Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
recommended by the locals include
Metropolis,
upstairs at 15 Spence St.
(
&
07/4041 0277
), which is popular with the 25-to-45 market and features a
sophisticated chocolate decor and a cigar lounge. The
Hotel Sofitel Reef
Casino,
35-41 Wharf St. (
&
07/4030 8888
), has two levels of blackjack, bac-
carat, reef routine, roulette, sic-bo, money wheel, paradise pontoon, Keno, and
slot machines. It's open from 10am to 4am Monday through Thursday, and 24
hours from 10am Friday until 4am Monday (closed Good Friday, Anzac Day,
and Christmas). No entry for children under 18. The
Casino Nightclub 1936
is open Thursday through Saturday from 8pm to 3am; cover is A$5 (US$3.25).
If you're over 18, but under 35 or so, and it's Saturday night, you may want
to take the boat to the DJs or live bands at the
Raging Thunder Nightclub
Beach Bar
on Fitzroy Island (see “Where to Stay,” above). A$25 (US$16) will
get you the boat to the island, nightclub entry, overnight accommodations, and
the return trip at 9:30am the next day. There's a A$5 (US$3.25) burger bar
operating as well. You must book ahead, through Raging Thunder Adventures
(
&
07/4030 7907
).
3 Port Douglas
™
, Daintree & the Cape Tribulation Area
Port Douglas 67km (42 miles) N of Cairns; Mossman 19km (11
1
⁄
2
miles) N of Port Douglas; Daintree 49km (30
miles) N of Port Douglas; Cape Tribulation 34km (21 miles) N of Daintree
The tiny fishing village of Port Douglas is the only place in the world where two
World Heritage areas—the Daintree Rain Forest and the Great Barrier Reef—
lie side by side. This is truly where “the rainforest meets the reef.” Just over an
hour's drive from Cairns, through rainforest and along the sea, Port Douglas
may be a one-horse town, but it's main street is lined with stylish shops and seri-
ously trendy restaurants, and beautiful Four Mile Beach is not to be missed. This
is a favorite spot with celebrities big and small—you may find yourself dining at
a table next to anyone from Bill Clinton to Kylie Minogue, Sean Penn to Aus-
tralian rock band Midnight Oil or minor soap stars.
People often base themselves in “Port,” as the locals call it, rather than in
Cairns, because they like the peaceful rural surroundings, the uncrowded beach,
and the charmed absence of tacky development (so far, anyway). Don't think
you will be isolated—many reef and rainforest tours originate in Port Douglas
and many of the tours discussed in the Cairns section earlier in this chapter pick
up from Port Douglas.
Daintree National Park lies just north of Port Douglas; and just north of that
is Cape Tribulation National Park, another wild tract of rainforest and hilly
headlands sweeping down to the sea. Exploring these two national parks is easy
on a four-wheel-drive day safari from Port Douglas.
ESSENTIALS
GETTING THERE
Port Douglas is a scenic 65-minute drive from Cairns, in
part along a narrow winding road that skirts the coast. Take Sheridan Street north
out of the city as it becomes the Captain Cook Highway; follow the signs to
Mossman and Mareeba until you reach the Port Douglas turnoff on your right.
One of the most pleasant ways to get to Port Douglas is to take one of the giant
Quicksilver Wavepiercer
(
&
07/4087 2100
) catamarans along the coast.
They depart Reef Fleet Terminal in Cairns at 8am, Palm Cove jetty at 8:35am,
and arrive in Port Douglas at 9:30am. You can also stay onboard and go straight
to the Great Barrier Reef for the day for an extra charge (see “Discovering the
