Wondering where to stay in Port Douglas? This gorgeous Queensland coastal town – one of Australia’s favourite places – has plenty of accommodation options for all budgets and styles.
As one of Australia’s most popular places to visit, Port Douglas has so many accommodation options. Within a few kilometres you’ll find beachfront five-star resorts, family-friendly self-contained apartment blocks, boutique adults-only hotels, backpacker hostels and caravan parks, plus a couple of splurge-y lodges tucked into the rainforest.
Of course, being one of Australia’s favourite travel destinations, it can be expensive to stay here – especially in the high season – but I’ve included some affordable options as well, not just the fancy resorts.
Whatever your budget or travel style, you’ll find some great places to stay in Port Douglas. Here’s my curated list of recommended places to stay!
This blog post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these links, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you).
Where to stay in Port Douglas
Here’s a quick summary of the best hotels in Port Douglas – read on for more detailed overviews of each.
| Property | Best for | Price range | Check rates |
| Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort | Couples and families wanting a resort holiday | $$$ | CHECK RATES HERE |
| Pullman Port Douglas Sea Temple Resort & Spa | Couples and families prioritising pool and spa | $$$ | CHECK RATES HERE |
| Peppers Beach Club | Families wanting resort facilities close to town | $$-$$$ | CHECK RATES HERE |
| By the Sea Port Douglas | Value, service and a central location | $$ | CHECK RATES HERE |
| Port Douglas Peninsula Boutique Hotel | Couples wanting an adults-only beachfront stay | $$-$$$ | CHECK RATES HERE |
| Niramaya Villas and Spa | Privacy, special occasions and groups | $$$ | CHECK RATES HERE |
| Mandalay Luxury Beachfront Apartments | Families and groups wanting space | $$-$$$ | CHECK RATES HERE |
| Saltwater Luxury Apartments | Being in the middle of the dining and shopping precinct | $$ | CHECK RATES HERE |
| Silky Oaks Lodge | A once-in-a-lifetime rainforest retreat | $$$$ | CHECK RATES HERE |
| Thala Beach Nature Reserve | A secluded coastal eco-retreat | $$$$ | CHECK RATES HERE |
| Lazy Lizard Motor Inn | Well-priced, well-run motel accommodation | $ | CHECK RATES HERE |
| Ramada Resort by Wyndham Port Douglas | Affordable resort facilities outside the centre of town | $$ | CHECK RATES HERE |
| Dougies Backpackers Resort | Backpackers wanting an affordable, sociable stay | $ | CHECK RATES HERE |
| Tropic Breeze Caravan Park | Friendly caravan park within walking distance to the beach and town | $ | CHECK RATES HERE |
| BIG4 Port Douglas Glengarry Holiday Park | Families wanting a waterpark and onsite entertainment | $ | CHECK RATES HERE |
Best luxury resorts in Port Douglas
Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort
⭐️ Rating: 8.4 ⭐️ | Best luxury resort in Port Douglas
The Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort occupies an enormous beachfront site right beside Four Mile Beach, with tropical gardens and more than two hectares of awesome lagoons and lagoon-style swimming pools. There are several restaurants and bars on site, including Lagoon House, Feast and Harrisons, plus a swim-up pool bar.
It’s the kind of place where you’ll want to spend real time at the resort rather than just use it as a base. My friend always stays here when she visits with her kids and they sometimes barely leave the resort because it’s just so fun and easy.
Accommodation ranges from standard hotel rooms and lagoon-access rooms up to spacious two-, three- and four-bedroom villas, so it’s great for couples, families and multigenerational groups travelling together.
It’s a little further from the beach (about a 45-minute walk to Four Mile Beach) but there’s a resort shuttle available.
Pullman Port Douglas Sea Temple Resort & Spa
⭐️ Rating: 8.2 ⭐️ | Best resort pool in Port Douglas
Another hotel in Port Douglas with a spectacular pool is the Pullman Port Douglas Sea Temple Resort & Spa – important given the (admittedly, fairly low) chance of crocs on the beach! The centrepiece is an enormous 3,000-square-metre lagoon pool – and some rooms even have direct pool access while some villas have their own private plunge pools. The penthouses go a step further again, with private rooftop terraces, heated hot tubs and BBQs. Absolutely luxury.
