The biggest and most central information center in town is the privately run Port Douglas Tourist Information Centre, 23 Macrossan St. (  tel. 07/4099 4540; www.tourismportdouglas.com.au), open from 7:30am to 6pm daily. There is no official visitor information office in Port Douglas, but the official tourism information website of Tourism Port Douglas and Daintree (  tel. 07/4099 4588; www.visitportdouglasdaintree.com.au) is a good source.

When to Go

High season in Port Douglas is roughly June 1 through October 31. Low-season holiday periods run from approximately November to May (excluding Christmas and New Year's).

Getting There

There is no train to Port Douglas, and no scheduled air service. A small airport handles light aircraft and helicopter charters.

By Car:  Port Douglas is a scenic 65-minute drive from Cairns, in part along a narrow winding road that skirts the coast. Take Sheridan Street north out of the city as it becomes the Captain Cook Highway; follow the signs to Mossman and Mareeba until you reach the Port Douglas turnoff on your right. A taxi fare from Cairns to Port Douglas is a set price of A$173; call Cairns Taxis (  tel. 13 10 08 in Cairns).

By Bus:  A one-way ticket with Sun Palm Transport (  tel. 07/4087 2900; www.sunpalmtransport.com) to Port Douglas hotels from Cairns airport is A$43 adults, A$23 children 2 to 11.

Getting Around

Avis (tel. 07/4099 4331), Budget (tel. 07/4099 5702), and Thrifty (tel. 07/4099 5555) have offices in Port Douglas. All rent regular vehicles as well as four-wheel-drives, which you need if you plan to drive to Cape Tribulation. For a taxi, call Port Douglas Taxis (tel. 13 10 08).

A good way to get around the town's flat streets is by bike. Holiday Bike Hire, 46 Macrossan St. (tel. 07/4099 6144; www.pdbikeworks.com), or Port Douglas Bike Hire, 28 Wharf St. (tel. 07/4099 5799), rent bikes for around A$10 for a half-day, A$15 for a full day.

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