Travelling with children can be rewarding for every member of the family. Take it easy, relax, take each day as it comes and don't try to cram too much in..!
The easiest accommodation style to choose when travelling with a family is an apartment or holiday house. They are generally fully equipped with kitchen and laundry facilities adding to the ease of your stay, and also providing much needed space.
Apartments in Port Douglas are plentiful and there are a wide variety of options to suit all budgets and requirements.
The only kids club in Port Douglas is available at the Sheraton Mirage. Catering from 4 to 12 years they offer an activity programs to keep the kids amused for the day.
Family attractions include the Rainforest Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary and Hartleys Crocodile Park. Both are great options for viewing Australian Wildlife and the Breakfast with the Birds or Lunch with the Lorikeets at the Rainforest Habitat is great fun and really completes the experience.
Reef trips provide a fun and educational experience. Pontoon based reef trips are ideal for families with young children. A pontoon is a stable platform and families love them because they're roomy, theres handy facilities onboard, and there are many activities to keep the kids amused for hours.
Port Douglas is quite flat and footpaths do have ramps on the gutters at crossings.
Beach Friendly wheelchair for Four Mile Beach
Visitors who have a disability or limited mobility can access the all terrain Beach friendly Wheelchair. The wheelchair is kept at Macrossan House at 19 Macrossan St, Port Douglas. Trevor and Phillipa can be contacted on 07 40994366. You will need to call a few days in advance to make sure it is not already pre-booked. You will also need a carer or friend to assist. This is a service and you will need to sign off on the chair but there is not a charge for it. Roll out matting allows the chair to access the hard sand on the waterfront.
We are so pleased all visitors to Port Douglas can now access the beach and enjoy watching all of the activities up and down the beachfront. This service is also provided in Palm Cove. The all terrain wheelchair is at the Palm Cove Surf Lifesaving Club: 07 40591244 or 07 40491200 between 10am and 2pm.
Kuranda Train & Skyrail & Wheelchair Access
Kuranda Scenic Rail & Skyrail is suitable for, and caters to, people of all ages and abilities. Skyrail gondola cabins can accommodate most standard type wheelchairs. However, due to size restrictions and loading requirements, some types of wheelchairs can not be carried on the cableway.
A friendly cableway operator is available at each station to assist you on and off the cableway. The gondolas slow down at each station to allow easy embarkation and disembarkation from the gondola cabins; the doors open and close automatically. A ramp assists with loading and unloading from gondola cabins on the cableway.
Ramp access is available to all boardwalks at Red Peak and Barron Falls stations. Red Peak has a 175 metre rainforest boardwalk and there is approximately 400 metres of gentle walkways at Barron Falls Station. Access is also available to the CSIRO Interpretation Centre at Barron Falls Station. Wheelchair accessible restroom facilities are available at all stations.
Skyrail provides the complimentary use of wheelchairs (subject to availability) during a Skyrail experience.
Please note that wheelchairs cannot be carried on Skyrail's coach transfer service.
Kuranda the ‘Village in the Rainforest’ has numerous attractions including a colourful bird aviary, koala park and a diverse range of markets, shops, cafes and restaurants. Depending on your travelling time on Skyrail, we recommend allowing yourself two to three hours in Kuranda which will give you enough time to explore and have some lunch/refreshments.
Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas with a Wheelchair
Wildlife Habitat is Australia's leading environmental wildlife park, and boasting over 1600 animals, contains the largest collection in immersion exhibits. Informative guided tours, experiential displays and immersion exhibits provide an experience found nowhere else.
Located at the entrance to Port Douglas, this attraction makes a great half day visit if you incorporate the famous 'Breakfast with the Birds' or 'Lunch with the Lorikeets'. All areas of the park are accessible comprising of boardwalks, gravel paths and flat brick tiles. A wheelchair accessible toilet is also available.
Hartleys Crocodile Adventures Wheelchair Access
Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures is the best place to see crocodiles and native wildlife in Tropical North Queensland. Hartley's is famous for its exciting and educational wildlife presentations including crocodile shows, wetland wildlife, snake show, cassowary feeding, koala feeding and more.
A series of timber boardwalks provide elevated viewing of wildlife as visitors journey through a range of natural habitats. Ramps are provided to access the boat cruise. The only limited access areas are the Cassowary enclosure and farm animals where the gravel paths may prevent access.
Quicksilver Great Barreir Reef Trip
Quicksilvers primary vessel Quicksilver VIII is the most suitable vessel for wheelchair passengers including electric wheelchairs. While every attempt is made to ensure these facilities are available due to operational consideration, some facilities may not be available on the desired day of travel. We recommend to reconfirm your booking within 24 hrs of trip departure.