The hotel has a beautiful day spa, a fitness centre, Aluco Restaurant and Bar (a great restaurant right by the pool), and access to Palmer Sea Reef Golf Course. Four Mile Beach is right there at the resort’s doorstep.
The Pullman is about a 10-minute drive from the centre of town – so you’ll need to drive to go to town or out for dinner.
→ READ NEXT: The best things to do in Port Douglas
Family-friendly accommodation in Port Douglas
Peppers Beach Club
⭐️ Rating: 8.3 ⭐️ | Best family resort in Port Douglas
Peppers Beach Club has one of the best locations of any resort in Port Douglas: about a block from Four Mile Beach and a short walk from Macrossan Street (the main street in town).
The lagoon-style pool has a sandy beach entry – so you can pretend you’re at the beach – and accommodation ranges from standard rooms up to one-, two- and three-bedroom suites. Some of the larger suites include kitchens, laundry facilities, BBQ terraces, direct pool access or private plunge pools.
Koko’s is the onsite restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as snacks, but the hotel’s central location means you can easily walk to town when you feel like eating somewhere else.
I’d describe this as more of an upmarket family resort, since pricing can overlap with the Sheraton and Pullman in peak season, so it’s worth comparing before you assume it’s the cheaper option. What this hotel does have over the Sheraton and Pullman is its closer location to town.
By the Sea Port Douglas
⭐️ Rating: 9.3 ⭐️ | Best value stay in Port Douglas
By the Sea is a fantastic place to stay in Port Douglas – whether you’re a couple or family. It’s at the quiet beach end of Macrossan Street, just steps from Four Mile Beach and about a five-minute walk from the centre of town. The rooms and apartments include kitchen facilities, so it’s a great choice for families, longer stays or anyone who doesn’t want to eat out every night (and therefore save some money!).
What really sets it apart is the extras: an unusually generous collection of complimentary gear, including bicycles, beach chairs, towels, umbrellas, coolers, bodyboards and toys, plus a small heated pool, BBQ area, complimentary parking and laundry facilities. The staff here are super lovely and welcoming.
While it doesn’t have the grounds, restaurant or facilities of a full resort, and some of the entry-level rooms are compact, it’s excellent value and in a great location. And despite the name, not every room has an uninterrupted ocean view, so it’s worth checking before you book!
→ READ NEXT: The best stops on the Cairns to Port Douglas drive
Boutique and villa accommodation
Peninsula Boutique Hotel Port Douglas
⭐️ Rating: 8.3 ⭐️ | Best adults-only hotel in Port Douglas
Port Douglas is a fabulous place for families to visit – but if you’re a couple looking for a quieter stay, then choose an adults-only hotel like Peninsula Boutique Hotel.
It’s directly opposite Four Mile Beach, with several rooms offering beach or ocean views, and it’s about a five-minute walk from Macrossan Street’s restaurants and shops, so you get an intimate hotel feel without giving up convenience.
All the accommodation here is suite-style, with balconies or patios, separate sitting areas and basic kitchen facilities, and there’s a heated pool, hot tub, complimentary bicycles, parking and onsite laundry. Hi Tide restaurant overlooks the beach and is a nice, easy option for breakfast. This is one of the best hotels in Port Douglas for an adults-only stay.
Niramaya Villas and Spa
⭐️ Rating: 9.5 ⭐️ | Best private villa in Port Douglas
Niramaya Villas and Spa is absolutely stunning: a collection of large, Balinese-inspired villas set among tropical gardens.
The villas have multiple bedrooms, generous indoor-outdoor living areas, full kitchens, laundry facilities and private pools. The resort also has a 30-metre infinity pool, gym, tennis court and onsite day spa, with treatments available in the spa or privately in your villa.
