Port Douglas has some of the best snorkelling in the world, being perfectly located on the Coral Sea, a short boat ride away from the Great Barrier Reef. In Port Douglas you can go snorkelling from the beach (although there’s not much to see) or take various tours and boat trips to Low Isles, the …
Australia
Australia is where my husband (we call him Chef) was born. The rest of the family have spent around a decade living in Australia too. We travelled around Australia as young backpackers (with a tent!) and as a family with kids of every age. Our Australia content is here to help you explore Australia, with ease, find the hidden gems and must-sees, and to help you do it cost-efficiently because Australia isn’t a cheap destination!
If you plan to Skydive or parachute jump in Australia, you organise that through this website.
We have a lot of content on this site about Far North Queensland, because our house is there, but we’ve been all over Australia too, both as young backpackers with a tent, and on family road trips.
We’re passionate about the ocean so you’ll find a fair amount of content about snorkelling and scuba diving on the reef. We also have city and state information for Sydney, Canbera, WA, the NT, and more. Please browse our content below and you should find what you’re looking for.
Our Australia content was originally created for international travellers but the domestic market are using it too. Keep Australian tourism afloat, I know we need tourists up here in FNQ!
Most of the biggest and best hotels in Port Douglas do not allow dogs to stay, other than assistance dogs, but a handful of hotels, camp sites and villas, will allow dogs and pets. We run through the best Port Douglas hotels with dogs. Some Port Douglas restaurants and pubs will also allow dogs on …
The best time to visit Cairns is broadly considered to be Australia’s cooler months, thus avoiding the wet season, tropical cyclones, and stinger season. If you’d prefer to avoid these natural phenomena, you should visit between May and October, these are the months many people consider “ideal” for visiting Cairns. However, you can visit Cairns …
Yes, you can snorkel off the beach in Port Douglas at any time of year. In summer “stinger season” there is a netted swimming enclosure on Four Mile Beach. Snorkelling at Port Douglas beach is something I’ve done many times. But read the rest of this post to find out about potential dangers and limitations. …
A lot of people wonder, are there crocodiles in Australia? Yes, there are a lot of crocodiles in the warmer parts of Australia, notably the large, dangerous, saltwater crocodile, Crocodylus porosus, but also the less-troublesome freshwater crocodile (Johnstone’s Crocodile). There are large numbers of crocodiles in northern Queensland and The Northern Territory Australia. Western Australia …
Port Douglas has just one beach, Four Mile Beach. Another site claims Port Douglas has multiple beaches, they’re a large, commercial site and are trying to cash in on the keyword “Port Douglas Beaches”. That keyword exists because Port Douglas has a hotel called “Beaches”. We live in Port Douglas. We live minutes from Port …
Port Douglas is pretty popular as a Christmas holiday destination. With Australian long summer school holidays falling over the Christmas period, many families choose to travel around Christmas time and into the early New Year. However, Christmas and summer time bring some of the hottest, most humid weather to the tropics. Port Douglas is just …
Stuck for places to visit in Melbourne? Have you visited most of them already? What about places to visit near Melbourne? Day trips, tours, places of interest and activities near Melbourne CBD. We bring you our best places to visit in and near Melbourne in this travel blog post! Melbourne attracts millions of visitors from …
Mossman Australia is a small town in Far North Queensland. It is north of both Cairns and Port Douglas, south of Daintree Village and the Daintree Rainforest. It’s not really a tourist town other than for visitors going to the Mossman Gorge, an incredibly beautiful rainforest spot, for walking, learning, enjoying, and sometimes swimming. You …
Australia is known for its unique and very special wildlife. We have quite a selection of native animals, like kangaroo, wallabies, wombats, platypus and echidnas. Many are marsupials, which are a type of mammal. In Australia you will also find native birds including emu and kookaburras. Then there are the non-unique animal residents, such as …
Souvenirs from Australia are many and varied but what can you buy to remember your Australian trip? This post covers the best Australian souvenirs and gifts. What’s on sale Downunder to remind you of your great Australian adventure or to gift to a loved one? We give you some ideas and tips and even a …