On Quicksilver VIII there is an oversized toilet cubicle available suitable for most wheelchair passengers. This toilet is endorsed "CREW ONLY" to restrict access. At the Outer Barrier Reef there are ramp facilities from the vessel to the floating platform, however access to the underwater observatory, swim platforms and our semi-submersible coral viewing vessels is by stairs only.
A chair lift enables disabled passengers to be lowered into the water to enjoy snorkelling. This is available only on the Agincourt 3 floating platform. (Quicksilver VIII)
The snorkelling platforms are situated right on the waterline and there are bench seats on the snorkelling platform where you can put on your fins, mask and snorkel before entering the water.
Port Shorts Film Festival | October
Port Shorts Film Festival is held each October. This festival has been developed to showcase Port Douglas as a premier location for filmmakers and film enthusiasts and provide pathways for participants to further develop their careers in the Australian film industry.
Port Shorts Film Festival cateogries cater for young filmmakers, local filmmakers and the best short films from around Australia with significant prize money on offer and the chance to be mentored by some of the Australian film industry's most accomplished exponents.
Port Douglas Carnivale | May
Absolutely every reason you need to hang out in Port Douglas!
For 10 balmy days and nights each May, Carnivale takes over the seaside resort village of Port Douglas. A magical festival held in the far north village of Port Douglas.
CARNIVALE sails into tropical North Queensland with an exciting line up of events.
Showcasing the natural wonders of the Daintree Rainforest, Four Mile Beach and the soul of Port Douglas, the people.
Indulge in Tropical norths beautiful Seafood, Tropical Fruit wine, local restaurants, hawker markets, entertainment, music, arts, plus plenty of family fun for all ages.
Carnivale is one of Australia's premier visitor attraction events and kicks off the season.
May is the perfect time to stay within the seaside resort village and its surrounds. All events are walking distance from each other and Macrossan St.
Carnivale showcases the beauty of the region. Contrasted with the waterfront parks overlooking the coral seas, coconut trees, spectacular Four Mile Beach and the waterfront marina.
It attacts over 20,000 visitors, with the vibrant mix of tourists and visitors really making the region shine at its very best.
Port Douglas provides a great escape anytime of the year. Boasting a warm tropical climate, Port Douglas lends itself to outdoor living at its best, with a whole host of outdoor activities to choose from. Being in the tropics the region is characterised by two distinct seasons: the 'wet' and the 'dry', or as we like to call it the 'green' and the 'dry' emphasized by our surrounding rainforests. But don't let our 'green season' put you off, there is much beauty to be found at this time of year.
Below are some key features of our seasons that's worth keeping in mind when planning your Port Douglas holiday.
Port Douglas Seasons
Port Douglas boasts a superb tropical climate all year round. There are generally only two seasons in the Tropics, ‘the green’ and ‘the dry’.
The green season begins with the first monsoonal rains, usually around December, and ends around April. About 75 to 90% of the annual rainfall is recorded then and humidity is high. Average temperatures range from 24°C-33°C (75°-91°F).
The green season is often dramatic, wildly beautiful and eagerly awaited by the flora and fauna of the tropical rainforests. Without our annual rainfall, there would be no rainforest and, as many visitors discover the wet does not interfere with diving, snorkeling or touring.
This time of year is generally our low season apart from school holiday periods. Tourism at this time of the year is growing strongly so it is recommended that accommodation and tours are booked in advance. There are many accommodation deals to be found at this time, so it is a great time to visit!
The 'dry season' from May to November brings less humidity, clear skies and comfortable temperatures day and night. Average winter temperatures are 19°C-24°C (66° F - 75° F).
This is also the peak tourist season from June until November. Families are highly recommend to pre-book accommodation well in advance for school holidays.
'Green Season' - December to May
Our summertime is also known at the Green Season, this is the time of year where humidity builds up and then the monsoonal rains arrive bringing some much needed relief. About 75-90% of our annual rainfall happens between January and March, this is essential for providing life to our rainforests. This is an exciting time for nature lovers and photographers when the tropics are at their most beautiful, and our waterfalls are in full flow.
'Dry Season' - June to November
Dry season is from June to November. During this time the days are balmy and the evenings pleasantly cool. This is the peak tourist season, where many visitors choose to escape the colder southern states for a warmer climate. The southern tradewinds tend to occur between June to September, but this is also a great time to visit the Great Barrier Reef as you may be lucky enough to spot humpback whales on their migration up the coast, or swim with inquisitive minke whales.