I think the layout and privacy of the resort make it especially suited to honeymoons, wellness breaks, or families and groups who want their own space rather than a shared resort environment. Of course, that’s if you’ve got the budget – this is one of the priciest places to stay in Port Douglas.
→ READ NEXT: What to see and do in Mossman Gorge
Self-contained apartments in Port Douglas
Mandalay Luxury Beachfront Apartments
⭐️ Rating: 9.1 ⭐️ | Best self-contained apartments for families in Port Douglas
I think Mandalay Luxury Beachfront Apartments is a great choice for families or groups.
The apartments are large, with two- and three-bedroom options with full kitchens, laundry facilities, open-plan living areas and furnished balconies. There’s also more resort-style infrastructure than you might expect from an apartment property: two swimming pools, a hot tub, tennis court, BBQ facilities and tropical gardens, plus complimentary parking. You’ll feel right at home here.
Mandalay is across the road from Four Mile Beach in a quiet pocket of Port Douglas, while still being within walking distance of Macrossan Street. Despite “beachfront” in the name, the property is separated from the beach by the road, and not every apartment has a sea view, so check ahead.
Saltwater Luxury Apartments
⭐️ Rating: 8.3 ⭐️ | Best central apartments in Port Douglas
If being in the thick of things matters most to you, Saltwater Luxury Apartments is hard to beat. It’s directly on Macrossan Street, across from the supermarket (great if you’re self-catering) and surrounded by restaurants, cafes and shops, with Four Mile Beach, the marina, St Mary’s by the Sea and Sugar Wharf all around five to ten minutes away on foot.
This can be a good thing if that’s what you want – but of course it won’t feel as secluded or resort-like as other places I’ve listed in this Port Douglas accommodation guide.
The apartments are fully self-contained, in one-, two- and three-bedroom configurations, with kitchens and laundry facilities, and there’s a heated outdoor pool, pool-deck BBQ area, complimentary undercover parking, and beach towels and chairs supplied.
One thing to note: apartments aren’t serviced daily unless you pay an additional fee, though a mid-stay clean is included for stays longer than eight nights. So, sorry, but you will have to do some cleaning on your holiday!
→ READ NEXT: How to plan a day trip to the Great Barrier Reef from Port Douglas
Nature stays and splurge lodges
Silky Oaks Lodge
⭐️ Rating: 9.8 ⭐️ | Best rainforest splurge
With two Michelin Keys, Silky Oaks Lodge is a very special place – an incredible splurge if you’re celebrating a special occasion in Port Douglas.
About 25 minutes’ drive from Port Douglas, it occupies a spectacular riverside location in the Daintree Rainforest, just downstream from Mossman Gorge, with standalone treehouses and suites with private balconies overlooking the rainforest or the Mossman River. Premium rooms even have outdoor bathtubs and private pools.
The Treehouse Restaurant overlooks the forest, supplied by a kitchen garden growing the usual ingredients needed to feed guests as well as more exotic foods like finger lime, pandan and betel leaf. The restaurant is open to outside visitors for lunch, but hotel guests have exclusive access for breakfast and dinner.
There are complimentary activities like guided walks, yoga, canoeing, swimming and snorkelling in the Mossman River, or the lodge can arrange fishing trips, golf excursions and helicopter rides. There’s also – of course – a deluxe onsite spa that draws on the rainforest setting and local ingredients.
Thala Beach Nature Reserve
⭐️ Rating: 8.9 ⭐️ | Best eco-retreat near Port Douglas
Thala Beach Nature Reserve sits within a 145-acre private nature reserve on a headland at Oak Beach, about 15 minutes south of Port Douglas. Accommodation is in private timber bungalows raised among the trees, with some rooms offering Coral Sea views. The reserve itself takes in private beaches, rainforest, eucalyptus woodland, mangroves and coconut plantations. Even if you don’t stay here, make sure to stop in and snap a photo amongst the palm trees as you drive from Cairns to Port Douglas!
There are some fantastic complimentary experiences for guests, including guided nature and birdwatching walks, coconut plantation tours, stargazing and talks on the local environment, and there are two swimming pools and a spa. Wallabies and birds are a regular sight around the property.
