Trinity Beach to Port Douglas: Distance, driving time & attractions

The drive from Trinity Beach to Port Douglas in Queensland is 51km in distance, with a driving time of 45 minutes. Attractions on the way include Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures and the Rex Lookout.

If you’re staying in Trinity Beach, Cairns, you may end up needing to drive from Trinity Beach to Port Douglas to catch a Great Barrier Reef tour. Several reef cruise operators depart from Port Douglas – including Quicksilver, Silversonic and Calypso.

Alternatively, you might just like to drive from Trinity Beach to Port Douglas because it’s a gorgeous drive.

Trinity Beach to Port Douglas distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Trinity Beach to Port Douglas is 51km. That makes for a driving time of around 45 minutes. The route is mainly along the Captain Cook Highway.

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.

First, you pass through the other Cairns Beaches suburbs – Kewarra Beach, Clifton Beach and Palm Cove.

Trinity Beach to Port Douglas drive: Beaches and crocodiles

After leaving glorious Palm Cove Beach behind, you’ll reach Buchan Point Beach and the Cairns Yacht Club at Ellis Beach. Next are Borderline Beach, a solid photo stop at Balancing Rocks and Wangetti Beach.

Wangetti is better known as the home of Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures. Here, you can see the awesome power of saltwater crocodiles at feeding time. Tickets can be booked online.

A short detour inland, meanwhile, will get you tremendous views from the Macalister Range Lookout.

Trinity Beach to Port Douglas drive: Rex Lookout and Thala Beach

The Captain Cook Highway’s classic lookout, however, is the Rex Lookout. From this very popular photo stop, you’re blessed with sweeping views of the coastline and rainforest.

The Trinity Beach to Port Douglas drive then continues alongside Macalister Range National Park, past the Turtle Cove Beach Resort and Pretty Beach.

The Thala Beach Nature Reserve at Oak Beach makes for a good stop, too. It is home to the Thala Beach Resort, which offers a range of tours. These include coconut discovery experiences, guided garden walks and stargazing sessions.

There are also a couple of attractions on the way into Port Douglas. You can try to spot crocs from the Crocodile Viewpoint over Spring Creek, or get a good dose of native Australian wildlife at the Port Douglas Wildlife Habitat.

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

Save time queuing – Book these Cairns attractions in advance

From the air: Outer Reef helicopter flight | Sunrise hot air balloon ride | Skyrail Rainforest Cableway.
At night: Sunset dinner cruise | Pub and club tour | Aquarium by Twilight experience.
For wildlife: Birdworld Kuranda | Kuranda Koala Gardens | Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome | Cairns Aquarium | Rainforestation Nature Park
For culture: Cairns Museum tickets | Street art walking tour | City and surrounds highlights bus tour.
For thrills: AJ Hackett giant jungle swing | High speed jet boat tour | Barron Gorge white water rafting | Mulgrave River tubing.

Trip-booster! 8 great day trips from Cairns to power-up your holiday

Kuranda combo package – take the Kuranda Scenic Railway up and the Skyrail cable car down.
Green Island tours with beach time, glass bottom boat and snorkelling. (Or pick a Fitzroy Island trip instead).
Moore Reef day tour – with underwater observatory, snorkelling gear, glass bottom boat & semi-submersible cruises.
Great Barrier Reef snorkelling cruise – with snorkelling stops at two excellent spots on the Reef.
Cape Tribulation rainforest day tour – with Mossman Gorge Aboriginal cultural experience and Daintree River crocodile-watching cruise.
Atherton Tableland waterfalls and rainforest tour – including wildlife-spotting and a swim in a volcanic lake.
Outback 4WD tour – visiting Chillagoe Caves, Aboriginal rock art and Granite Gorge.