We will be arriving in Cairns in two weeks for our honeymoon. Would we enjoy Palm Cove or Port Douglas better? We want relaxation but also would like some night life. We will be staying for 8 days. Also, has anyone stayed at the Sea Temple Resort in Spa in PC or PD? Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Well, both are bit short on nightlife, apart from restaurants - Port Douglas is larger than Palm Cove, but Palm Cove is closer to Cairns city, where there's much more to do at night. Palm Cove's Sea Temple is right on Palm Cove beach and only a few minutes walk to the rest of village; Port Douglas Sea Temple with golf course is at the other end of 4 Mile Beach, a long way from Port Douglas village.

I would recommend Palm cove over Port Douglas for a honeymoon. PD is more like spring break in Fort Lauderdale.

I would prefer Palm Cove for honeymoon, although I know it is expanding, since I went there last.

Have a look at the website www.palmcove.net see what you think.

Cairns isn't too far from PC so if you want more action you can easily get there.

Good Luck

Muck

Wow: "PD is like Ft. Lauderdale at Spring Break"?

Does anyone second this notion? We're planning trip to reef/NQ, and were considering PD as base, but we don't want anytning to do with "ft. lauderdale at spring break." That's certainly not the picture of PD that the guide books are selling. Others thoughts?

I had the same reaction as WMR to the Ft. Lauderdale at spring break comparison. We were thinking of basing ourselves there rather than Palm Cove because we thought it would be convenient to tours in the Daintree, etc. We would be there in October which I think is during a school break in Australia. Like WMR, I would love to get some more feedback on this!

ttt

Having not been to Fort Lauderdale in spring break, I can't really comment on weasel's post; however, if you check Port Douglas Tourism website you'll see that there's hardly more than 20 streets in and about town with no high-rise.

But I do think I know where weasel's coming from; for a long time now Port Douglas has considered itself "the" destination in FNQ, and quite frankly, its become complacent and rested on its laurels for too long.
Anyone who lives in area knows "Palm Cove is the new Port Douglas", lets just hope Palm Cove knows when to arrest the resort development or will end up in same boat. Just today (and I only live 50 mins drive from PD) have had two phone calls offering half price resort accommodation in Port Douglas, astonishing, as this is still high season.

Port Douglas is about 40 minutes closer to Daintree area than Palm Cove, day trips are still available from PC. If you want luxury resorts and spas, yes, PD or PC both have them, with a couple not far from PD, Daintree Eco Lodge and Silky Oaks, if you like truly unique environmental experiences, stay in Daintree or Cape Tribulation areas, and at least a couple of days in nearby Atherton Tablelands.

What about reef access from PC (as opposed to PD)?

Thanks

I also have no idea what Fort Lauderdale in spring break means - I am assuming lots of young people partying?? PD might be more of a party place than PC but it is not really oerrun with partiers. I personally prefer PC and I think it might be a more romantic place but I don't know you. You can access reef easily from both places (I guess more boats leave directly from PD but they all arrange transfers). I second suggestion to go to Cape Tribulation or Daintree. Just went to Cape Trib in June for my 20 year honeymoon. Beautiful and can still access reef from there too. No matter where you chose it is all nice and lots to do - or not - depending on what you want.

One of Ocean Spirit's motor sailer catamarans leaves for Upolo Cay and Oyster Reef directly from Palm Cove jetty, on Palm Cove beach. This is their Sail and Snorkel trip - no diving. All Cairns reef trips pick up at Palm Cove and transfers can be arranged for Port Douglas reef trips; as PC further to PD than Cairns the transfer fee is more (some reef trips such as Ocean Spirit to Michaelmas Cay out of Cairns include transfer from PC in trip cost). Also a couple of reef trips out of Cape Tribulation beach, check out Rum Runner and Odyssey H20.

"Ft. Lauderdale at Spring Break": a rite of passage for many US college students (and some hangers on) involving heavy, conspicuous consumption on alcohol; hotels, bars, streets and beaches wall-to-wall with revelers; wet t-shirt contests (and worse). You get the picture.

Got it. That is not PD. Taht is Gold Coast in November and December.