You’re fairly dependent on the onsite restaurant unless you’re driving into Port Douglas for meals – but Osprey’s Restaurant has a great menu featuring local produce so it’s hard to get sick of the meals. The restaurant has gorgeous views across the Coral Sea.
→ READ NEXT: The ultimate Cairns to Cape Tribulation road trip itinerary
Budget-friendly accommodation in Port Douglas
Lazy Lizard Motor Inn
⭐️ Rating: 9.0 ⭐️ | Best budget motel in Port Douglas
The Lazy Lizard Motor Inn may be the best-value option on this list – but it’s also a great place to stay. The rooms are spacious and air-conditioned, studio-style, with kitchenettes, seating areas and outdoor patios. They’re soundproofed too, which helps given the location on Davidson Street.
There’s a saltwater pool, BBQ area, laundry facilities and complimentary parking, but the biggest drawcard here is the owners and staff. They’re knowledgeable, welcoming and reliably helpful with local recommendations and tour bookings.
It’s around 1.5 kilometres from central Macrossan Street. You can walk it, but a bicycle or car will be more comfortable in the heat.
Ramada Resort by Wyndham Port Douglas
⭐️ Rating: 8.0 ⭐️ | Best affordable resort in Port Douglas
For travellers who want that resort feel without the resort price tag that comes with most Port Douglas hotels, the Ramada Resort is worth a look.
The tropical grounds and large lagoon-style pool with a swim-up bar do a convincing job of feeling like a proper resort, and there’s an onsite restaurant and bar, day spa, gym and games facilities, plus complimentary parking. It’s within walking distance of the southern end of Four Mile Beach.
The pool, tropical setting, friendly staff and reasonable restaurant prices are more reasons to stay here.
The main catch is location: it’s several kilometres from Macrossan Street, so you’ll need a car, taxi or shuttle to get into the main dining precinct. Some rooms and common areas do feel a little dated – but they’re still comfortable.
Best hostels in Port Douglas
Dougies Backpackers Resort
⭐️ Rating: 8.0 ⭐️ | Best hostel in Port Douglas
Dougies is the pick for backpackers wanting a sociable, affordable stay. It’s got dorm beds, private rooms and camping options in a tropical garden setting. There’s a swimming pool, bar, BBQ, very large communal kitchen, lounge areas, laundry and a tour desk. Evening entertainment and the onsite bar mean you don’t need to head into town every night to have a good time.
I think the friendly staff, relaxed atmosphere, good cooking facilities and spacious common areas are the highlights of this backpacker joint. And complimentary parking is handy if you’re making your way up the Queensland coast by car or campervan (I highly recommend renting a Jucy campervan!).
It’s about a 15-minute walk from Four Mile Beach and further again from central Macrossan Street, so the location is less convenient than some alternatives. It’s also a very social backpacker property, so if you’re after quiet budget accommodation rather than a party atmosphere, this might not be the right fit.
→ READ NEXT: What to know before booking a Jucy campervan in Australia
Port Douglas caravan parks and campgrounds
Tropic Breeze Caravan Park
Best caravan park for walkability
On our most recent trip to Port Douglas we stayed at Tropic Breeze Caravan Park, and the location is exactly why I’d recommend it. It’s about a minute’s drive from Four Mile Beach and five minutes from the centre of Port Douglas, which is unusual for a caravan park anywhere on this coast. We ended up walking to most places, including the supermarket, the beach and restaurants. We could also walk to Crystalbrook Marina for our day trip to the Great Barrier Reef.
There are powered sites, unpowered camping sites and simple units, along with a swimming pool, camp kitchen with cooking and BBQ facilities, laundry and tour-booking assistance.
The managers were super friendly and the park was very clean and well maintained.
The amenities are older and fairly basic, though clean and functional (the showers are actually great – really hot with good showerheads), and it doesn’t have the family-entertainment facilities or expansive grounds of other caravan parks (I think this made it great – it was so much quieter than other large caravan parks we’ve stayed at!). But if walkability is your priority, no other caravan park in Port Douglas comes close.
