Things to do in Port Douglas
The unmissables
Most booked
Private Daintree Rainforest Walk: Small Group, World Heritage★ 4.93 (2,525) · 9h
Top rated
Port Douglas: Boat Cruise Spotting Crocodiles & Shipwrecks★ 4.76 (2,031) · 1h 30m
Best value
Cape Tribulation & Daintree: Mossman Gorge, River Cruise, Lunch★ 4.62 (2,050) · 10h–12h
Recommended (7)
Port Douglas: Daintree River Crocodile Cruise Solar Boat★ 4.88 (1,767) · 1hAU$ 35View ›
Barron Gorge: White Water Rafting Cairns & Port Douglas Pickup★ 4.81 (1,627) · 4h 30mAU$ 130View ›
Port Douglas: Outer Reef Snorkel & Dive Small Group Tour★ 4.98 (1,553) · 7h 15mAU$ 639View ›
Port Douglas: Outer Great Barrier Reef Cruise & Snorkeling★ 4.85 (1,455) · 8hAU$ 319View ›
Daintree River wildlife cruise: Crocodiles and birds on the water★ 4.80 (1,036) · 1hAU$ 39View ›
Daintree Rainforest & Cape Tribulation Day Tour from Cairns★ 4.70 (883) · 12hAU$ 312View ›
Port Douglas Reef Tour: Snorkel, dive & submarine in one day★ 4.59 (847) · 8hAU$ 338View ›Top rated (10)
Port Douglas: Aboriginal Daintree Rainforest & Spear ThrowingYou spend a full day walking the Daintree rainforest and coastal areas with a Kuku Yalanji guide, learning bush medicines and foods, trying spear throwing, and swimming in a freshwater stream. Meals, water and transport are included, and the pace is set by what's actually there rather than a fixed schedule.Is it for me?This tour is for anyone who wants to learn Aboriginal history and culture directly from a Kuku Yalanji guide on their own country, rather than from a museum or a non-Indigenous guide — the difference is that you're learning from someone whose family has lived here for thousands of years and still does.
Port Douglas: Daintree Rainforest ATV & River CruiseYou get picked up from your Port Douglas hotel, swim at a private waterfall, ride an ATV through the rainforest, tour the forest by Army truck with a local guide, eat lunch at Daintree Village, and cruise the Daintree River for an hour watching for wildlife. Return transfers are included, and the group stays small enough that you're not rushing between stops.Is it for me?Book this if you want the main Daintree experiences — waterfalls, rainforest riding, river wildlife — without arranging transport or timing the stops yourself; the small-group format and fixed itinerary mean you move at a pace that lets you actually absorb the forest instead of rushing between photo stops.
Port Douglas: Daintree Rainforest Waterfall Hike, Swim & Croc CruiseYou hike an hour each way to a secluded waterfall in the Daintree, swim in the rock pool, eat a chef-cooked gourmet lunch at a hidden rainforest restaurant, and finish with a river cruise spotting crocodiles and birdlife. Hotel pickup from Port Douglas or Mossman is included, and the whole day runs 8:30am to 4:30pm.Is it for me?Right for travelers with moderate fitness who want the full Daintree experience — waterfall, swim, and wildlife — in one day without arranging transport or lunch logistics. The one-hour hike each way and full-day schedule (8:30am–4:30pm) are what make fitting all three elements possible.
Daintree & Mossman Gorge: Aboriginal Walk, Bush Foods, Spear ThrowYou’ll walk through Daintree rainforest with an Aboriginal guide, taste wild bush foods, try your hand at spear throwing on Wonga or Cooya Beach, and cool off in Mossman Gorge’s clear waters. Expect quiet moments among ancient trees, laughter over failed crab hunts, and real stories from Kuku Yalanji country—a day that lingers long after you’ve left.
