Port Douglas Travel Answers

I will be there too ,

Hello,have you considered staying in a backpackers accomodation? they are good for budget minded people and have cooking facilities etc..Be aware that you will also have to pay for parking the van at a caravan park plus the petrol you will use. I would check out the backpackers if I was you.. Here are a few for your consideration. www.dougies.com.au/ www.hostelworld.com/PortDouglas www.yha.com.au (eco lodge) www.hostelz.com (PD Australia Backpackers) au.totaltravel.yahoo.com (PD budget hostel.) I live in Cairns and often go to PD (Port Douglas) Hope this helps.

Tropicrd, thank you so much!!! somehow I was thinking that camper sleeper would be cheaper to get. but right now I will check out hostels. can you recommend one which is closer to the ocean?

Dougies is only 300meters from the beach and a short stroll to the McCrossans Street which is the main Street in PD. Thanks for your aknowledgement.

Maybe consider staying at Mosman (sorry might be Mossman, but I understand name was changed to avoid mix up with Mossman in Sydney) and is about 20 kilometres past PD. There seemed to be far more budget accom there than in PD, which in my opinion is over priced anyway. Also Cairns has more opportunities for budget stays than PD, but then you'll need to factor in transport if wanting to do tours etc.

Maybe I should say more about myself. I like very remote spots. the best on my travel list was the Sahara. In real life I live in a forest in a mount area with almost no neibours around. I love, love to cook. I don't care about night life and cafe. Would be happy to get some fish and vegies from locals(I don't eat meat). I am going to rent a car anyway and can go to a spot with no civilization. Do you have any idea?

We most often - many many times - used cabins in Holiday Parks. I think they are a bit pricier now than then but still not bad. Enter into Google or other: 'port douglas caravan parks'. If I remember correctly the BIG 4 Caravan/Holiday Park we used was on the 'Bruce'? Highway near the turn off to PD. Most impressive, calming, au naturale' 'bushy' surrounds. An Animal Park for visiting not too far away at that time. Just into the PD road. We were 'hunting' Brolgas and ultimately found them all over Aus! Even here in Victoria!

I stayed in Dougies in 2006 and liked it very much - it has a nice tropical and relaxed atmosphere, with most of the rooms having doors that open to the outside, a pool, and lots of space. Of course it might have changed by now, but I just checked and it has currently 90% approval on hostelworld, so I guess it should still be very good and clean :-)

Thank you everyone for your contribution! I was looking for a place to stay on a budget, but went across a nice B&B. I would like to stay there. I even agree to give up an expensive snorkeling at GBR and instead to stay at this farm. I have biology education and that farm is very-very interesting for me!! http://www.capetrib.com.au/bed.htm

Glad you found somewhere nice,if I had have known you were looking elsewhere besides PD then I could have recommended a few places for you. The B&B you have chosen is wonderful but it certainly is not what I would call 'budget' accomodation. Just a quick tip for you to be mindful of is that the food and supplies at Cape Tribulation are pretty expensive. Enjoy this beautiful tropical wilderness and believe me there are lots of places to explore.

Of course I cannot not give a plug to my relevant Cape York Peninsula pages and video clips. Cooktown, Cape Trib and others. With necessary apologies for amateur home-made quality. (Humbled by ettiewyn's, as usual, wonderful pages.)

I saw... It is not on a budget... but I love to be in a middle of nowhere and the place looks unique. I plan to stay there only 2 nights. Also I will get some groceries on my way there. I will cook by myself. For me cooking is a meditation. Please, could you recommend, where I can buy some food+wine on the way to the Exotic farm?

Hi..Port Douglas has a supermarket and wine shop or if you are driving from Cairns then I recommend you stop at Smithfield Shopping Centre on the left side of the Cook Highway going north..you can't miss it..they have everything you will need.Have a wonderful time. Cheers Dorrise.

As you will be warned, be very 'crocodile aware' whilst there at Cape Trib. A number of awful things have happened in or near the waterways there - keep away. We went on the Daintree River little cruise and were shown certain spots of terrible saltwater crocodile attacks.('salties' as distinct from fairly safe 'freshies') I cannot understand why people take such risks! Bad information often or 'It won't happen to me' attitude. It does!!

OMG.... I didn't know that crocks are there. Does it mean that they are in the forest around Exotic farm? I like to take picks, walk alone. for sure, I don't want to get eaten by a crock. From the Exotic farm there are 10 minutes of walking to the beach and is it dangerous to walk there? You really scared me. I chose that farm because I like remote spots, but if it is dangerous, I don't go there.

Between Cairns and Port Douglas is Hartleys Crocodile/Wildlife park. If you go there you'll get to see just how big crocs can get - about the size of a large car in length and they just love to eat their favourite food - fresh tourists - yummy, but don't worry those at Hartleys have been fed. You might like to visit my tip on Hartleys where there is a crocodile/people photo and a link to a short video I took - see "Hartley's Crocodile Adventures" - Cairns Things to Do Tip by sirgaw

thank you, I took a look.

The crocs won't be in the forest where you will be..it's very safe so don't worry.You will need to be aware of the croc danger signs near the waterways and mangroves where they lurk all around the North including Cairns.The people at the farm will advise you,there are some wonderful walking tracks and safe swimming holes around the area. If you wish you can take a look at my Cape Tribulation page. I agree Hartleys Crocodile wildlife/park is really good.