BIG4 Port Douglas Glengarry Holiday Park
⭐️ Rating: 8.7 ⭐️ | Best caravan park for families
Glengarry Holiday Park is the better choice if you’re travelling with kids and want all the entertainment facilities. There’s a large waterpark with six slides, a swimming pool, jumping pillows, a playground and pedal carts. The kids will have a lot of fun here!
There are both powered and unpowered grass sites, cabins and villas, two camp kitchens, BBQs, family bathrooms and laundry amenities.
The park is in Mowbray, which is about a 10-minute drive from central Port Douglas, so it’s not a practical choice without a vehicle. Some caravan sites are a bit tight, so make sure you confirm dimensions if you’re travelling with a larger rig.
Where to stay in Port Douglas: Final thoughts
As one of Australia’s favourite towns to visit, it’s no surprise that there’s plenty of accommodation choice in Port Douglas. You can have plenty of affordable family fun or splurge on a luxury resort with swim-up bars and huge pools. Some places make it very hard to leave!
Whichever accommodation you land on, my recommendation is to book well in advance, especially for the peak dry season months, since the best-located and best-value properties here fill up quickly.
FAQs: Best Port Douglas accommodation
Where should I stay in Port Douglas if I want to walk everywhere?
Stick close to Macrossan Street and Four Mile Beach. By the Sea Port Douglas, Saltwater Luxury Apartments, Port Douglas Peninsula Boutique Hotel and Tropic Breeze Caravan Park are all within a five-minute walk of the town centre.
What’s the best luxury resort in Port Douglas?
The Sheraton Grand Mirage and the Pullman Sea Temple are the two standouts. The Sheraton is closer to central Port Douglas, while the Pullman has the more spectacular pool but sits about 10 minutes’ drive away from the centre of town.
Are there good budget options in Port Douglas?
Yes. Despite being such a popular holiday destination for Australians, there are still some affordable accommodation options in Port Douglas. There are motels, affordable resorts, caravan parks and backpacker joints. The key is to book ahead to get the best prices.
Do I need a car if I’m staying in Port Douglas?
You don’t need a car in Port Douglas if you choose accommodation close to Macrossan Street and Four Mile Beach. But a car is worth having so you can explore further afield to Mossman Gorge or the Daintree Rainforest.
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I hope this guide to where to stay in Port Douglas will help you plan your stay in this fun Australian town. Got any questions? Let me know in the comments below.
Read next
Before you go, you might like these Australia travel articles:
- Things to Do in Port Douglas: What to See, Do and Eat in Australia’s Favourite Town
- The Best Things to See and Do in Mossman Gorge
- How to Plan a Day Trip to the Great Barrier Reef from Port Douglas
- Things to Do in (and Around) Cape Tribulation
- The Ultimate Cairns to Cape Tribulation Road Trip Itinerary
- What to Know When Booking a Jucy Campervan in Australia
AUSTRALIA TRIP ESSENTIALS
- Book your flight to Australia online with Skyscanner. I like this site because it shows me which dates are cheaper.
- One thing I always purchase is travel insurance! Travel Insurance Master allows you to compare across multiple policy providers, while SafetyWing is great for long-term travellers and digital nomads.
- Wise is my choice for sending and receiving money and spending money overseas (you can get a digital and physical card).
- Find a great hotel in Australia. Check prices on Booking.com and Expedia online.
- Check out the huge range of day tours throughout Australia on GetYourGuide or Viator.
- Saving money? Check out the range of free walking tours across Australia with GuruWalk (don’t forget to tip!).
- How to get around? I use DiscoverCars for car hire, or Motorhome Republic and Jucy for campervan/RV rental. For buses, trains and ferries, I use 12GO, Busbud and Omio.
- Grab an e-sim to stay connected while on the road.
- A copy of the Lonely Planet guide to Australia will be handy.
- Pack sunscreen (look for SPF50 or higher), a hat and sunglasses to protect your eyes and skin.
- Check out my Amazon shop for my fave travel items – everything from backpacks and suitcases to travel adapters and beauty products.
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