining for some sweet relief from the heat, you should follow the locals beating a path down to Four Mile Beach to swim between the flags. The beach, which is calm and protected, is just minutes from Macrossan Street and is shallow enough for the kids to splash around. Hire a sun bed and beach umbrella from Port Douglas Water Sports and stake out a spot near the surf club, where you can dip in and out of the water each day.

Walk the length of the strollable beach to where the mountains meet the sea, or hire some cricket gear, a kayak or an inner tube from Port Douglas Watersports . Take your copy of Field Guide to Birds of North Queensland by Phil Gregory to the beach and keep an eye out for osprey and sea eagles as well as scarlet honeyeaters. Oak Beach, 10 minutes’ south of Port Douglas, is also a popular spot for paddle-boarding over the fringing reef.

Mowbray Falls

During the dry season (April to October), it’s worth heading out from the Black Mountain Road Trailhead for a hike along the 3.2-kilometre trail to Big Mowbray Falls. In wet weather, the rocks are slippery and the area is best avoided. But on a sunny day, after a spell of dry weather, it’s worth the effort to get to the emerald-green swimming spot.  The secluded swimming hole is like a natural plunge pool located at the top of the waterfall, so it’s good for the ‘gram. Don’t dive here, as the water is shallow. But do feel smug about making the trek to the top of the waterfall, as it is a bit of a scene-stealer.

The deep rock pools near Spring Creek Falls are another popular swimming spot in Port Douglas, also located in the Mowbray Valley. The trek takes about two hours each way, so active types will be rewarded with a dunk in the deep, rock pools, which sit in a basin amid the Tropical North Queensland wilderness. We recommend booking a stay at a resort in Port Douglas so you can unwind at the end of the day.

Emmagen Creek

Proponents of wild swimming will enjoy a day trip from Port Douglas to the Daintree to have a dip in the stunning swimming hole at Emmagen Creek. The creek is located some five kilometres north of Cape Tribulation, in the heart of the Daintree National Park. The creek is particularly beguiling in the dappled light that filters through the rainforest, and a swim here is feel-good forest bathing at its best.

For full rainforest immersion, head west and walk upstream to the larger swimming hole, which is the most enchanting place to swim. Please note: crocodiles are present in the lower, muddy brackish waters of the creek, so only swim in the swimming hole itself. The pool is in a pocket of Wet Tropics wilderness, so bring insect repellent, sunscreen and water. While it’s not recommended to dive here, there is a rope swing so you can break out a few inspired boomerangs on Instagram.

Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort & Plantation Resort

a couple relaxing in the pool at Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Port Douglas — The saltwater lagoon pool invites easy dips between lazy sun lounging sessions. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

On a sun-drenched day, you can treat yourself by paying for a cabana and having lunch by the pool at the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Port Douglas . The resort is built around its pool, which blends seamlessly into its emerald-green golf course surrounds. Who says blue and green should never be seen? Set back from Four Mile Beach, the pool with the green-on-blue botanical colour theme is the perfect place to relax, cocktail in hand, in the manner in which you’re accustomed. Families looking for a more wallet-friendly option can head to Plantation Resort , where you can enjoy the tropical resort-style lagoon pool. The resort-style setting has a tiki bar that opens in the afternoon, serving really great Japanese food.

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.