Thank you so much to EVERYONE! I made my mind. I will go to Exotic farm. BTW, I learn the word "lurk". The English is the second language for me.

"There's nothing we Aussies love more than to put the fear of God into poor unsuspecting newbies by bragging about just how lethal our country is. Redback spiders, killer snakes, giant crocodiles; we've got them all! But the truth about our wildlife is .. if you leave them alone, they'll pretty much leave you alone. Think about this... twenty million of us call Australia home, and we're still here to talk about it!" From: cairnsunlimited.com/safetrav... > Also Bill Bryson book:'Down Under.'

I came back from my trip to Cape Tribulation in Australia. I am very unhappy with some posters who was scaring me with crocks. In real life in CT is very difficult to find a crock.

Hope you enjoyed your stay,I am very mindful of crocodiles during the mating season and those signs and warnings are there for good reason. Even local people have been attacked by being complacent about them. Palm Cove and Trinity Beach had to be closed a few weeks ago because a crocodile was swimming up/down the beach. A dog was taken only last month in one of our local suburban creeks and someone hunted a crocodile down and butchered it. These animals are wild and like any creature they deserve respect. So in my opinion and as a local,I say to always take notice of the signs. Cheers Dorrise

Dorrise, I love, love CT! but, I was scared to approach the ocean and touch water because of crocks. When I saw someone was swimming I understood that no crocks are there. Also, I was not alone in my scary mood, people read on the Internet scary things about crocks and were afraid like me to approach the ocean. 2 French girls got on a beach and the first thing asked me about crocks in water. I answered that only corrals can scratch them and it is all what to expect in water.

" In real life in CT is very difficult to find a crock." Very much Famous Last Words. In North Queensland and northern parts of other states NEVER EVER GO WITH THAT PRINCIPLE.!! smh.com.au/national/recent-c... > - and that's only to 2009. You wouldn't get time to spell croc properly! ;-) A little further up from PD on the Daintree River I saw where a woman was taken while swimming in that river two weeks before. "It won't happen to me". Not true.! Mind chilling.! Read more: VT Forum temporarily unavailable

Laurie,how true this is.Thank you for your reply.If a sign is erected then for heavens sake take note of it. I can't believe how many times people blame the crocodile when they attack. Keep safe abide by the warnings,they are not there for show. Cheers Dorrise

Yes Dorrise. Here is a warning from Rockhampton website, much, much further south below PD: wikitravel.org/en/Rockhampto... > "Stay safe: Rockhampton is about as far south as the habitat of the salt water crocodile extends. These animals are dangerous to humans. If you are travelling north along the east coast of Australia, Rockhampton is where you have to start being aware of crocodiles Crocodiles are seen in the Fitzroy River. " They don't mess around.!

please, do not scare tourists with those links. yes, crocks exist in that area, but not every where. even on a river cruise we could not spot many of them. we saw only one small crock. a guide told us that only one old fish man and a child was eaten in CT so far.

As you wish.

I would prefer a tourist to be warned about the danger than not be warned..it is not scaring people 'croc attacks' are very real indeed and those who are attacked are people who ignore the warning signs. You visited this area for only a short time and during when they are not so active 'croc's' can travel for up and down the coastal areas looking for a mate. It is mating season now and us locals have been warned,I will heed the warnings and make sure my visitors do too. Cheers Dorrise

Cairns Post. Sept 21st 2012: A FISHERMAN watched in horror as his mate's dog was snatched by a large crocodile at a creek at Kewarra Beach yesterday. Dog owner Ben Woods and his friend Benny Lawton were fishing at Deep Creek, near Kewarra Beach Resort, about 5pm when Angus, a two-year-old border collie cross, was snatched by the crocodile. Mr Lawton, who was earlier cast netting in the same spot, said it was a quick and horrifying attack. "It was just ‘Bang’. It happened in an instant, as quick as you could take a photo," he said. "At first we thought he (Angus) had just jumped in the water." The men said there was a swirl of water, followed by the crocodile swimming off with the dog. Department of Environment and Heritage Protection wildlife operations manager Mike Devery confirmed last night an attack was reported and said an assessment would be carried out today to determine what further action should be taken. Mr Lawton said the crocodile was about 3.5m long. "I saw it afterwards, it was at least 12 foot," he said. "(Angus) was not a little dog, he weighed at least 40-odd kilos." Both men are angry the crocodile had not been trapped and relocated before yesterday’s attack. "I come from Weipa and the Cape where it happens all the time. But when you see it happening where kids are playing, it’s scary," Mr Woods said. "We want the croc gone out of that creek. They put one sign up, it’s not good enough. We always see little kids swimming there." Wildlife rangers were on site shortly after the reported attack yesterday and a "recent sighting" sign was erected. When The Cairns Post inspected the site last night, what appeared to be drag marks could be found at the mouth of the creek bank. Clifton Beach teenagers Joel Simmons and Philipson Sillah said they were not surprised by the attack, after recently witnessing several crocs lurking in the area. Kewarra Beach Resort general manager Mark Carrette said he was aware of a crocodile in nearby Deep Creek and that visitors were warned of its presence. "We have a crocodile policy. Our guests with young children are all informed on check-in and we talk to people about inherent risks," he said. Crocodile sightings should be reported to DEHP on 1300 130 372.