I have been looking at past forums and picking up tips as to where to vist and do when we (2 adults, 2 teenagers, 18 yrs and 15 yrs) get to Port Douglas on 6th July....it has been very interesting reading. We picked out recommendations - Wavelength, Ocean Spirit and Reef Magic - probably do the first two. Kuranda, Daintree Rainforest, Atherton Tablelands seem to be popular. Does anyone have other suggestions...8 nights seems quite long.

Can anyone tell me if Queenlanders have their school holidays then and if so, would booking trips out to the reef be difficult if we don't book in advance. Also, where we can hire a car at a reasonable rate. Cheers.

Hi Oinkoink, Qld school holidays are around 23rd June-8th July but thats not of much importance for a Port Douglas stay. Most Australians take their kids away in the far longer summer holidays starting in December. July is about the busiest month in Far North Qld as its winter, when Australians from cooler climes flock here, New Zealanders come across the ditch for a bit of warmth, and also coincides with summer vacation times in USA and Europe. Ocean Spirit and Reef Magic are both great reef trips which offer snorkelling, diving and introductory diving, they are out of Cairns, not Port Douglas. Wavelength is snorkelling only out of Port Douglas and Calypso is a terrific day trip out of PD, in high season (July) it has a designated snorkelling only trip.

I think 8 nights is too long in Port Douglas, you could spend some time in both Daintree and Atherton Tablelands, or some of the other areas south, have a look at www.bnbnq.com.au for an idea of some different places to stay which will give you a much better idea of the area than just staying in Port Douglas.

Thanks Pat for your response....seeing as it is a busy season, we should book our snockelling trip before we get to Port Douglas. Unfortunately, we have booked and paid for our accomdation so there is not way out of it. We do intend hiring a car so we'll do some driving and spend sometime out of Port Douglas ....guess the rest of the time can be spent chilling out at the resort! Cheers

I think 8 days in Port Douglas would be wonderful for a family in July. It is a perfect base for excursions to Mossman Gorge, Daintree, the Reef etc. I suggest you visit the Tjapukai Aboriginal cultural centre too, at the bottom of the Kuranda Skyway. And you'll have time to relax, and there'll be plenty for your children to doin Port Douglas itself. Have a great trip!

As you are not rushing things you'll have time to check out "Reef Teach" - if it's still operating. Brilliant talk and slide show about the reef - all the things you never knew, and some you really ought to know before going out there. Seriously entertaining.

Also - I know you have paid for your accommodation already - but if you care to take a road trip - go up to Cooktown and stay somewhere cheap. There's nothing much there that you could say was a "must see" - but the getting there is an adventure, and there are some ;It's a tn ionlyrhve pnkso Happy hols.

A

As you are not rushing things you'll have time to check out "Reef Teach" - if it's still operating. Brilliant talk and slide show about the reef - all the things you never knew, and some you really ought to know before going out there. Seriously entertaining.

Also - I know you have paid for your accommodation already - but if you care to take a road trip - go up to Cooktown and stay somewhere cheap. There's nothing much there that you could say was a "must see" - but there are some nice walks, getting there is an adventure, and ìt is as different as different can be from Port Douglas. Historic too - if you are into that sort of thing.

Happy hols.

Oinkoink, I don't think 8 days in Port Douglas will be too long. My 18-year-old and 15-year-old would love being able to stay there that long! We have been to PD several times, most recently last August for 6 days and we could easily have stayed longer. That being said, since you will be there so long, I would hold off on booking your reef trips until you get there. It can be quite windy in July and you will want to go to the reef on a day with as little wind as possible. I suggest you go over to the Wavelength office as soon as you get settled in PD (it's next to the marina shopping mall) and talk to them about the weather for the next few days. They will tell you what is predicted for the next few days and then you can decide on a day to book your trip. Even when we have been in PD in July, we have been able to get on a Wavelength tour within a day or two of our arrival. It works pretty much the same for the other reef tour companies.
Once you have your reef tours booked, you can think about booking a trip up to Kuranda, if you don't plan to drive. When my kids were 12 and 9, we did the train/Skyrain combo and they found the train only mildly interesting while they absolutely loved the Skyrail. In fact, if I were going with them now, I would completely skip the train as they would find it totally boring. Instead, I would do the Skyrail both ways. Plan to go on a day when all of the markets are open.
Last year when we were in PD, my kids were 17 and 14 and we went to the Rainforest Habitat for "Breakfast with the Birds" for the 3rd time. They still loved eating with the birds and then walking around the habitat looking at all the animals up close. We even got to hold a python! I don't know about your teens, but mine really like the Rainforest Habitat.
I would also suggest a half-day at Mossman Gorge. There's a great 3km circular hike through the rainforest that we always do. It's not difficult at all and if you wear your swimsuits and don't mind some cold water, you can stop along the way for a swim. Take a picnic lunch too. The crowds can be large until mid-afternoon, but don't go too late because it gets dark in the rainforest before the sun goes down.
Finally, other things to do in PD are the outdoor cinema in the park which is, I believe, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and I think it's free. Also, the Sunday market in the park is great and both my son and daughter found some neat things there.