Port Douglas: Mossman Gorge River Drift & Daintree WalkYou float through Mossman River on a snorkeling drift, experience a traditional Kuku Yalanji smoking ceremony with body paint, and walk through Daintree National Park with a guide who explains the rainforest's ecology. Lunch, transfers from Port Douglas, and all gear are included; the whole day takes around 7–8 hours and you spend more time in the water than on any competing tour.Is it for me?Book this if you want to spend a full day in the rainforest without arranging your own transport or timing multiple stops—the fixed itinerary moves you from river to ceremony to forest walk in one seamless day, and the early pickup means you're in the water while other tours are still loading their vans.
Port Douglas: Daintree Rainforest & Cape Tribulation Full DayYou start at Mossman Gorge with a guided boardwalk and coffee, then cruise the Daintree River hunting for saltwater crocodiles and birds. After a cooked lunch at a rainforest restaurant and a swim in Cooper Creek, you walk another boardwalk through Daintree National Park and drive to Cape Tribulation for a beach walk and lookout views. Hotel pickup and all park fees are included, and the pace is built for small groups so the guide can actually answer questions.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation in one day without arranging your own transport, park tickets, or timing—the fixed itinerary handles all three, and the small-group format means your guide can actually answer questions instead of rushing through stops.
Daintree River: Small Sunset Cruise & Wildlife WatchingYou’ll float through late afternoon light on a small boat with just a handful of others, spotting kingfishers and crocodiles while your local guide shares stories about the Daintree River’s wild side. Expect quiet moments, sudden bursts of birdlife, and that feeling you get when everything slows down right before sunset.
Daintree River: Dawn Wildlife Cruise & Small Group Boat TourYou’ll glide along the Daintree River at dawn with a local guide and just nine other travelers, spotting kingfishers and crocodiles as mist rises off the water. The electric boat lets you hear every bird call and ripple as you explore hidden tributaries — bring a jacket for those cool early hours. It’s peaceful in a way that lingers long after.
Port Douglas: Daintree Rainforest & Mossman Gorge Full DayYou start with a river cruise spotting crocodiles and wildlife in the mangroves, walk through Mossman Gorge alongside the Mossman River, and explore the Cape Tribulation section of Daintree National Park on a second boat tour. Lunch, morning tea, park fees and hotel pickup are all included. The full day is built around what a local guide knows—the animals, the geology, the way this rainforest actually works.Is it for me?Right for travelers based in Port Douglas who want to see the Daintree without arranging their own transport or park logistics. The full day is what makes fitting the river cruises, the gorge walk and the Cape Tribulation section into one trip possible—expect to be out from early morning through afternoon, with the guide setting the pace.
Port Douglas: Outer Reef Sail & Snorkel with Mackay Cay StopYou’ll step straight onto a catamaran in Port Douglas and sail out by wind power toward Mackay Cay’s white sands. Guided by local marine biologists, you’ll snorkel vibrant reefs teeming with life, try out a glass-bottom boat ride if you want a break from swimming, and share lunch with fellow travelers before heading home sun-warmed and salt-haired.
Lowest price (10)
Daintree River Cruise: Wildlife Watching & Flexible Explorer PassYou’ll drift through rainforest and mangroves on a flexible Daintree River cruise, listening for birds and maybe spotting a crocodile if you’re lucky. With unlimited rides for 30 days from either Daintree Village or near the ferry crossing, you can return when the mood strikes. It’s slow travel at its best — sometimes quiet, sometimes surprising.
Daintree River Wildlife Cruise: Crocodiles & RainforestA 60–90 minute guided cruise on the Daintree River near Port Douglas lets you watch native wildlife—crocodiles, birds, snakes, butterflies and fish—move through their rainforest home while a local guide explains the tropical ecosystem. Morning or afternoon tea with biscuits is included, and the boat is wheelchair accessible.Is it for me?Book this cruise if you want to watch rainforest wildlife without leaving the boat—the slow pace and local guide make it work for families with young children, older travellers, and anyone who prefers to sit and observe rather than hike.
