Port Douglas, Cairns, North Queensland
Welcome to www.port-douglas.com.au, one of the oldest websites about the magnificent Port Douglas, Cairns. Here you can book a room, or a Port Douglas restaurant online within minutes and plan your holiday easily.
About Port Douglas
Port Douglas is a town in Far North Queensland, Australia, approximately 70 km (40 mi) north of Cairns. Its permanent population was about 3000 residents in 2006. The town's population can often double, however, with the influx of tourists during the peak tourism season May-September. The town is named in honour of former Premier of Queensland, John Douglas. Port Douglas developed quickly based on the mining industry. Other parts of the area were established with timber cutting occurring in the area surrounding the Daintree River and with settlement starting to occur on lots around the Mossman River by 1880.
Previous names for the town included Terrigal, Island Point, Port Owen and Salisbury. The town is situated adjacent to two World Heritage areas, the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. Port Douglas was No. 3 on Australian Traveller magazine's list of 100 Best Towns In Australia.
Every year Port Douglas attracts tourist and locals alike to two significant festival periods. The original and world renowned festival the Port Douglas Carnivaleis on around the end of May and runs for 10 days over two weekends beginning with the Macrossan Street Parade attracting over 10,000 people. The second festival period is held over two weekends in October and consists of the Footprints Music Festival an Eco / Arts Festival & 'Porttoberfest' a Far Northern Queensland Beer Festival. Both periods showcase and celebrate the regions unique tropical island like lifestyle.
In 2012, Port Douglas will be the pole position for a Total Solar Eclipse. This phenonemon will take place at 6:38 am on November 14th 2012. Only a small slither of land with witness the intergalactic event and Port Douglas is right in its path. Thousands are expected to converge at this unique destination to see the event. The Solar Eclipse Marathon The first ever Full International Marathon running festival is being organised in Port Douglas to coincide with the Total Solar Eclipse in November 2012. This full adventure 42.195 km Marathon expecting over 2,000 competitors will start on the morning of November 14th as the first rays of the sun re-emerge from behind the moon thus creating the first ever intergalactic starting gun!
Port Douglas has a tropical climate with warm summers and warm winters, and rainfall mainly Jan through Mar.