Local Knowledge

Taxis

Book ahead with Port Douglas Taxi (+61 (0)7 4099 5345) or, if you’re in town, try the taxi rank on Macrossan Street.

Tipping culture

Tips aren’t expected in Australia, but a 10 per cent gratuity is appreciated if you’ve had a particularly good night out.

Siesta and fiesta

Shops are generally open 9am–5pm Monday–Saturday; those catering to visitors often open on Sunday, too, depending on the season. Queenslanders dine early so restaurants start to fill up from 6.30pm and many kitchens close around 9pm.

Packing tips

With three international-standard golf courses in town, you might want to pack clubs or at least your J Lindeberg kit. Definitely the Missoni beach towel and Tigerlily bikini. Huge sunnies to blend in with the rich 'n' famous.

Recommended reads

Set just up the road in Cooktown is Thea Astley’s It’s Raining in Mango, a novel tracing several generations of an Irish family who move to the town from Sydney in the 1860s and have to confront the horrific treatment of the indigenous people. Local author and historian Glenville Pike has been writing about the northern reaches of Australia for more than five decades. His publications include Port of Promise, an illustrated history of the town, and Unsung Heroes of the Queensland Wilderness: Pioneering Our Remote Far North 1870–1914.

Cuisine

Talk about blessed. If your idea of heaven is fresh reef fish, exotic tropical fruits, enormous shellfish and bountiful fresh herbs and vegetables then you may never want to leave Far North Queensland. Most ingredients are treated delicately – even in winter it’s far too warm to be eating heavy sauces – and the proximity to Asia means these new residents from overseas have had a huge effect on the food culture. The mud crab – a big beastie with powerful claws which grows to 3.5kg – is a local delicacy and you’ll often find it served with a biting chilli sauce. Desserts feature tropical fruit flavours uncommon in Europe, such as custard apple, lychee, rambutan and mangosteen.

Currency

Australian dollar (AU$).

Time zone

GMT + 10 (Queensland doesn’t have daylight savings).

Dialling codes

Country code: 61; Queensland: 07 (drop the zero when calling from overseas).

Do go/don't go

From April to November, Port Douglas is at its blissful best, with clear skies, great visibility on the reef, and the mercury hitting the mid- to high-20s. September to November is particularly spectacular. From December to April, there's an increased chance of rain and temperatures hover in the 30s. This is also stinger season, so swim in the netted area of the beach.