Port Douglas Self-Drive

Today you could experience Smithfield Heights, Clifton Beach, Palm Cove, Ellis Beach, Oak Beach, Craigie and Alexandra Lookout. Perhaps take a detour to see Kuranda (small village, stronghold of hippie culture in 1960s, art and craft workshops, cafes, daily market), Kuranda Markets, Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, over the tree tops and the Scenic Railway (100 years old) tunnels and bridges, with views of Barron Falls, 34km long, begins in Cairns and ends in Kuranda), Daintree National Park (rainforest, part of Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, divided into 3 sections: Mossman Gorge, Cape Tribulation and Snapper Island), Mossman Gorge (accessible introduction to rainforest by indigenous Kuku Yulanji people, more than 430 bird species) or Cape Tribulation (beaches, reef tours, horse riding on the beach). Direct driving 67km (1 hour) .

Vibrant Port Douglas (the fishing village that grew up to be a world topping destination and marina for the rich and famous, breakfast with the birds or lunch with the lorikeets then wander the exhibits in a wildlife sanctuary, see history come alive at the Port Douglas Courthouse Museum or place your bet on the nightly Cane Toad Races in the dinky-di Aussie pub on Macrossan St), The Great Barrier Reef (cruises or seaplane flights out to snorkel the Reef), historic Mossman town (friendly working township, seasonal sugarmill tours, 'art deco' brightly coloured buildings, historic pub, roadside mango trees dropping fruit in season, enroute to Mossman Park), Mossman Gorge (meet the Indigenous owners and follow the walk trail, crystal waters tumble over gigantic boulders in the Mossman River and Rex Creek mid massive ancient tropical rainforests in the land of the Indigenous Kuku Ylanji people), Newell Beach, Wonga Beach (long, remote beaches), Miallo (Karnak Playhouse amphitheatre beside the lake created by Diane Cilento wife of Sean Connery aka 007, The Australian Muster Experience - an awesome, 'must do' outback cattle mustering experience with dinky di stockmen and women on a remote Aussie cattle station and real Aussie BBQ), Daintree Village (book your spot the croc tour with the experts, enjoy a real country lunch and see the locally made crafts and goodies - mozzie spray is de-rigueur now, and always read and heed all signs and notices), Wet Tropics World Heritage Daintree River to Cape Tribulation (1.375 km tall mountain Thornton Peak, tropical lowlands and the place on earth where the sea meets the tropical rainforest, awesome cable ferry across the croc infested river), Cape Kimberley Beach and Snapper Island, Cow Bay village (Daintree Discovery Centre), Cooper Creek (Daintree Entomological Museum, a must-do experience collection of butterflies, spiders and massive bugs), Cape Tribulation (tropical rainforest meets the ocean in dramatic style, see and heed and get a pic of "beware of the crocodile" signs and be alert for unique, shy cassowary birds crossing the road here in 'Godzone').