- Duration
- ~140 km return by car from Cairns, 9–10 hours (≈ 7 h 4 min: moving and stop time only)
- Who it suits
- Everyone
- Transport
- drive, walk
- Start
- Wildlife Habitat
- Finish
- Four Mile Beach
- Pace
- relaxed pace
- Best time
- Sunday only: the market runs Sundays 8am–1:30pm (except Christmas Day and Anzac Day). Leave Cairns at 7:30am. November to May is stinger season: swim only inside the net
- Budget per adult
- ~A$50 per adult plus food: Wildlife Habitat A$50 (kids 4–14 A$30, family 2+2 A$130, ticket valid four more days). Market, lookout and beach free. Lunch at the Court House A$26–32 a main. Prices checked October 2026Prices as of: October 2026
Getting there
Drive north from Cairns on the Captain Cook Highway, about 65 km and an hour along the coast; turn onto Port Douglas Road, Wildlife Habitat sits at the edge of town. In town park by Market Park, on Macrossan Street, at the Crystalbrook marina or Rex Smeal Park; spaces are tight on Sundays
Stops in order
The text version of the route: stops, time at each and the legs between them. Times are estimates, without queues, traffic or swims.
1. Wildlife Habitat~2 h at the stop
A wildlife park laid out by tropical habitat: wetlands, rainforest, savannah and a croc arena. Keeper talks and feeds run all day, from the cassowary to koalas and kangaroos.
Tip: Daily 8am–4pm. Cassowary feed at 10am, koala talk at 10:45am, saltwater croc feed at 11:45am. Tickets give four more days of re-entry. Breakfast with the Birds and Koalas A$90 (kids A$59).
Open on the map ↗↓ drive · 10 min · 6.5 km
2. Flagstaff Hill Lookout~20 min at the stop
A lookout at the top of Island Point Road: the whole sweep of Four Mile Beach and rainforest ranges to the south. A second platform nearby takes in the Coral Sea, Low Isles and Snapper Island.
Tip: Drive up, or walk the Flagstaff Hill trail (1.5 km from Four Mile Beach to Rex Smeal Park), which has short steep hills and steps.
Open on the map ↗↓ drive · 4 min · 1.5 km
- Shops
3. Port Douglas Sunday Market~1 h 15 min at the stop
The Sunday market in Market Park beside Anzac Park, on Dickson Inlet: more than 150 stalls of handcraft, Aboriginal art, local food and seasonal produce.
Tip: Every Sunday 8am–1:30pm except Christmas Day and Anzac Day; it may close in severe weather. Bring cash and a hat: shade is patchy.
Open on the map ↗↓ walk · 4 min · 0.3 km
- Snack
4. Grant Street Kitchen~25 min at the stop
A small owner-run bakery café on the corner of Grant and Macrossan Streets: house-baked bread, pastries, handmade pies and Freehand coffee. A good pause between the market and lunch.
Tip: Daily 6am–3pm. On Sundays the bakery also has a market stall with pastries and bread, if you'd rather not leave the market.
Open on the map ↗↓ walk · 4 min · 0.3 km
- Lunch
5. The Court House Hotel~1 h at the stop
Port Douglas's oldest pub, a timber Queenslander with wide verandas on the corner of Macrossan and Wharf Streets, looking over Anzac Park and the harbour. Straightforward local food: barramundi tacos, prawn rolls.
Tip: Lunch daily 11:30am–3pm, order at the bistro window. Barramundi fish tacos A$30, prawn rolls A$28, cheeseburger A$26. 15% public holiday surcharge.
Open on the map ↗↓ walk · 12 min · 0.9 km
- Swim
6. Four Mile Beach~1 h 30 min at the stop
A long palm-fringed beach running south from the end of Macrossan Street. Swim only at the lifeguard tower between the red and yellow flags, and from November to May inside the stinger net.
Tip: Lifeguards 9am–5pm May to November, 8am–5pm November to May. In stinger season (Irukandji included) wear a lycra suit. This is croc country: stay out of the water outside the flags, near creek mouths and at dusk.
Open on the map ↗
Before you go
- Route times are estimates: walking, driving and a sensible pause at each stop. Add queues, traffic and swims yourself.
- Prices, timetables and trail status change. Check the venue's official site and the state transport app before you go.
- On beaches, swim only between the red and yellow flags. Use sun protection even when it is cloudy.