Gold Coast to Port Douglas road trip: Distance, drive time & stops

Gold Coast to Port Douglas drive: Cairns to Port Douglas

The Cairns to Port Douglas drive is 67km in distance, making for a driving time of about one hour and two minutes.

It’s a particularly scenic drive as well, with the Captain Cook Highway hugging the coast. Rainforest and mountains flank the Captain Cook Highway on the other side.

The Cairns to Port Douglas drive passes through Smithfield before taking in several Cairns beach suburbs. These include Trinity Beach, Clifton Beach, Palm Cove and Ellis Beach.

Attractions further north include the Macalister Range National Park near Wangetti. Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures is also in Wangetti and the Rex Lookout to the north is one of the best photo stops along the drive, overlooking Wangetti Beach.

The Rex Lookout over Wangetti Beach on the Cairns to Port Douglas drive. Photo courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland.

There are plenty of natural attractions on the drive north. These include the Thala Beach Nature Reserve north of Oak Beach, while you can take a short detour at Mowbray to see Big Mowbray Falls.

9 Port Douglas experiences to boost your holiday

Great Barrier Reef snorkelling tour – visiting three amazing snorkelling sites on the Outer Reef. This is the one for seeing the very best of the Reef.
Visit Agincourt Reef – with a cruise, underwater observatory and coral viewing in a semi-submersible. This is the best Port Douglas Reef tour for less confident swimmers.
Half-day Low Isles snorkelling tour – ideal for those with less time.
Daintree River wildlife cruise combo – see lots of crocs, then visit the cascades of Mossman Gorge.
Sunset sailing cruise – with welcome drinks and appetisers aboard a luxury catamaran.
Scenic helicopter flight – see the Great Barrier Reef from above.
Go fishing at a barramundi farm – with lunch included.
Aboriginal cultural walk – including bush tucker tasting and traditional hunting techniques.
Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas – meet all manner of native Australian animals.

Shortly afterwards, you turn off the Captain Cook Highway at Craiglie and enter Port Douglas. The Port Douglas Wildlife Habitat is on the way into the resort town, and the Port Douglas Marina is where all the reef cruises depart from.

Aside from the Great Barrier Reef tours, highlights of Port Douglas include river cruises, Four Mile Beach and the Port Douglas Wildlife Habitat.