Port Douglas Wildlife Habitat: Swim with Crocodiles & Feed KangaroosWildlife Habitat Port Douglas is an award-winning wildlife park just outside Port Douglas featuring five immersive habitats — Rainforest, Wetlands, Savannah, Nocturnal and CrocArena — where you walk through each environment to see native Australian animals up close. The park includes free daily wildlife talks and presentations, and your ticket grants five days of re-entry so you can return without paying again. Last entry is at 3:30pm.Is it for me?Book general admission if you want to walk through the habitats and watch the wildlife talks at your own pace; choose a Swim with the Salties package if you want to add the in-water crocodile experience and need to know your group size before checkout.
Port Douglas: Sunset Junk Boat Sail & Yum Cha CanapésYou’ll sail from Port Douglas on an authentic Chinese junk boat as dusk settles over the Coral Sea. Share yum cha canapés, sip your included drink, and listen to local stories from your captain while rainforest hills fade into evening colors. It’s relaxed, quietly social, and leaves you with that feeling you get when you’ve really let go for a while.
Cairns: Rainforest River Tubing Tour with Pickup & RapidsYou’ll float through lush rainforest rivers near Cairns on a guided tubing adventure with both gentle drifts and playful rapids. Expect laughter, cool water against your skin, friendly guides who know their stuff, plus hotel pickup and snacks to wrap things up. There’s something about those quiet moments between the splashes that really sticks with you.
Sunset Sailing Cruise from Port Douglas: 1.5-hour catamaran sailA 1.5-hour sunset sailing cruise from Port Douglas takes you aboard a luxury catamaran across the Coral Sea with a complimentary drink and gourmet canapés included. The boat departs from Port Douglas Marina, sails along the coast toward the Low Isles, and returns as daylight fades. You choose your drink on arrival, settle on the viewing decks, and watch the tropical sunset over the water and surrounding mountains while ambient music plays.Is it for me?Book this if you want a shared sunset cruise with a fixed 1.5-hour departure and return—it locks in your evening timing if you have dinner plans afterward.
Sunset Sailing Port Douglas: Small Group, 2-Hour CruiseA 2-hour sunset sailing activity in Port Douglas aboard Indigo 2, a small vessel carrying a maximum of 12 guests. You stand on the foredeck with a gourmet cheese and dip platter featuring local produce, watching the sun set behind the mountains while an English-speaking guide is present. The small group size and extended duration set this apart from the standard sunset cruise format.Is it for me?Book this one if you want a small group—no more than 12—and time to actually watch the sunset unfold instead of racing back to port. The two-hour window is what makes the difference; you stay out through the full color shift and the quiet that follows.
Kuranda or Palm Cove: Small Group Day Trip with PickupYou’ll ride through ancient rainforest from Port Douglas or Palm Cove with pickup included, then choose between exploring Kuranda’s artsy markets and wildlife parks or relaxing along Palm Cove’s esplanade. Expect local stories, small group warmth, and moments that stick with you long after you’ve brushed off the sand or rainforest mist.
Barron River Rafting Cairns: Grade 2-3 Rapids & GorgeYou paddle Grade 2-3 rapids for up to 2 hours on the Barron River in a professional-guided raft, with all safety gear and instruction included. Hotel pickup from Cairns or Port Douglas is optional; you can self-drive instead. The experience takes a half-day and suits ages 12 and up with a moderate fitness level.Is it for me?Book this if you want a half-day adrenaline rush without arranging your own transport or safety gear—the fixed schedule and included guide mean you show up ready to paddle, and you're back by early afternoon.
Hartley's Crocodile Adventures: Wetlands Cruise & Attack ShowYou cruise the crocodile wetlands, watch the Attack show, walk five wildlife zones at your own pace, and help feed koalas and cassowaries with a keeper. Hotel pickup and drop-off from Cairns or Northern Beaches are included, so you show up and the rest is arranged. The whole thing takes around four hours.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see crocodiles and Australian wildlife without arranging your own transport or timing — the fixed schedule and hotel pickup mean you just show up, and the park's location inside UNESCO rainforest makes it different from a standard zoo.
