BIG4 Port Douglas Glengarry Holiday Park

When it comes to eating and drinking, all of our picks are located in the township of Port Douglas which is a 5-10 minute drive away depending on traffic or 30 minutes if you have a bike. There’s several cafes in town but we can’t go past Sparrow Coffee for our morning brew. You can’t go wrong with anything here coffee-wise, but we particularly love their Cold Brew coffee in this tropical climate. You’re spoiled for choice in Port Douglas when it comes to great restaurants, particularly if you’re a fan of fresh seafood. Located hanging right over the water, Tin Shed is a popular spot for an afternoon drink particularly later in the day as the sun sets. If you want to hang around for a meal, the menu is great and includes a bunch of fresh seafood options as well as various pub-style classics. Zinc is a popular special occasion spot and whilst the menu does lean toward fine dining, the prices aren’t excessive with mains in the $40 range. Go for the Barramundi Fillet served in a coconut curry with a range of locally sourced vegetables and herbs. Salsa Bar & Restaurant is a local institution and a great spot for a long lunch or delicious dinner from their crowd pleasing menu at reasonable prices. If you’re staying on site at the park there’s great BBQ areas and a well maintained camp kitchen with the added extra touch of pizza ovens, not to mention plenty of space to enjoy your meal amongst these beautiful gardens.

A visit to Port Douglas wouldn’t be complete without a trip out to the barrier reef or one of the many beautiful nearby islands. We recommend wandering down to the marina and checking out the various tours on offer, but if you’re looking for one of our favourites then head to the team at Calypso Reef Cruises. We love the broad variety of options they have with half and full day tours for both the more advanced divers as well as those who just like to splash about snorkelling like us. In this tropical climate you’re going to be wanting to spend plenty of time in the water, and the pools within the park are fantastic and include plenty of seating around for those who prefer to be out of the water and enjoying a good book. Little ones will love splashing around for hours in the incredible water park. If you’re keen to get to a beach, Four Mile Beach in Port Douglas is a beautiful stretch of coastline that is great for a walk or a dip. November to May is Marine Stinger Season so stick to swimming in the stinger resistant enclosure areas and/or wear a stinger suit. For some land-based activities, nearby Mowbray National Park located between the Holiday Park and the Port Douglas township is well worth a visit, with several great walking trails. Our favourite spot within the National Park is Black Rock Waterfalls, a beautiful natural swimming hole and waterfall. It’s about a 5.8 km return journey by foot and whilst its relatively flat, there are a few rocks and creeks you’ll need to navigate over.

This is an extremely popular destination in the months of July and August so be prepared to book ahead and know you’ll be shoulder to shoulder with the inevitable crowds not just in this park but in the broader region. If you can, we highly recommend visiting in the shoulder season months of April and May where you’ll still have terrific weather but nowhere near the level of crowds.