Cairns with kids. Fun things to do in Cairns with kids. In this post, we cover family-friendly things to do in Cairns for a family holiday or vacation. Both in Cairns, and near Cairns. Child-pleasing and family-friendly things to do in Cairns Australia. We already published our guide to things to do in Cairns, now …
Dining in Port Douglas is made all the better if you can find a restaurant with a good view. A delicious dinner of local seafood or a modern Australian dish is always enhanced by a wonderful sea view, don’t you think? We have a few Port Douglas restaurants to share with you, where you can …
What are the most popular Australian foods? Modern Australia exhibits a diverse blend of global cultures and histories in its modern cuisines. Many popular Australian dishes are synonymous with Australia, verging on the unique, yet they tend towards Australian variations on international dishes. Other dishes that are most certainly popular Australian food can be found …
Which is better, cheaper, safer, cleaner, or just easier, Airbnb or hotel in Australia? Airbnb has exploded around the world in recent years with millions hosting and booking through the Airbnb platform. But which is better ? AirBnb vs Hotel. We also have a useful comparison map. Should you book that Airbnb? Or keep on …
Paronella Park is a tourist attraction in Far North Queensland, Australia. It was built as a pleasure park business by an inspired Spaniard with a head full of dreams, back in the days when this part of the world was inaccessible to most. But what is it about Paronella Park? Is this crumbling castle in …
There are many things to do in Port Douglas Australia and near this pretty Australian resort town. Most visitors take trips to the Great Barrier Reef and Low Isles for snorkelling and scuba diving. Then there are natural attractions like the Daintree rainforest and Mossman Gorge to explore. This post lists the best activities, day …
Port Douglas Queensland Australia is a beautiful, up-market resort town with easy access to the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest. It’s a dream destination for families with kids with many safe, beautiful, outdoor things to do. We’ve called it home since our kids were toddlers, babies really. If you’ve not had a chance to …
Yes, absolutely, you can swim in Port Douglas Australia unless the lifeguards close the beach due to various unusual dangers. Beach closures aren’t common. Should you swim? There are a few things you need to know about safety, crocodiles, deadly jellyfish, nets (swimming enclosures), and lifeguards. This post is all about swimming in Port Douglas …
OK, so Port Douglas isn’t cheap. It’s a high-cost destination in the global travel scene but if you’re trying to stretch your budget there are a few things to do in Port Douglas for free. We’ll give you some ideas on free things to do below. If you’re planning a holiday this year we also …
Daintree Village lies on the south side of the Daintree River in Far North Queensland. To reach the village when driving north from Port Douglas and Cairns you will need to take a left and not take the turning towards the Daintree Ferry, stay on the Mossman Daintree Road. Daintree Village is about 110 Km …
Queensland in a vast state in the northeast of Australia. The best places to visit in Queensland are the beaches, rainforest, The Great Barrier Reef, many islands and historic towns, along with vibrant modern cities and some of Australia’s best tourist attractions. Queensland has mile after mile of beaches, surf, perfect island destinations, coral reefs, …
Visiting Canberra used to be rather humdrum and uninspiring. But, Australia’s capital city is finally shaking off its boring reputation to become a destination in itself. Canberra is a bustling cultural wonderland first and foremost. Also, with a range of world-renowned exhibitions at Australia’s National Gallery, the fascinating and somber Australian War Memorial, and the …
Swimming with whales or any large marine creatures is a breathtaking experience as we’d already discovered with the mantas in Bali. I recently had the chance to go swimming with minke whales off the coast of Australia. There was no way I was saying no to that! We couldn’t make this a family trip and …
Sydney is Australia’s most famous city. It contains such exciting and famous landmarks as The Sydney Opera House and The Sydney Harbour Bridge. But anyone can tell you the regular things to see in this vibrant and spirited capital city. Taronga Zoo, Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb, Manly, Bondi Beach, Darling Harbour, and Circular Quay are …