Hi oinkoink, Sugarland Car Rentals is a reliable local car rental company, you can pick the car up in Cairns or have them meet you with it at Cairns airport.

I didn't mean 8 days in the area is too long, just would have been nice to maybe spend a night somewhere on Tableland where many properties have wildlife including platypus on site, a night in nearby Daintree in its rainforest, maybe an overnight in Cooktown. But based in Port Douglas, you can still do the first two as day trips, Cooktown is a bit far for a return daytrip by road. Don't miss Mareeba Wetlands on Tableland for birdlife with kangaroos in wild, historic Yungaburra with its curtain fig tree, Malanda with its dairy produce, Millaa Millaa with its waterfalls - it'll be far cooler on Tableland in July than down on the coast, so take something warm to wear.

With 8 days to play with you won't need to pre-book reef trip, just walk down to wharf when the reef boats come in, maybe talk to the crews, and see which one you prefer. Your accommodation will be able to give you a correct weather forecast, so you can pick the least windy day.

For an astonishing collection of Australian parrots, as well as a multitude of native animals drop into Daintree Mangrove Sanctuary, about 13km on right north of Mossman.

If your teenagers are into hang gliding, there's a spot on the Capt Cook Highway (between Cairns and Port Douglas) at Rex Lookout (where all the tour buses stop for the view) or they can try bungy jumping at AJ Hacketts, just north of Cairns. Just near Tjakupai and Skyrail north of Cairns there a new water ski cable park, local teenagers love it. You can't miss it, on your left going north to Port Douglas, on Capt Cook Highway.

Have a great trip...

Sorry I haven't logged onto the site till now....thanks Pat, Longhorn55, Fuzzylogic and Suelynne.....I have noted down the places you have recommended we experience and see. Indeed, if not for the responses and help I have received, we would just be picking things to do and places to see off the tourism books and possibly miss out on some nice tours. Thanks too Pat for recommending a car hire company. Will check that out. Thanks Longhorn55 for suggesting that we ask the operators about the weather before we head out...never thought of that.

Just two more weeks before our trip. Truly appreciate the advice I have received. Thanks heaps....

Cheers.

If you have the money, a day trip you and your children will remember forever is to Lizard Island for snorkeling by air with Daintree Air. Greg is the owner/pilot and he will show you FNQ in all its glory as you fly there in his 10 seater plane, snorkel in the Clam Garden with him leading you, and eat his wife's lovely lunch. When we did it a couple with their teens were along and Greg was very solicitious of the teens' welfare. It was a lovely day and the best snorkeling we've ever had.
Sally in Seattle
I think the website is www.daintreeair.com

My friend and I went to Cairns (which isn't as great as Port Douglas) in early June and we absolutely LOVED seeing the reef through PASSIONS which was a smaller (but not too small) boat. We snorkeled right off the boat in two different locations at the reef (one more in open water and the other close to a little island). The people were beyond friendly and helpful and it felt more personal. We also took the Billy Tea tour of the Daintree and that was absolutely amazing. It took us more into the rainforest itself with a stop at the Coral Sea. I have nothing but great things to say about both companies.

Have an amazing time!

Hi Okkuriwin

Thanks for your recommendations. Haven't really looked at going to the reefs with Passions but I'll check out their website. Billy Tea sounds interesting. Thanks for your tips.