Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
PORT DOUGLAS TO THE DAINTREE
Be pampered in Port Douglas, explore the wilderness of the Daintree Rainforest, or journey
to rough-and-ready Cooktown.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Port Douglas
POP 4772
Back in the 1960s, Port Douglas was a sleepy fishing village with a laidback population of
100; come the '80s and the construction of the Sheraton Mirage mega-resort, and 'Port'
morphed into a flashy playground for the big-hair, big-money set. These days, the town has
settled somewhere between the two extremes: unhurried yet upmarket, it's a sophisticated
alternative for those looking to escape Cairns' hectic tourist scene. Port's white-sand beach,
Four Mile, is mere steps away from the main streets (Macrossan and Davidson), and the
Great Barrier Reef is less than an hour offshore.