The Northern Territory is Australia’s spiritual heart. From the green lush spectacle that is the wet Kakadu wilderness right through the red centre of the country and the enduring Uluru, the Northern Territory covers many types of magnificent landscapes. The pulse of Australian Indigenous culture is palpable in the Northern Territory. You can find the …
We’re local divers, we’ve lived in Port Douglas for many years so we can tell you a lot of what you need to know about Port Douglas diving. Scuba diving from Port Douglas is good, it’s always a fun day out and you can visit some diverse and beautiful dive sites. This post particularly reviews …
Welcome to Queensland! This is a land full of pristine white sand beaches, perfect rainforest vistas, island resorts and outback splendour. We have cosmopolitan cities, and quaint coastal towns all begging to be explored. But all of this beauty can come at quite a cost if you want to holiday here. However, we have found …
Melbourne, Australia is consistently rated high on the list of the most liveable cities in the world. We visited pre-children and caught an overnight bus along the southeastern coast road from Batemans Bay in NSW. A windy road that doesn’t give you a remote chance of sleep. With its incredibly eclectic vibe, vibrant bohemian feel …
Western Australia takes up almost half of the Australian continent. The richness of the landscape over so huge an area takes in incredible stretches of coastline and pristine beaches along with stunningly beautiful National Park rock formations and gorges. Rainbow sunsets over the Indian Ocean will inspire while turquoise waters contrast beautifully with the red …
The capital of South Australia, Adelaide is a unique city filled with rich culture. It is brimming with decadent wining and dining, stunning metropolitan beaches and world-class boutique shopping. There are so many things to do in Adelaide! Likewise, there are many more opportunities for short nearby day trips. This makes Adelaide a great place to visit …
The best time to visit Port Douglas is of course when you can visit. Never let the weather put you off too much, but should you choose summer or winter, wet season or dry and should you factor in stinger season? A lot depends on which of the things to do in Port Douglas appeal …
Belanglo State Forest is a forestry plantation of exotic radiata pines in New South Wales Australia. It is famous, unfortunately, for a series of murders but is also a popular recreational area and a great spot for wild mushroom foraging. The New South Wales Government owns the plantation and planting started back in 1919, today the …
What’s it live to live, sleep, eat, scuba and snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef? We’ve taken 2 liveaboard scuba diving trips on the reef now in Queensland Australia, both departing from Cairns. But what do divers and snorkellers do out there, what’s it like? It’s the ultimate dive experience and we did it as …
What’s it like to learn to scuba dive? Our post covers the basics of scuba certification and follows my son learning to dive in Cairns, Australia and on the Great Barrier Reef with Divers Den, a local dive school and scuba operator. Yes, kids can scuba dive too, but how old do they need to …
Cairns has numerous great attractions within easy reach of the city and CBD but there are also loads of things to do in the surrounding area. We’re local travel bloggers, we live just outside Cairns when we’re not travelling the world, so we really enjoyed putting this Cairns travel blog section together for you. In …
The only way to get from Cairns to Port Douglas is by road (unless you take a helicopter or charter a boat) and it’s officially one of the most beautiful drives in the world. The Captain Cook Highway between Cairns and Port Douglas hugs the coast offering stunning views of the Coral Sea. Along the …
Hiring a car in Port Douglas can be quick and easy but during the high season the availability of cars will be limited so book ahead if you want a particular type of car. Cars available range from budget small hatch backs to convertible, 4wds and people carriers. There are far more car hire companies …
A must-visit for adventure seekers, wildlife enthusiasts and beachgoers alike, Fraser Island is a sand island (the largest in the world, in fact!) located in southern Queensland. A popular spot for many people both backpacking in Australia, holidaying with friends or family or for locals, Fraser Island is definitely one for the bucket list. There …
To the north of Cairns and Port Douglas, you will find the oldest rainforest in the world, the Daintree Rainforest. Daintree Village, Daintree River, Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation are areas you will most certainly want to see during your time in Port Douglas and Far North Queensland. A look at everything the Daintree has …