Ten things to do with kids in Port Douglas

While it’s wise to avoid swimming at beaches without a protective suit from November to April and anywhere you see crocodile warnings, Port Douglas is famous for its golden beaches and warm, gentle waters. Take a picnic and the esky down to Four Mile Beach for a day of sandcastle-building, treasure-collecting and paddling.  The best time to visit is late afternoon when the sun has dipped behind the palm trees and there’s plenty of shade.

Feed the fish & slurp shakes at St Crispins Cafe

Discover the hidden gem that is St Crispins Cafe, just off Port Douglas Road as you drive out of town. A converted railway station with a deck that overlooks the golf course and a huge fish pond, this quaint and charming cafe is the perfect spot for coffee and cake (they do a mean milkshake too).  Don’t forget to ask the friendly staff for some bread to feed the fish.

Spear crabs and forage for periwinkles on Newell Beach

If you’re travelling with older kids, head north out of Port Douglas to spend an afternoon learning Indigenous survival skills with Brandon and Lincoln Walker. Wander the mudflats and mangroves of Newell Beach, home to the Kuku Yalanji people for thousands of years, and get schooled in ancient spearfishing and foraging techniques on a Kuku Yalanji Cultural Habitat Tour. You’ll even get the chance to eat what you catch: dig into a crab and shellfish broth cooked up by the Walker brothers, followed by freshly made hot damper scones.

Head to the harbour at sundown

As dinner time approaches, watch the fishing charters, sailing tours and dive boats head back into the marina from your comfy sofa at Hemingways Brewery. With a kid-friendly menu and plenty of room to spread out, it’s the perfect spot for mum and dad to kick back with a locally-brewed beer while the kids entertain themselves. For a slightly more sophisticated but still family-friendly vibe, head around the corner to Barbados for cocktails and sharing plates amongst the sprawling sofas and lush tropical foliage.

Make a breakfast date with lorikeets and cockatoos

Ever tried to eat breakfast with a lorikeet sitting on your head? That’s just one of the up-close animal encounters you can expect when you sign up for Breakfast with the Birds at the eco-accredited Port Douglas Wildlife Habitat. Tuck into a breakfast of tropical fruits and fresh-baked pastries while parrots, cockatoos and, of course, those cheeky lorikeets flit around and above you. After breakfast, explore the park: feed kangaroos from your hand or brave the Predator Plank while estuarine crocodiles lurk beneath you.

Tuck into prawns fresh from the trawler

You’re spoilt for choice when eating out in Port Douglas: the town has everything from takeaways and casual, kid-friendly restaurants to award-winning degustation experiences. But if you feel like keeping it simple, just grab a picnic rug, head to the fresh seafood truck on Warner Street for a bag of fresh prawns and set up camp under one of the towering palm trees on Rex Smeal Park. Let the kids blow off some steam on the playground while you watch the superyachts and catamarans cruise by. 

On the way home, stop off at Wicked Ice Cream Co on Macrossan Street and take your pick from their constantly changing menu of gelatos and sorbets.  (With weird and wonderful flavours like kinder surprise, cherry ripe and cucumber, mint and melon, expect some lengthy deliberations at the counter).

Go croc-hunting on the Daintree River 

If you’d rather see crocodiles in the wild, the only safe way is by boat. Head north out of Port Douglas to the Daintree Rainforest  and sign up for a river tour with the eco-friendly crew at Solar Whisper Cruises, the Daintree’s only zero emission boat. Keep an eye out for local croc residents Scarface, Scooter and Lizzie, as well as pythons, herons and tawny frogmouths. Don’t worry if you don’t own binoculars - the boat’s Croc Cam will zoom right in and give you the chance to see the crocs in all their scaly glory.

Discover the Great Barrier Reef - above or below water

Your kids don’t all have to be confident swimmers to enjoy a family day trip to the reef. Hop aboard a Quicksilver Tours cruise and head to Agincourt Reef for the day, where a giant pontoon caters to all ages. Let the little ones loose in the underwater observatory, where they can experience the reef without even getting their toes wet, while the big kids have a blast on the pontoon’s waterslide or explore the reef in a semi-submersible. Check the operator’s website for details on transfer times and prices from Port Douglas.

Where to stay in Port Douglas

If you’re travelling with kids, staying somewhere with an epic pool and plenty of kid-friendly things to do is a non-negotiable. All along Port Douglas Rd, which runs parallel to Four Mile Beach, you’ll find a wide selection of resorts and kid-friendly accommodation options. From the plush, recently renovated Sheraton Grand Mirage and the Mantra Port Sea with its waterslide and lagoon pool to the self-contained units at Reef Resort Villas, in Port Douglas you’re spoilt for choice.

Looking for more things to do in Port Douglas? Get inspired with this list of the region’s top experiences.