Which is nicer Port Douglas or Cairns?

If you're after a city vibe, with a mix of beaches, shopping, nightlife, and a plethora of activities, Cairns is your pick. On the other hand, if you're seeking a laid-back, luxury, beachy vacation, with closer access to the Daintree Rainforest, Port Douglas is the go-to.



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The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system, composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,300 kilometres over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres.

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Honestly, a lifetime is not enough to explore and enjoy all the amazing natural wonders of Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef. But if you can't spend your life on holiday, we recommend at least three days in Cairns to discover the main attractions. If you have more time, great!

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Port Douglas is famous for being so close to some of the top attractions in Australia, from the Great Barrier Reef to the oldest rainforest in the world, Daintree Rainforest. You also have the Four Mile Beach which is almost like a tropical island.

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Cairns is undoubtedly the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef is the worlds largest reef system comprised of over 2,900 individual reefs. Each year, people flock to the reef from around the world to swim, snorkel, and dive with the more than 1,500 marine species that call the reef home.

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Many visitors to Four Mile Beach, Port Douglas ask Can you swim all year round at Four Mile Beach? The simple answer is Yes.

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How many days do you need to spend in Port Douglas? Due to the higher prices, most people will tend to stay 2 or three nights in Port Douglas. Therefore, I would suggest Snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef and visiting the Daintree National Park.

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We recommend getting there in the shoulder months of April and May and September and October. The weather is amazing at these times and you'll be beating the dry season crowds!

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If you plan on booking tours for your day trips, most of them include complimentary pick-up! Or if you want to rent a car, there are plenty of places to do that in Cairns. But Cairns is a very walkable city, so you should be able to get by without a car easily.

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